ATHLETES OF THE WEEK / GIRLS

Anita Siraki

SCHOOL: Hoover

YEAR: Senior

SPORT: Cross-country

SEASON AT A GLANCE: Siraki won 11 of 13 races and finished second in the other two during what was arguably the best season ever by a runner from the region. Among the highlights were a 16:38 clocking in the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational that smashed the course record by 17 seconds, a second state Division I title and a runner-up finish in the national championships.

WEEK AT A GLANCE: Siraki finished second in the national championships at the Oak Trail Golf Course at Shades of Green in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Saturday. She was passed by Sara Bei of Santa Rosa Montgomery with 15 meters left in the 5,000-meter race, but her time (16:56) was nearly 28 seconds faster than she ran on the same course to place fourth in the 1999 national final.