UNCP Athletics

ALSO RUNS TRACK & FIELD FOR THE BRAVES

AS A JUNIOR (2015): All-Peach Belt Conference … Finished among top 6 at a pair of events, including a fourth place tally (26:37.72) at the season-opening USC Upstate Eye Opener (8K) … Also finished sixth at PBC Championships (8K) with a time of 26:23.0 to grab all-PBC recognition … Crossed in 11th place with a time of 27:03.5 at the North Georgia Invitational (8K) … Finished in 48th place at the Royals Challenge (8K) with a mark of 25:59.9 … Logged a 31st place finish with a time of 34:45.8 at the NCAA Southeast Region Championships (10K).

AS A SOPHOMORE (2014): Ran his season best time in the 8K at the Peach Belt Conference Championships where he placed 19th (fifth finisher for the Braves) with a time of 25:59.43 as the UNCP men’s team placed second … Finished 106th at the NCAA Southeast Region Championships with a time of 36:30.05 as the Braves placed sixth overall … Competed in his first cross country race of the season at the Queens Twilight Invitational where he helped the team become race champion with a seventh place finish and a personal best time in the 5K (15:57.8) as the top finisher for UNCP … Captured a top-5 finish at the Bulldog Cross Country Invitational as he ran a time of 27:50.36 for a fourth place finish (third place finisher for UNCP) and a team champion honor … Registered an 11th place finish (second finisher for UNCP) with a time of 26:13.4 at the Charlotte Cross Country Invitational in which the Braves captured third place … At the Royals Cross Country Challenge, he logged a 23rd place finish (third for UNCP) as he crossed the finish line in a time of 26:12.1.

AS A FRESHMAN (2013): Named PBC Freshman of the Year, all-PBC and to the USTFCCCA All-Region Team … Ran his personal best time in the 8K at the PBC Championships with a time of 25:37.51 for an eighth place finish (first freshman to finish) as the UNCP men’s team placed third and he was the second finisher from the squad to cross the finish line and run the 24th fastest time in school history … At the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships, he ran a time of 32:29.5 for a 21st overall finish for a personal best time in the 10K to assist the Braves in finishing seventh overall … Was the lead runner at the regional championships and the only Brave to register a top 10K time as his time marked the 16th fastest … Opened up his season at the Royal Cross Country Challenge with a 34th place finish as he crossed the finish with a time of 26:35.6 as the second finisher on the team.

HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at Pinecrest High School under coach Jeremy Swofford … A two-year letterman in cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field … As a senior in cross country, he garnered all-conference and All-East Region as the Patriots won the East Regional Champions … The team placed third at the NCHSAA State Championships … In track, he became an indoor state champion as he qualified in the 1600m run and 3200m run and 4x800m relay … Ran a personal best time in the 5K (16:25), 1600m (4:36.43), 3200m (10:03.09), and relay splits in the 400m (55.78) and 800m (2:06) his senior year … In his junior campaign, he was an all-conference and all-region runner in cross country and all-conference in track and field … Placed first in the 4x800m relay and was an indoor state qualifier in the 3200m … The squad became East Regional Champion and finished eighth in the state championships in cross country and placed 10th at the East Regionals in track and field.

PERSONAL: The son of Christy and Vance Pearson … Has an older brother, Alex, and a younger sister, Alyssa … Graduated with a 3.6 grade point average … A member of the TRU Club and Outdoor Club … Undecided in his course of study at UNCP.

PERSONAL BESTS
5K - 15:57.8 at Queens Twilight Meet – Sept. 6, 2014
8K – 25:37.51 at PBC Championships - Oct. 26, 2013
10K – 32:29.5 at NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championships - Nov. 9, 2013