Wednesday, April 05, 2006

MACON, Ga. (April 5, 2006) - Senior James Rainer (Alcoa, Tenn.) has been named the Atlantic Sun Athlete of the Week for the second-straight week, announced by conference offices on Wednesday.  After a solid week of A-Sun performances, Rainer shares this week's award with Gardner-Webb's Jake Didion.

The conference recognition comes after Rainer took top honors in the 100-meters at the Western Carolina Invitational last Saturday, clocking a lifetime-low and track-record time of 10.40 seconds.  Rainer's performance also bested the NCAA regional standard of 10.50, clinching a spot in the NCAA Mid East Regional Championships, set for May 26-27, in Knoxville, Tenn.  The event win was also Rainer's second in-a-row, after topping the field at Raleigh Relays on March 25.

Rainer is currently ranked fourth in the Mid East Region 100 field, and 10^th in the NCAA.  The senior is an overwhelming favorite in the upcoming A-Sun Outdoor Championships, holding the top time in the conference by .25 seconds.

Rainer and the rest of the Bucs will take this weekend off before traveling to Clermont, Fla, for the A-Sun Outdoor Championships, slated for April 14-15.