FACES IN THE CROWD

DIANE PIERCE
MINNEAPOLIS
A 31-year-old self-defense instructor, Pierce won her sixth straight 120-pound championship at the U.S. Judo Association's national women's tournament in Milwaukee. She also has been the Minnesota AAU champion eight years in a row.

GREG KOZDEMBA
EAST LANSING, MICH.
Greg, 15, took first place in the Midwest finals of the American Horse Show Association's Junior Dressage championship. Because his own horse had suffered a bruise, Greg had only two days' practice on a new mount.

DEBBIE PAVIK
LUTHERVILLE, MD.
A senior at Dulaney High School, Debbie had never run in a cross-country race before this fall, but she has already won four dual meets. She also finished the 2.2-mile Arundel Invitational in 12 minutes, 53 seconds, fourth overall.

MARK RUTLEDGE
COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VA.
Mark, 10, set state AAU (10-and-under) records in the 100-meter breast-stroke (1:29.8) the 200-meter freestyle (2:32.2), and broke the state mark for the mile in 23:43.9. He also led his Sherwood Hills swim team to a league title.

PILAR DORADO
HAYWARD, CALIF.
Pilar, 17, won this year's USGA Girls' Junior championship held at Modesto, Calif. She also won 15 other golf tournaments this year and led her California team to victory at the Helen Langfeld matches in Calgary, Alberta.

STEVE CAUTHEN
WALTON, KY.
Steve, 16, got his apprentice jockey's license last May and has since ridden 175 winners. The 5'1" 92-pounder was home first 94 times at River Downs in Cincinnati and currently has 13 wins at Hawthorne Park in Chicago.

SIX PHOTOS