Athletes of the Week

Boys

Jerry Owens

School: Hart

Year: Senior

Sport: Football

Season at a Glance:

As one of just three returning starters, Owens was picked as the key to Hart’s offense entering this season--even though he started on defense last year. But Owens has made the transition from defensive back to receiver successfully. He has caught 28 passes for 594 yards and seven touchdowns and lived up to his reputation as Hart’s best athlete.

Week at a Glance:

Owens accounted for 70% of Hart’s defense in a 31-21 loss against undefeated Loyola. He caught nine passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns. Both scoring plays covered 79 yards--on passes thrown by different quarterbacks.

Girls

Natalie Stein

School: North Hollywood

Year: Freshman

Sport: Cross-county

Season at a Glance:

Stein’s high school career began two weeks ago, but she has already become the favorite to win the City Section championships Nov.22. She finished second behind 1995 City champion Jamie Newman of El Camino Real in a nonconference meet Oct. 1--despite taking a wrong turn on the course--and then won the Valley Pac-8 Conference Classic last Wednesday.

Week at a Glance:

The 5-foot-1, 95-pound Stein clocked 18:04 over the three-mile course at Pierce College to win the Valley Pac-8 meet by more than two minutes. Her time was 53 seconds faster than Newman’s winning effort in the Northwest Valley Conference meet, which was held on the same course.