Avery Pearson completed her first season at Colorado with several achievements, including breaking the school record in the 800 meters and representing Canada at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, according to a March 26 announcement.
Pearson’s transition from the University of Saskatchewan to Colorado saw her quickly become one of the top middle-distance runners in collegiate track. She set a new school record with a time of 1:59.98 and qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships, marking an impressive start to her career with the Buffaloes.
Reflecting on her experience, Pearson said, “I think it’s been a super special experience, especially coming into my first season at CU and in the NCAA system. Everyone was really welcoming when I first arrived, and I’ve been blown away by the support we have, the resources, the coaching staff, and my teammates. We have a really good program here, and I feel grateful to be part of it and to make an impact right away.”
Pearson credited head coach Sean Carlson for helping her adapt quickly by focusing on aerobic training while building on her existing speed work. “Right away, Carlson wanted to fill in some gaps I had… combining that with new aerobic work helped me adapt quickly,” she said.
Representing Canada at an international level was another highlight for Pearson this year. “Competing against big names was impactful… I’m taking steps every day to make competing for my country and succeeding on the world stage a reality,” she said about participating in her first senior national team event.
Looking ahead to future seasons, Pearson emphasized persistence: “There’s a lot more to come, but it comes from staying persistent and striving to improve every day.”
