Doug Speck calls Troy Swier "the hottest thing on two wheels" in California this season, so Doug named Swier the DyeStatCal Athlete of the Week #2. We follow suit and name him the national Nike Athlete of the Week for week 2.

Swier had a solid sophomore season (4:18.31 and 9:22.79), but his junior season is sizzling. He served notice when hooked up with another good junior, Babey Wagnew, at 2 miles in the Wolf Pack Inv and smashed the West Hills Santee course record by 38 seconds in 10:15. Then on 9/14 Swier won the Baron Invitational in 15:04, fastest 5k time in the nation this week.

Swier hopes to consolidate his gains at Mt. SAC, the California state meet, and the Foot Locker West regional.

Megan Kaltenbach ended her junior season with a sensational unbeaten streak that stretched from the Midwest Classic in Lincoln NE in February to the adidas Outdoor Championship in Raleigh NC in June, where she ran the fastest mile of the 2002 outdoor season.

The streak is still alive after two cross country meets. This week, Kaltenbach reeled off the fastest 5k in the nation this year, winning the big interstate Liberty Bell Inv in 17:36.

Now, Kaltenbach takes aim on the Great American in Charlotte NC Saturday 9/28 hoping to make amends. Kaltenbach was one of the favorites a year ago and challenged Alison Tubbs early, but faded badly and staggered to the finish line in 27th place.

• Pennsboro PA sr Ryan Blood 15:28 5k winning the Mountain River Run.
• Summerville SC sr Steve Boyd 15:33 5k winning the Coaches Classic in Charleston.
• Grant OR sr Joaquin Chapa 15:07 5k, 2nd fastest of the week, winning the Festival of Champions.
• Sandia NM sr Michael Clarke 15:26 5k winning the UNM Inv.
• Maclay FL jr Ryan Deak 15:45 5k winning the FSU Inv.
• Russellville AR sr Chase Feltner 15:42 5k winning at Zero Mountain AR.
• Conard CT jr Ahmed Haji 15:18 3.1m winning the Windham Inv.
• Klein Oak TX sr Steve Magness 14:51 3m winning his home town invitational.
• Don Lugo CA sr Erick Maldonado 15:36 3.1m winning the Bronco Inv.
• Cinco Ranch Katy TX jr Kyle Miller 14:49 3m winning the Kingwood Inv.
• Cypress CA sr David Napper 14:53 3m winning the Laguna Hills Inv.
• Gaithersburg MD sr Eric Pauley 15:22 5k winning the Keyser Inv at Boonsboro MD.
• Edwardsville IL sr Stephen Pifer 14:41 2.97m winning the Peoria Woodruff Inv.
• Darien CT jr Chase Pizzonia 14:53 3m winning the Wilton Inv.
• Glen Oak WV sr Justin Simpson, winning two 5k's in 15:10, 3rd fastest of the week, and 15:34.
• Stevens Point WI sr Chris Solinsky, unbeaten this year, winning two 5k's in 15:11 and 15:20.
• Lee's Summit MO sr Marc Tegenkamp 15:38 3.1m winning the Missouri Challenge.
• Smoky Hill Aurora CO sr Brent Vaughn 15:16, winning the Liberty Bell Inv.
• Grant OR sr Alec Wall 15:11, completing Grant's 1-2 punch with Joaquin Chapa in Festival of Champions.

• Northwestern SC jr Angelina Blackmon 18:06 5k winning the big Coaches Classic in Charleston SC.
• Naperville North IL jr Lisa Bonistelli 18:03 3m winning Lake Park Inv.
• Normal West IL sr Meghan Braffet 17:29 3m winning at Springfield Lanphier IL.
• Darby Hilliard OH sr Lindsay Carter 18:31 5k winning the Central Ohio Inv.
• Somerset KY jr Sarah Cole 18:35 3.1m winning the Southern Harrier Inv.
• Orem UT sr Amber Harper 18:21 5k winning the Provo Bulldog Inv.
• Smoky Hill Aurora CO Katelyn Kaltenbach 18:07 5k finishing 2nd to sister Megan in the big Liberty Bell Inv.
• Mountain View UT jr Heidi Magill 18:51 5k winning the Tiger Inv in Grand Junction CO.
• East Grand Rapids MI so Laura Malnor 18:15 3.1m winning the Sparta Inv.
• Marana Mtn View AZ sr Emily McGregor 18:02 3.1m winning Chandler AZ Inv.
• Maranatha CA sr Laura Meyers 17:54 3m winning Bosco Tech Inv.
• East Greenwich RI sr Nicole Millette 18:37 3.1m winning the Injury Fund Inv.
• Minster OH jr Sunni Olding 17:35 (40 meters short of 5k), in a local quad, plus an 18:20 5k winner in the Eaton Inv.
• Red Lion PA's Kate Papenberg 18:46 5k winning the DeSales Inv in Delaware.
• Murrieta Valley CA jr Liza Pasciuto 17:57 3.1m winning the Bronco Inv.
• Wheaton North IL sr Samantha Polock 17:36 2.97m winning the Peoria Woodruff Inv.
• Boulder CO fr Nell Rojas 18:11 finishing 3rd in big Liberty Bell Inv.
• NW Whitfield GA fr Shelley Taylor 18:01 3m winning the CCCL in Tennessee.
• Villa Park CA's Erica Sahli 18:19 3m winning Laguna Hills Inv.
• Desert Vista AZ fr Keara Sammons 18:09 5k winning the big Festival of Champions in Oregon.
• Lakewood OH sr Michelle Sikes 17:59 5k winning Strongsville OH Inv.
• Foothill Santa Ana CA sr Katie Strachan 18:33 3m winning Millikan Inv.
• Country Day Detroit MI so Megan Young 18:59 5k, fastest of day at Nike Holly Inv in Michigan.