A JBU Running Legacy BY CHERISSA ROEBUCK ’01
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or the past four decades, one family name has become synonymous with excellence in the JBU track and field program. The Pearsons have been setting records and winning national titles in Golden Eagle track and field since 1983. From Matt Pearson ’85, who earned John Brown University’s second-ever individual national championship in 1983, to his daughter, Allika, who became the first athlete in JBU program history to earn three All-America first team distinctions, the Pearsons have built a four-decade running legacy at JBU. When Matt Pearson came to JBU as a freshman in 1981, he was no stranger to John Brown University. His dad, Jim Pearson, was an engineering professor who would go on to teach 42 years at JBU. “I grew up as a JBU ‘faculty brat,’ so campus was home to me,” Pearson said. “As a young boy, I came to know Jesus in the basement of the cathedral when JBU still held Sunday school and church services on campus.” By the time Matt graduated from Siloam Springs High School in 1981, he had made a name for himself as a track and field star, running the 800-yard, one-mile, two-mile and twomile relay. He was the 3A state champion in the two-mile and held the state record for his time in the two-mile his senior
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year. Today, more than 40 years later, he still holds the Siloam Springs High School program record for the two-mile event. Although he had garnered some interest from larger college track programs like the University of Kansas and the University of Mississippi, Matt chose to stay close to home at JBU. In Matt’s freshman year in 1981, JBU had just reinstated their cross country and track and field teams. Matt worked hard to help build the program. By his senior year, JBU was able to field a full team in cross country and finished fifth at the National Christian College Athletic Association’s national meet. “Ed Renfrow was a great coach,” Pearson said. “He taught us about the intricacies of training and how to be wellprepared for competition. He was also a pilot, so we flew to meets in Wisconsin, Michigan and central Arkansas.” During his four years at JBU, Pearson racked up an impressive list of athletic accolades. He was a three-time NCCAA cross country All-American and two-time national champion in cross country in 1982-1984, NCCAA AllAmerican and national champion in track in 1985, and NAIA All-American between cross country in 1984. He was named JBU Athlete of the Year in both 1984 and 1985
