​PURPLE & GOLD CLUB

Jim Pearson

 

After Jim Pearson earned seven Lake Stevens High School Varsity letters  -- in football (1), basketball (3), and track (3) – he graduated in 1962, and went to Washington State College (now WWU), where after competing in the triple and long jumps, he began his lifelong career as a distance runner.

Jim trained from five to six thousand miles a year while teaching and coaching at Snohomish, Ferndale, and Mead high schools and at Whatcom Community College. His competitive career includes three marathon wins – in Victoria in 1970, Portland in 1972, and Seattle in 1973. In 1975 he was National Fifty-Mile Champion in record time, and placed second in that event in 1976. Jim posted the fourth fastest time ever by an American for fifty kilometers  (1979), and the second  fastest time ever by an American for one hundred miles twice (1980 & 1981). Jim earned eight national championship medals – (one first, two seconds, two thirds, two fifths, and one eighth). Two facts reveal Jim Pearson’s life-long commitment to running: he is listed as a world leader in the number of wins in the same marathon (16 victories at Birch Bay), and he is listed second on the National Streak Registry for consecutive days or running with 16,022 as of December 28, 2012.

Jim Pearson coached five Northwest League Championship teams, two high school All-Americans, and one runner to a Junior National 50 kilometer record. His involvement in all aspects of education, athletics, and community make Jim Pearson a highly worthy member of the Lake Stevens High School Hall of Fame.