California Track & Running News

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ct&rn Jan–Mar 2013

With her time of 16:52.9 at the Santa Monica 5000, TANYA ZAFERJAHN (F28) captured her second 2012 SCA USATF Championship title.

See story on page 26.

California Track & Running News VOLUME 39 NUMBER 1 $3.95

ATHLETE PROFILE MINIMALIST SHOE REvIEw REGIONAL ASSOCIATION NEwS & uPdATES

www.supersportsphoto.com

www.caltrack.com

Includes the Runner’s Schedule Calendar!

Permit #50 Fort Atkinson, WI

PAID PRST STD U.S. Postage

Official Publication of the California/Northern Nevada Associations of USATF

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welcome to 2013

California Track & Running News Vol. 39, No.1 Jan–Mar 2013

SHOOTING STAR MEDIA Group Publisher Larry Eder Group & Coordinating Editor Christine Johnson christinej.ssm@gmail.com CTRNeditorial@gmail.com

CT&RN Contributing Editors Cregg Weinmann Apparel, Footwear Reviews Dave Shrock Community Colleges Mark Winitz Northern California Photographers Victor Sailer www.PhotoRun.net Ford Fujii, Hollie Reina Rebecca Trahan, Thuc Tran www.supersportsphoto.com Association Consultants John Mansoor Pacific Lawrence Watson Central Wayne Joness, Rebecca Trahan Southern Mike Rouse San Diego/Imperial Proofreader Red Ink Editorial Services Madison, WI Pre-Press/Printer W. D. Hoard & Sons Co. Fort Atkinson, WI Website Chuck Bartlett

Publisher’s Representative Dave Parham ph 517.914.3181 dparham@runningracepromotions.com Advertising Production Manager Alex Larsen

Larry Eder

California Track & Running News (ISDN #10986472), incorporating Pacific Athlete, is the official publication for the four USA Track & Field associations in California and Northern Nevada. It is produced, published, and owned

by Shooting Star Media, P.O. Box 67, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. All ad materials and insertion orders should be sent to Shooting Star Media at the above address.

Publisher assumes no liability for matter printed. Publisher assumes no responsibility or liability for content of paid advertising and reserves the right to reject paid advertising.

Publisher expects that all claims by advertisers can be substantiated and that all guarantees will be honored. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Publisher.

Copyright © 2013 by Shooting Star Media.

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the Publisher. California Track & Running News is solely owned by Shooting Star Media.

Publisher recommends, as with all fitness and health issues, you consult with your physician before instituting any changes in your fitness program.

Let Us Hear From You! We welcome your suggestions, comments, and questions. Direct them to: Christine Johnson, Group Editor Shooting Star Media/CTRN 608.239.3787 CTRNeditorial@gmail.com Address Changes/Missing Issues Third class mail is not forwarded. Contact your local USATF association about address changes, duplicate mailings, or missing issues.

See page 5 for contact information.

Member of:

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w w w. c a l t r a c k . c o m

Regards,

Jan–Mar 2013 • ct&rn

ADVERTISING Publisher Larry Eder Shooting Star Media ph 608.239.3785 fax 920.563.7298 caltrackads@gmail.com

Same magazine, redesigned and reimagined!

We are excited to present the new www.caltrack.com and updated California Track & Running www.facebook.com/CalforniaTrackRunningNews News. This fresh new design is the work Twitter handle: @caltrackrn of group editor Christine Johnson and www.runblogrun.com designer Alex Larsen and it’s just the beginning. Christine has many editorial enhancements in the pipeline, with plans roll them out all year long.

While the new design is what you first noticed, the next thing you’ll see is that instead of grouping association news by subject, it’s now grouped by association. Christine will be working with association representatives to fill these pages with the information they wish to deliver to their members. Each association may have different ways they’d like to use CTRN to enhance their message and serve their members, and this change reflects that. We’re also adding more subject-driven sections (such as nutrition and training) to go along with our shoe reviews. These will be of interest no matter what your USATF association. Check out the Athlete Profile of SCA’s Tyler Okamoto on page 18 of this issue for the first of these.

In addition to changes in the magazine, we are putting the finishing touches on our updated website and you can look for new approaches and directions on our Facebook page and Twitter, as well. Put them on your RSS feed, so that you can keep up with our plans, share your own ideas and suggestions, and participate in our growing online CTRN community.

All of these changes are underpinned by our belief that this is your magazine and that means it’s news is focused on California and USATF. For those who are interested in also reading about the rest of the world, we invite you to sign up on to receive the nightly newsletter, RunBlogRun. See the box for direct links to each of these. You can type them in your searchbar or, if you are reading the issue online, the links will be hot so one click will be all you need!

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in this issue Thuc Tran

Jan–Mar 2013

Publisher’s Letter

The top open competitors at the SCA USATF Road Mile Championships included (l–r) Tommy Schmitz, Jon Rankin, and eventual winner AJ Acosta.

Story on p. 28.

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6 25 29 30

Gear Minimalist Shoe Reviews

12

Athlete Profile Tyler Okamoto

18

Runner’s Schedule Calendar Event Listings USATF National Awards

10 20

California Track & Running News is a magazine for members of the California and N. Nevada associations of USA Track & Field. Contact your region regarding changes of address and missing issues.

Central California Association: lawrencewatsonus@yahoo.com — www.central-california.usatf.org Pacific Association: 916.983.4715 — heikemansoor@aol.com — www.pausatf.org San Diego/Imperial Association: 619.275.6542 — sdi_trackandfield@sbcglobal.net — www.sdusatf.org Southern California: 562.941.2621 — info@scausatf.org — www.scausatf.org

Jan–Mar 2013 • ct&rn

Association News Pacific Southern California San Diego/Imperial Central

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pacific assn

President’s Message, LDR

Irene Herman

Mark Winitz

6 ct&rn • Jan–Mar 2013

lherman49@yahoo.com

President’s Message

The Pacific Association has the largest cross country series in the United States! Thanks to our energetic clubs, you had 12 cross country races to pick and choose from. If you participated in 5 of them, you were eligible for Grand Prix scoring, including the PA championship (and Western Region champs) on Nov. 18. The winners of the Grand Prix and the open men and women PA champ winners will be funded $250 each to compete in the Winter USA Cross Country Championships in Clayton, MO on Feb. 2.

Looking ahead, the Pacific Association proudly announces that we’ve been awarded the 2015 Club National Cross Country Championship at Golden Gate Park. The date is the second weekend of December. Our local organizing committee will start meeting this year and will provide a progress report and advise you as to how PA clubs can assist in sponsorship. John Rembao, our marketing chair and XC meet director, will work with our website com-com committee on advertising and marketing this event.

There’s also talk that the national office is considering a joint Cross Country Junior Olympic Championship with the Club Nationals. We’ll know more later, when a decision is made. If this can be done, then San Francisco is the perfect place for it. It’s a great destination with lots of activities for the youth, and public transportation is easy.

Our membership year begins Jan. 1 of each year and expires on Dec. 31. On Oct. 31, 2012, USATF closes the prior year’s membership counts. We had a few hundred fewer members in 2012 than we had in 2011, when the WMA [World’s Masters Athletics] championships in Sacramento created a spike of 150+ members.

Increased membership does bring funds into our association; however, it’s the event sanctioning and insurance that bring prize money and programs to our association. If you hear of clubs or events that need sanctioning and insurance, please direct them to our website where there are explanations and forms.

Remind your club to renew its membership just as individual members must. You will be automatically renewed with your current team/club.

If you plan to change clubs, the 90-day rule still applies from the date of the last sanctioned event. Please renew with your current club and email me that you wish to become unattached from the date of your last sanctioned event. Remember that during this time, you must wear generic athletic attire to compete as Unattached.

Close to the conclusion of the 90-day period, email me again so that we can update your profile to your new club. Post-Christmas Relays is a good time to do this because the first LDR road race is in March.

Club captains and representatives: It’s important for you to check www.pausatf.org and confirm that your members did renew and did not accidentally become unattached by forgetting to input a club, especially new members. Everybody should know this, young and old. With the online registration, it’s easy to pass a field quickly and make a mistake. Youth clubs: Please have your members renew before practices begin. Youth members should not be practicing with a club if they aren’t affiliated with that club. Club practice insurance is provided to the club; unaffiliated youth working out with a club are not insured for liability.

The annual USATF meeting was in Daytona Beach, FL Nov. 29–Dec. 2, 2012. President Stephanie Hightower was re-elected and former president Bill Roe is the new LDR Chair. (Editor’s Note: Look for an overview of the annual meeting in our next issue. See page 20 in this issue for a list of national award winners.)

Look for an update soon about San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium and its need for rehabilitation. For the moment, if you know of track & field facilities that might be available for our youth meets or practices, please let me know. Carl Rose of Strawberry Canyon recently told me about the renovated Cal-Berkeley track, so get ready for the All-Comers at Berkeley in February.

LDR News Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot Elite 5K PA/USATF Championship - Open Individuals San Jose; Nov. 22, 2012

On a bright morning perfect for fast running, 20,000-plus finishers turned out and completed mass-participant 5K and 10K events at this rapidly growing Thanksgiving Day event in downtown San Jose. Those who stuck around after their races witnessed course records in the separate elite men’s

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and women’s 5K races, which once again each hosted Pacific Association/USTAF Open 5K Championships. 2012 Olympian Kim Conley (West Sacramento) demolished a strong women’s field on the flatand-fast, four-loop elite course in 15:40, taking down the previous women’s CR of 15:41 set by Sally Kipyego in 2009. Then, in the men’s elite race, Kenya’s Stephen Sambu turned in a 13:28 barn burner, breaking the 13:33 men’s course record established by Australia’s David McNeil in 2011.

Conley established a gap on the lead pack after one mile and extended it to a strong finish, capturing the women’s overall and PA/USATF championship titles. Clara Peterson (San Anselmo) captured the runner-up spot in 16:00, improving two places from last year’s race. Katie (Follett) Mackey (Portland) was third in 16:06. Jackie Areson (TX), last year’s female winner, finished 7th, battling the flu.

Thirteen women finished under 16:45.

15

2013

An

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For Conley, who competes for Sacramento Running Association Elite, it was a nice payday, capping a breakout year that included successive 5000m PRs on the track—a 15:19.79 at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, followed by a 15:14.48 in a qualifying heat at the Olympic Games in London. The 2008 graduate of UC-Davis took home $3,000 for the overall and PA/USATF women’s wins at the Turkey Trot, plus another $500 in performance bonus money. “The Olympic Games in London was a great experience, and I came back from it with an inspiration to be even better,� Conley said after the race. “Today was my start for doing that. This was my first Silicon Valley [Turkey] Trot, and I had a great time.�

Sambu earned the men’s win in his first professional road race.

He had completed his collegiate career for the University of Arizona just five days earlier at the NCAA Division I XC Championships, where he finished second. He finished second here last year, but refused prize money to preserve his collegiate eligibility.

Sambu out-sprinted 2011 NCAA indoor 5000m and outdoor 10,000m champion Leonard Korir (Kenya/CO) over the final 150 meters, as Korir finished 2 seconds behind (13:30) for second. “My plan was to run fast from the starting gun,� Sambu said. “I was paying attention to Leonard [Korir] because I know him from college competition, and he’s really tough. After last Saturday’s NCAA cross country championships, I just relaxed. I ran just 30 minutes each day and very slow, recovering for this race. After this, I feel ready for more pro races. Maybe I'll do a 10K.�

Julius Bor (Kenya/NM, 13:59) and Scott Bauhs (Mammoth Lakes, 14:00), who recently joined the New York Athletic Club, placed third and fourth, respectively. Bauhs was preparing for his marathon debut at the subsequently cancelled ING New York City Marathon. Oakland’s Giliat Ghebray (sixth, 14:05) earned the PA/USATF men’s win.

Dennis Simonaitis, age 50, of Draper, UT, ran a swift 15:14 for 35th place, 22 seconds under Nolan Shaheed’s currently listed official U.S. age-group record.

In a survey conducted by Race Results Weekly’s David Monti of 20 well-established Thanksgiving Day races, the Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot’s 2012 finisher count of 20,159 (all races within the race) was the largest. An increase of 24% in its finishers’ count from the previous year showed the most growth among the surveyed races. The record turnout raised over $1.2 million to help three South Bay charities (Second Harvest Food Bank, the Children’s Initiative of Santa Clara County, and The Housing Trust of Santa Clara County). The event debuted in 2005 with 1,917 finishers.

Monti also ranked the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot, along with Connecticut’s Manchester Road Race (4.74 miles), as the most competitive running events on Thanksgiving. n

th ary s r e niv

February

“I came back from [London] with an inspiration to be even better,� Conley said after the race. “Today was my start for doing that.�

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ct&rn

California Track & Running News

runner’s schedule calendar Presents The

January–March 2013

YOuR GuIdE TO RuNNING, wALkING, TRAIL ANd MuLTI-SPORTS IN CALIFORNIA containing events through June 2013

25,000 Copies Distributed!

Check Inside for: • Event Listings • Running Network Minimalist Shoe Review

• Athlete Profile: SCA’s Tyler Okamoto

www.supersportsphoto.com

• USATF National News

You can also find this calendar at www.caltrack.com

At the Santa Monica 5000 in October, the mens’ masters division saw the return of DAVID OLDS (M50) to fine form, winning the 2012 5K masters SCA championship title in 16:20.5. Olds formerly helmed the fearsome Fluffy Bunny TC, but has now been recruited to the formidable Cal Coast TC, which dominated the Southern California running scene in 2012. Jon Megeff (M49), the 2011 5K masters champion, finished second in 16:36.7, proving his team, Club Ed Running, is still a force to be reckoned with. In third was Gregory Keyes (M45), running 17:15.9 and wearing the ubiquitous blue Cal Coast TC singlet. See story on page 26.

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calendar

Statewide Event Listings

disclaimer Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided.

However, the publisher is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication. You can save yourself time, money, and frustration by preregistering for events (especially before making any travel plans). You may wish to confirm by telephone with organizers the date, time, and location just prior to the event.

Listing Your Event For $75, your listing will be in print and online through the event date.

Changes may be made at anytime at no additional charge. If you purchase advertising space, a listing is included in the cost. Contact Dave Parham at dparham@runningrace promotions.com An up-to-date version of these listings is online at www.caltrack.com

10 ct&rn • Jan–Mar 2013

©2013 Shooting Star Media. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without consent of the publisher.

Jan. 26,27—SoCal Super Spartan, Temecula In 2012, Spartan Race gave us what was wide accepted as being the hardest Super of the year in Temecula, SoCal. Will they out-do themselves this year? If the 8+ miles of energy-sapping hills, swampy areas, barbed wire and obstacles aren’t enough, this year sees the introduction of the option of 'WodStock.' Are you tough enough to endure a weekend-long regime of punishing Crossfit-style exercises with a collective purse of $15,000 up for grabs? If that's still not enough, the infamous Hurricane Heat will also be in attendance. A 5:30am start followed by 4 hours of ungodly military-style beasting. Will you accept the challenge laid down by the Founders of Spartan Race, Joe and Andy? The usual festivities in the event village means that spectators can cheer on their friends and families and relax with food, drink, music and other activities. (See ad Cover 2) www.spartanrace. com Feb. 2—Tee Off for Dogs 5K, Dana Point Inaugural 6-Legged 5K for runners and their dogs held in Salt Creek Beach Park, Dana Point. (See ad p30) www.TeeOffForDogs.org SUN., Feb. 3— Surf City USA Marathon, Half Marathon, Huntington Beach 6:30am- Marathon, 7:45am Half Marathon. 21100 PCH; This exclusive oceanfront course is a California Dream! Run on Pacific Coast Highway past the famous Huntington Beach pier and wind through the legendary surfing beaches of Southern California. Retro surf bands entertain along the way and the Finish Line Party includes a beach side beer garden in the California sun. Finishers receive bodacious surfboard medals! www.Kinanaevents.com Feb. 3—Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon and 5K, Golden Gate Park, SF Join us for the 30th annual Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon and 5K Fun Run in San

Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Presented by Pamakid Runners Club, this year’s event will include a special half marathon finishers’ medal commemorating three decades of a race by runners for runners. This RRCA Western Region Half Marathon Championship certified 13.1 mile course is ranked as one of the most scenic in the country by Runner’s World. http://xnet.kp.org/sanfrancisco/index.

(See ad Back Cover) Feb. 3—San Juan Hills 5K/10K & 1K Kids Trail Run San Juan Capistrano The first of four races in the Orangeman Running Series takes place on Orange County’s most scenic trails above historic San Juan Capistrano. Race features easy-to moderate trails for the 5K and some rolling ones for the 10K. Expect amazing views of Saddleback Mountain and a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean. All races are chip-timed for accuracy, preregistrants will receive a custom designed “tech” shirt and we always have post-race refreshments to recover. www. orangemanrunningseries.com or http://orangemantriathlon.com/?page_id=859 (See ad p28) Feb. 9—The Rite: SoCal Orange County This date is now closed, but there will be another date added in late summer. At www.theritehq.com there are workouts to help you get ready. (See ad p29) Feb. 10—Palm Springs Half Marathon This has become a southern California favorite.

Mostly flat and USATF certified courses wind through some of the most famous neighborhoods in Palm Springs. This is a beautiful walker-friendly course. Everyone is allowed to finish and there is no cut-off time. In the half-marathon relay, the first leg is 5.4 miles, the second leg is 3.5 miles and the third is 4.2 miles. (See ad p7) www.kleinclarksports.com/page2/page2.html Mar. 2—Juana Run? 8K, 1-Mile, Kids’ Races, Palo Alto 17th annual. Race hotline 650-599-3434. (See ad p22) www.juanarun.org Juanarun@aol.com Mar. 2—NorCal John Frank Memorial 10M, Lake Redding Park, Redding This is the PA/USATF 10-Mile Road Championship.

Start 10am. 3M and 1M races at 10am and 8:30am, respectively. 530-626-3076. www.sweatrc.com sweatrc@sbcglobal.net (See ad p15) Mar. 17—Emerald Across the Bay 12K, Sausalito to San Francisco “A Celebration of Running” to mark the 30th annual run from East Fort Baker (Sausalito) across the Golden Gate Bridge sidewalk, through Crissy continued on page 22

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2012. THE YEAR OF NEW PERSONAL BESTS. THE RE-ENGINEERED GT SERIES.

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A twelve-time Runner’s World award winner and the ultimate shoe for the long run.

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Minimalist Shoes Winter 2013 In this review, our third annual look at minimalist shoes, we examine this growing category and feature 7 new shoes and one updated model for you to consider. In deciding what a minimalist shoe is, we use the following ranges: a minimal heel-to-forefoot drop (5 millimeters or less); minimal support (can fold down the heel of the upper or pinch the sides of the heel together) and little sole structure (should be able to twist torsionally with little resistance); and light in weight (under 10 ounces for a men’s size 11). Shoes that satisfy at least two of these three characteristics we classify as minimal. Your use of minimalist shoes will be determined by your fitness and preferences, but all runners can benefit from the use of a minimal shoe for at least some of their running.

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The adiPure Adapt is the most minimal of the adidas adiPure line. The shoe’s elastic materials conform to the foot and flex as it moves. The upper is a stretchy, booty-like construction—almost like a sock—completely covered with rubbery overlays that provide a hint of structure without getting in the way. Though the midsole is the lowest in the adidas running line with a stack height of 15mm and a drop of 4mm, it is a bit more than one might expect from the very minimal nature of the shoe. Deep flex grooves and a forefoot-only outersole provide a flexible, responsive ride and a measure of protection without sacrificing the feedback desired in a minimalist shoe.

“These ‘shoes’ have to be about as minimal as it gets. They hug my feet perfectly, and provide decent cushioning and protection, though I probably wouldn’t recommend them for everyday running.”

Heel/Forefoot Drop 4mm Sizes Men 7–13,14,15; Women 5–12 Weight 5.3 oz. (men’s 11); 4.1 oz. (women’s 8)

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The Torin is a new shoe to the Altra line, a young brand that has taken solid root in the minimalist market. The brand’s aesthetics take a step forward with this model, now packaging its roomy toe-box and foot-friendly shape in a sleeker design. The upper is open mesh with welded overlays and saddle-like, ghilley lacing across the midfoot to securely wrap the foot for performance. The midsole has a generous 28mm stack height (15mm in the midsole), combined with the familiar Altra zero-drop geometry to provide the benefits of a minimal shoe with enough cushion to keep from being beaten up. The segmented carbon outersole allows good flexibility and traction without weighing things down. The result is a daily trainer with zero-drop geometry.

“Really roomy in the toes; not too big or wide, just spacious. The ride is plush, but the foot is close to the ground, especially the heel.”

Heel/Forefoot Drop 0mm Sizes Men 8–13,14,15; Women 5.5,6.5–11,12 Weight 9.6 oz. (men’s 11); 8.4 oz. (women’s 8)

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The Pure Drift is a new shoe in Brooks’ Pure Project line. The Drift splits the difference between the original Pure’s 4mm geometry and zero-drop by featuring an insole with a 4mm drop atop a fabric-covered Strobel board, so zero-drop can be had by simply removing the insole. The upper is open mesh with a few midfoot overlays and the familiar Navband to secure the midfoot while flexing with it. The midsole features flex grooves in a traditional placement (but deeper) and two “Toe Flex” grooves that allow the metatarsals freedom both laterally and longitudinally. The outersole is a zigzag ribbon of rubber from the big toe, under the metatarsals, and down the lateral side to the heel, which provides a little more durability. The Pure Drift earned honors as our Best Minimalist Shoe for Winter 2013.

“Plenty of room for my toes to spread. Light as a racer with great flexibility, but still enough support to feel that it’s a shoe.”

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Heel/Forefoot Drop 0mm Sizes Men 7–13,14; Women 5–12 Weight 7.2 oz. (men’s 11); 6.1 oz. (women’s 8)

MINIMALIST WINTER 2013

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Introducing the Wave EVO Cursoris.

THE ONLY MID-FOOT SHOE WITH WAVE TECHNOLOGY. Experience a transfer of energy with every step for a smoother, more effortless ride.

Start transforming your daily run into a mezamashii run with EVO.™ Join us at mizunorunning.com.

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Mizuno introduces its EVO line of two minimalist shoes with its characteristic twist. Though they’re similar— one aims at performance while the EVO Cursoris is a bit more plush—both have the same zero-drop geometry and lightweight approach. It’s light with a roomy forefoot and 12mm of foam underfoot. The upper is open airmesh in the forefoot (vamp) with smaller mesh on the heel (rear quarter). The midsole is Mizuno’s durable AP foam, which has a toughened skin in the areas where it’s exposed to the road. A visible insert under the metatarsals provides a slightly softer feel underfoot, and the overall shape encourages midfoot striking and a snappy toeoff.

The Wave technology is provided by both shaping the forefoot insert and running the length of the midsole. For durability, the outersole is a sparse forefoot-only treatment of carbon rubber.

“Different than any shoes I’ve worn: snug and sleek in the heel, stretchy and roomy in the toes. The sole is cushy, but flexible. I’ve really enjoyed running in them.”

Heel/Forefoot Drop 0mm Sizes Men 6–13,14,15; Women 6–11 Weight 7.5 oz. (men’s 11); 5.5 oz. (women’s 8)

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The New Balance Minimus 10 Trail has its first update as a tested veteran and the approach taken in Round 1 continues here: pair 4mm geometry with a relatively low stack height, and use thin materials in the upper to keep the weight down. The upper is an open mesh similar to the previous edition, the revised forefoot strap has been slightly repositioned for comfort, and the tongue is now a traditional construction, although it’s partially anchored to allow the shoe to fit more foot shapes. The midsole is virtually the same as before: a thin layer of foam with a 4mm heel-to-toe drop that offers just enough protection to feel like a shoe, but also provides adequate feedback.

The Vibram® outersole now features hexagon-like connections of rubber between the actual hexagon-shaped treads from Round 1 to offer better traction, durability, and protection.

“Nice to see an updated shoe that doesn’t mess with what works. These are simple; fit great, plenty of toeroom, light and flexible, and nice and low to the ground.”

Heel/Forefoot Drop 4mm Sizes Men 6–13,14,15; Women 6–11 Weight 7.1 oz. (men’s 11); 6.0 oz. (women’s 8)

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The Maliko is named after a bay on the island of Maui and this shoe’s suitability in both wet and dry situations is just the beginning of that inspiration. Another notable feature of the Maliko is its split toe construction (the big toe is separated from its brethren), which increases the power and agility of your stride by providing better balance.

The upper is a tough, closed mesh with welded supports, a wrapped arch, and swept heel cup of thin TPU with drainage ports under the arch in case you’re running through water. Monosock construction hugs the foot, while thin laces and a quick-snugging lace-lock complete the fit. There’s no midsole to speak of—the EVA Strobel board and removable EVA arch pad in the heel handle those duties—allowing a zero-drop or very mild ramp angle options. The outersole is durable carbon rubber, effectively textured to grip in wet conditions.

“Once you get past the look of the split toe, you realize these are comfortable performance running shoes. The design is awesome, light and flexible with good traction and nothing extra added.”

Heel/Forefoot Drop 0mm Sizes Men 7–12,13; Women 5,6–10,11 Weight 7.3 oz. (men’s 11); 6.2 oz. (women’s 8)

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The Virrata derives its name from the Finnish verb “to flow,” an apt description of the performance of this light and flexible shoe. The upper is a micromesh with well-placed, welded overlays to secure the foot. Though thin, it doesn’t feel skimpy, but rather racer-like light. The midsole is the same rubbery compound used in both the Kinvara and the Mirage, providing a resilient and responsive ride, with deep flex grooves making for an ultra-flexible sole. The majority of the outersole is toughened EVA with some carbon rubber on the highest-wear areas, particularly at the extremes of heel and toe, to improve traction at touch-down and toe-off. The Virrata brings cushioning, flexibility, and zero-drop geometry to everyday running.

“Really cushioned, but responsive, and light—nice and light. The zero drop isn’t really noticeable like some I’ve tried. These are more like a racer or lightweight training shoe.”

Heel/Forefoot Drop 0mm Sizes Men 6–13,14,15; Women 6–11 Weight 6.9 oz. (men’s 11); 6.2 oz. (women’s 8)

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The GoBionic joins the GoRunRide in Skechers’ growing minimal running shoe line. The GoBionic fine tunes some features, while employing the best of what works in the Ride. The soft and breathable synthetic upper is suitable for sockless wear. Supportive, sueded overlays give a little structure to the well-ventilated mesh. The midsole features zero-drop geometry, but with a comfortable 16mm stack height and a flexible design that allows the foot to flex as it needs to. The entire outersole is segmented into numerous pods of toughened EVA and carbon rubber in the high-wear portions at heel, toe, and select spots between. The result is a flexible and protective shoe that fits well without breaking the bank.

“Really flexible with a nice bounce. They are light and feel great on your bare feet. They are a little thin under the heel.”

14

Heel/Forefoot Drop 0mm Sizes Men 6.5–12,13,14; Women 5–10,11 Weight 6.2 oz. (men’s 11); 5.3 oz. (women’s 8) CREGG WEINMANN is footwear and running products reviewer for Running Network LLC. He can be reached via email at shuz2run@lightspeed.net.

Copyright © 2013 by Running Network LLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be stored, copied, or reprinted without prior written permission of Running Network LLC. Reprinted here with permission.

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athlete

and a woman whom the Okamotos have come to respect as a second mother to him, agrees. “Tyler is one of our most consistent members,” said Hodgson. “He lights up when he runs.”

That level of dedication shines through in other aspects of his life, as well. Okamoto has racked up more than 2,000 volunteer hours at a Glendora hospital where he works 18 hours a week in the cafeteria. Despite Okamoto’s disabilities— many of which are social—he works well with the group and is seen as a valuable member and leader.

He acts as a host for the Ridge Runners, often slowing his pace to help new and beginning members of the club.

“Running provides him with a valuable social outlet,” said Laub. “He’s not treated differently than any other runner.”

And indeed, this normally one-word man finds confidence and an ability to express himself through running that he doesn’t normally have. He knows everyone’s names in the running club and, according to his mother, “He will spill all the family secrets on a run.”

While he has been trained and taken care of by the Glendora Ridge Runners for the past 4 years, they are all quick to point out that he has taught them so much more.

“This journey with Tyler has taught us how to treat newcomers, how to include others, and how to work with people who have differences,” said Hodgson.

That is what makes Okamoto so special.

L–R Okamoto and decathlete Bryan Clay, 2008 Olympic gold medalist, at the 2012 Fit4Fall Bryan Clay 4K in November.

Hollie Reina

Tyler Okamoto is special. At 31 years old he can’t make change from a dollar—in fact, most simple math problems elude him—he can’t drive a car, and daily social interactions are difficult at best. But what makes Okamoto special is not what he can’t do, but what he can do.

And what he can do is run.

A Glendora resident and a 4-year member of the Glendora Ridge Runners, Okamoto’s path to the pavement was neither easy nor traditional. Diagnosed with epilepsy as a child, Okamato struggled with seizures that left him cognitively and physically impaired. While children his age were mastering complicated jump rope routines, he was concentrating on learning how to hop, skip, and even run. In high school, Okamoto didn’t want to take PE so he joined the track team. His mother, Amity Okamoto, recalls his first foray into running: “He joined the track team on a Thursday and his first meet was on Friday. He came in dead last and was so sore that he couldn’t walk the rest of the weekend. But he went back and he kept going every day.”

It’s that kind of persistence that makes Okamoto the runner he is today. That, and a chance phone call that led him to the running group that has nurtured him and trained him and, in turn, has learned from him about the human spirit and how running gives it wings.

Nearly 4 years ago, Okamoto and his mother were sitting in a local coffee shop when they saw a sign advertising the Glendora Ridge Runners.

Amity Okamoto placed a call that night. Club director Leon Laub remembers taking the call. “I received a call from a woman who had seen our sign.

She said to me that she had a son who was disabled and wondered if he could he come out and run with us,” said Laub.

With some trepidation, Laub invited him out to a run. It turned out that he could run just fine and he has been running with them and improving ever since.

In 2012 Okamoto entered the USATF Southern California Road Running Grand Prix in the men’s 30–34 age group, competing in five runs ranging from one mile to the marathon.

Okamoto is posting those results because of an impressive dedication to and a deep love of the sport of running. “I don’t like to miss a day,” said Okamoto. Linda Hodgson, one of the leaders of the Ridge Runners

By Hollie Reina

18 ct&rn • Jan–Mar 2013

Profile: Tyler Okamoto

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usatf meeting

National Award Winners At the 2012 USA Track & Field Annual Meeting, a number of individuals who have made significant contributions to the sport were honored during the annual Awards Lunch, including:

For USATF national news, check out www.usatf.org

Associations Association of the Year - Missouri Valley Horace Crow, Jr. Award - Scott Rose Coaching Education Dr. Joe Vigil Coaches Education Award - Dr. Steve Portenga Ron Buss Service Award - Andrew Allden Fred Wilt Coaching Education Award - Troy Engle Men’s Long Distance Running Allan Steinfeld Award - Guy Morse H. Browning Ross Merit Award - Andy Carr Robert E. DeCelle Jr. Award - Meb Keflezighi Scott Hamilton Memorial Award - Tracey Russell

20 ct&rn • Jan–Mar 2013

Men’s Track & Field Harrison Dillard Award - Aries Merritt

Race Walking Captain Ron Zinn Memorial Award - Trevor Barron, Maria Michta Henry Laskau Junior Athlete Award - Tyler Sorenson, Maite Moscoso Masters Race Walkers on the Year - Tim Seaman, Teresa Vaill Sports Medicine and Science Dr. C. Harmon Brown Award - Peter McGinnis, Ph.D.; Monique Burton, M.D.; LaGywn Durden, ATC; Benny Vaughn, ATC, LMP Women’s Long Distance Running Marja Bakker Contributor of the Year - Houston Marathon Committee Women’s Track & Field C.C. Jackson Award-Field Athlete - Jenn Suhr C.C. Jackson Award-Track Athlete - Allyson Felix Joseph Robichaux Award - Amy Deem Cross Country Council Doris Heritage Award - Thom Hunt, Paul Greer Cross Country Council Award of Merit - Mike Scott Men's, Women’s Cross Country Runners of the Year - Bobby Mack, Sara Hall Masters Age Division Runners of the Year M40-44 KEVIN CASTILLE M45-49 MBARAK HUSSEIN M50-54 PETER MAGILL M55-59 BRIAN PILCHER M60-64 TERRY MCCLUSKEY M65-69 RON LEGG M70-74 DOUG GOODHUE M75-79 BILL RILEY M80-84 GEOFFREY ETHERINGTON M85-89 HUGH CAMPBELL M90+ ALBERT BOOTH F40-44 SHERI PIERS F45-49 COLLEEN DE REUCK F45-49 TRINA PAINTER F50-54 LINDA SOMERS SMITH F55-59 CHRISTINE KENNEDY F60-64 KATHRYN MARTIN F65-69 NANCY ROLLINS F70-74 BARBARA MILLER F75-79 LIBBY JAMES F80-84 LOIS ANN GILMORE F85-89 HARRIETTE THOMPSON F90+ RITA PEKARA Paul Spangler Award - Albert Booth, Rita Pekara Otto Essig Award - Bill Quinlisk Men’s, Women’s Masters LDR Runners of the Year - Brian Pilcher, Christine Kennedy Masters Harriers of the Year - Kathryn Martin, Matt Ebiner n

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calendar listings continued from page 10 Field, Marina Blvd. and Fort Mason’s Great Meadow to Finish at Aquatic Park/Fisherman’s Wharf. Benefits Edgewood Center for Children & Families. http://rhodyco.com/eab12k-2013.html (See ad p27)

Our race listings are updated regularly so check them out at www.caltrack.com You can also visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ CaliforniaTrackRun ningNews

Mar. 23—Big Sur Mud Run, CSU Monterey Bay 8th annual race for both individuals and 5-person teams. Challenging 5-mile course offers mud pits, walls, dirt, sand, water, and drill sergeants. Held at Freeman Stadium, CSU-Monterey Bay. Individual competition begins at 8am, team competition at 10am. www.bigsurmudrun.org (See ad Back Cover) Sun., Mar. 24—Run for Zimbabwe Orphans St. Joseph School, Mountain View The 14th Annual Run for Zimbabwe Orphans and Fair offers 11 cross country races all on school property: 220 yd. pre-school, 1⁄2 mile kindergarten and a series of mile races for grades 1–8, high school, and adult. Awards include champ-ionship cups to the top three runners in each division with finisher ribbons and posted results for all. During the x-country meet, two Zimbands and animal mascots entertain the crowd. The children’s African art show and the African food Sadza are big hits each year. Sponsored by the Bill and Ellen Clark Sustainable Living Foundation of Los Altos. Entry fee is $5. Contributions are welcome. All the proceeds from the meet go to the orphanage, Makumbi Children’s Home, in Zimbabwe. www.ZimbabweParaguay.net (See ad p22)

22 ct&rn • Jan–Mar 2013

April 5–7—San Luis Obispo Marathon, Half, & 5K The SLO Marathon, Half & 5K races are on routes that will take you through an authentic coastal California town, challenge your will, and inspire you to achieve more. The Marathon + Half benefits the

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. (See ad p20) www.slomarathon.com May 31–June 1—Reno-Tahoe Odyssey Relay Reno, NV The Reno-Tahoe Odyssey Relay Run Adventure is ideally suited for teams of 12 runners on a 178-mile course. Teams start in Downtown Reno next to the Truckee River. Runners then travel through the Sierra Nevada mountains and along the shores of Lake Tahoe. The course then circles through the high desert of Northern Nevada before finishing back in Reno. A new addition to the relay this year is the RTO One. The RTO One is a one day, 12-leg relay for teams of 4 and 6. It takes place on the final portion of the full Odyssey course and ends at the Finish Line Festival in Reno. www.renotahoeodyssey.com Sun., June 2—Lake Chabot Trail Challenge Half Marathon & 5K, Castro Valley 30th annual race at Lake Chabot Regional Park in Castro Valley includes t-shirt, post-race refreshments, & raffle. Half marathon course is mostly on dirt fire trails and is very hilly and challenging. 5K course is on asphalt from the marina to the dam and back.

Also hilly and challenging. 8am start. Pre-Reg Cost: 5K - $25; Half Marathon - $40. Race Day: $30 & $45. www.cvtrackclub.com n

USATF Association Schedules on the Web Central www.central-california.usatf.org Pacific www.pausatf.org San Diego/Imperial www.sdusatf.org Southern California www.scausatf.org

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3rd "OOVBM t 4VOEBZ t B N t "QSJM t 4UBUF $BQJUPM 2013 Pacific Association/USATF 10-Mile Championship

4BD5PXO PSH

+ Fast, flat, scenic course through the “best

+ $15,000 total prize purse will be distributed for the

of Sacramento."

the Pacific Association 10-Mile Championship and Credit Union SACTOWN Ten-Mile Run top finishers.

+ Starts and finishes at the spectacular

+ Three-Person Relay option with these categories:

California State Capitol.

shirts awarded to finishers who + “Sub-time� achieve times faster than 50 to 80 minutes in 5-minute increments (i.e. sub-50, sub-55, sub-60, etc.).

Open Teams, Credit Union Teams and Elected Officials/Staff/Family Teams.

Miracle Mile, courtesy of + Kids'

Children's Miracle Network pledge program!

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so cal assn

LDR News

A great addition to this race was a contingent of perhaps 100 runners from Students Run LA, an organization that inspires at-risk youth to achieve their dreams through a life-transforming experience. And what better way to transform your life than through running, right? I look forward to seeing them and their coaches at more SCA USATF events. Many of them have dreams of running in college and beyond—maybe even one day at the Olympics!

USATF Club Cross Country Championships Lexington, KY ; Dec. 8, 2012

By Contributing SCA Members Members of USATF Southern California again proved their dominance in masters club cross country racing with the powerful performance of the Cal Coast (powered by Compex Racing) men’s 50–59 team at the Club Cross Country Championships, as well as top finishes by members of The Janes Elite Racing.

The Cal Coast team scored an amazing 20

For questions on the Holiday Half event, the schedule for 2013 and 2014, and information on how to add your event to our Grand Prix and Championship Series calendar, please email me today! As the new SCA LDR chair, I look forward to working with each and every one of you over the next two seasons!

—Rebecca Trahan

Christopher Cushing-Murray claimed the men’s masters 5K win at the Dino Dash.

Dino Dash Tustin; Nov. 4, 2012

By Contributing SCA Members The 2012 Grand Prix rolled back into Orange County for the 10th race in the series, the Tustin Public Schools Foundation Dino Dash. Runners were well rested because of the time change, and continued on page 26

Ford Fujii

Rebecca Trahan

Students Run LA

Rebecca Trahan

While many Southern California citizens were out running through the malls and stores buying gifts for the holidays, some of our finest runners braved the early morning cold to run the Holiday Half Marathon at the Pomona Fairplex. Hardly your normal half marathon, it was filled with both young and old, dressed in everything from running gear to reindeer hats and red tutus. Whether one was running to win a medal, notch a PR, or capture the prize for the best costume, it was a challenging, well-run race.

Showing impressive efforts were overall open winners Carlos Carballo (M30, 1:07:25) and Holly Hobson-Gery (F29, 1:29:02). Equally as great were the overall masters winners Kevin Broady (M51, 1:14:17) and Caroline McAndrews (F51, 1:40:30).

points, giving them a huge advantage over 2ndplace finishers Club Northwest (73 points) and Front Line Racing Team (111 points, third place). Cal Coast Track Club was led by Matt Ebiner (34:50, first), David Olds (35:13, second), Peter Magill (35:43, fourth), Jeff Ambos (35:46, fifth), Dan Arsenault (36:06, eighth), and Andy DiConti (37:58, twenty-fourth). It was a sweet victory for the Southern California runners, who had lost to Club Northwest by a single point in 2011. Club Northwest has a long history of championship titles, winning five championships in 6 years.

Cal Coast won the victory in style, with Matt Ebiner repeating as M50–54 champion, a tremendous feat in this sport. David Olds was right on his heels, taking second in the division. Peter Magill finished fourth in scoring, and Jeff Ambos forgot all about his strained hamstring to finish a few seconds behind Magill. But the huge surprise of the race was Dan Arsenault. With the strong top finishers, Cal Coast members knew victory was theirs with a solid performance by their fifth runner. With four members across the line, Cal Coast members turned to see Arsenault finishing right behind them, in eighth place overall! Cal Coast went 1-2-4-5-8 in the national championships! And the team’s sixth runner, Andy DiConti, had trained all of 32 days for the meet and came onboard only after a panicked phone call from Magill, who was concerned about not having five finishers in the race. Conti finished high enough (low 20s in the scoring) that Cal Coast would have won if one of its top-five placers had finished much lower and left Conti as the fifth scorer.

Earlier in the fall, Cal Coast TC also won the men’s 50–59 team title at the USATF Masters 5K Cross Country Championships in San Diego.

After taking some time off, Kirsten Leetch (F46) of The Janes Elite Racing has returned to competition, running stronger than ever. In the masters women’s 6K competition, Leetch finished fourth overall with a time of 23:11. Teammate Tania Fischer (F46) also scored a top-10 finish with a time of 23:40, and Darcy Arreola-Lange (F44) finished 14th in 24:12. Overall, The Janes Elite Racing came in second place in team scoring, behind Club Northwest.

bundloflafs@aol.com

Holiday Half Marathon Pomona; Dec. 9, 2012

By Rebecca Trahan

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www.supersportsphoto.com

continued from page 25

26 ct&rn • Jan–Mar 2013

At the Santa Monica 5000, Nike Team Run LA’s Luis Ibarra (M32) captured the SCA USATF 5K title, finishing second overall/first SCA member in 14:30.6.

everyone was greeted with a clear, cool morning and perfect race conditions. The well-attended Dino Dash was the last chance for the 5K and 10K runners to put the pedal to the metal and add to their 2012 Road Running Grand Prix scores. This competition was also special in that the runners were given the option to run either the 10K or the 5K to earn age-graded points. The format was well received, with a sizable USATF turnout. This is traditionally a large race to benefit the Tustin Schools, and more than 187 SCA USATF S members participated, along with the top five road running clubs fielding teams: Cal Coast TC, Junior Cal Coast, Club Ed Running, Equalizers, and The Janes Elite Racing.

The 10K was off first, and ran along parts of the 5K course before traveling into the neighborhoods of Tustin. In the open division, the winners were USATF members Robert Olivera (M26) with a time of 31:14 and Erika Aklufi (F36) from The Janes Elite Racing, with a time of 36:13. The second-place finishers were Juan Morales (M32, 35:17.7) from Cal Coast TC and Jenni Johnson (F32, 37:45.6), followed by Dave Withers (M38, 39:56.3) and Andrea Palacio (F30, 38:13.3) from The Janes.

Freshly minted masters runner John Gardiner (M40) from Cal Coast TC raced a hard 32:41.3, and Ingrid Walters (F40) from The Janes ran 39:30.7, setting a new personal record. They were followed by Mark Steyvers (M42, 34:50) from Cal Coast TC and Sherri Ellerby (F48, 39:53.1) of A Snail’s Pace Running Club, followed by third-place finishers Juan Ramirez (M41, 35:46.5) from Team Runners High and Jennifer Lazio (F44). Outstanding youth runners included brother/sister duo Daniel (M17, 36:21.7) and Maily Wong (F14, 39:44.4), both members of the Equalizers. The Wong family boasted the fastest times among the 18-and-younger USATF competitors in the 10K competition.

Next up was the 5K, with more than 155 USATF members ready to dash through the streets of Tustin. The open division winners were Roosevelt Cook (M33) from Cal Coast TC, with a time of 15:10, and Lilyana Morejon (F23), with a time of

17:33. The second-place runners were Sergio Olivarrias (M22, 15:24.0) and Leilani Rios (F32, 17:54.1) from A Snail’s Pace Running Club, followed by Adam Vega (M20, 15:28.5) and Ashley Teran (F26, 19.08.02) from Cal Coast TC. Top spots in the masters division were claimed by Cal Coast TC’s Christian Cushing-Murray (M45) with a time of 15:34 and Nathalie Higley (F42) from Club Ed Running with her time of 17:36. They were followed by Jon Megeff (M49, 16:30.2) from Club Ed Running and Kirsten Leetch from The Janes Elite Racing in 17:43.4, in second place and Dan Arsenault (M49, 16:38.7) from Cal Coast TC and Kathleen CushingMurray (F47, 19:37.0) from Cal Coast TC in third.

A large part of the active USATF participation at the Dino Dash came from the youth contingent.

Orange County is home to some of the most active USATF youth clubs, and both the Equalizers and Cal Coast Juniors brought teams to compete in the 5K race. Here are the top finishers in the 18-andyounger USATF categories. Sub-Bantam: Noah Lindo (M8) 21:17.1; Hayley Bloch (F7) 25:20.5; Bantam: Jonathan Manara (M9) 20:27.0; Devin Ito (F9) 19:44.9; Midget: Daniel Bautista (M11) 19:05.2; Chloe Arriaga (F11) 19:13.8; Youth: Colby Penn (M14) 16:25.7; Hannah Hall (F12) 19:06.8; Intermediate: Sydney Gidabuday (M16) 15:17.1; Emily Gibson (F16) 21:50.1; Young: Jessica Selby (F17) 20:01.3.

Santa Monica 5000 Santa Monica; Oct. 7, 2012

By Wayne Joness The 2012 SCA USATF 5K championships were hosted by the Santa Monica 5000, fast becoming the premier 5K race in Southern California. Incorporating the Elite West Coast Invitational competition, the Santa Monica 5000 consistently draws both capable national talent, and top local heroes.

There was a strong local flavor to the 2012 race, with former Southern California member Ben Bruce (M30) of the Arizona-based McMillan Elite battling with Luis Ibarra (M32) of Nike Team Run LA. With a half-mile to go, Bruce decisively pulled away from Ibarra, finishing in 14:25.0 to Ibarra’s 14:30.6. With congratulations to Bruce, it was Ibarra who was the first USATF Southern California member to cross the finish line, winning the title of 2012 SCA USATF 5K champion. Following Ibarra to the finish line was Sean Brosnan (M20) of the Cal Coast Track Club in 15:04.4 and Adam Vega (M20) in 15:23.0.

In the women’s open division, the talented Tanya Zeferjahn (F28), also of Cal Coast TC, picked up her second 2012 Association championship title with a time of 16:52.9, running well ahead of her competitors. The former All-American and Hesperia native also won the 2012 1-Mile Championship, the Road Mile Championship, held in August at the El Toro Airfield. Erika Aklufi (F36) of the The Janes Elite Racing was the second member of USATF SoCal to finish, with a time of 17:32.7. Valerie Sanchez (F22) of Nike Team Run LA was close behind with a time of 17:37.4.

The mens’ masters division saw the return of David Olds (M50) to fine form, winning the 2012 5K continued on page 28

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continued from page 26

The 2013 SCA MUT Series, with five added ultra events, offers a unique variety of running courses and challenges for athletes ranging from the trails on Catalina Island to the unpredictable High Desert.

You can read about the 2012 SCA MUT Series at http://scausatf.blogspot.com /2013/01/2012-sca-mountainultra-trail-report.html

masters championship title in 16:20.5. Olds formerly helmed the fearsome Fluffy Bunny TC, but has now been recruited to the formidable Cal Coast TC, which dominated the Southern California running scene in 2012. Jon Megeff (M49), the 2011 5K masters champion, finished second in 16:36.7, proving his team, Club Ed Running, is still a force to be reckoned with. In third was Cal Coast TC’s Gregory Keyes (M45), running 17:15.9.

The women’s masters division witnessed a familiar configuration of elite runners, with Grace Padilla (F41) of Nike Team Run LA continuing her successful masters career by winning the 5K championship title in 18:13.7, followed by Tania Fischer (F46) of The Janes Elite Racing, in a time of 18:36.8.

In third place was Cindy Abrami (F44) of the Santa Barbara Athletic Association, running 18:45.2.

With the assistance of event organizer Brennan Linder, USATF Southern California worked to make the Santa Monica 5000 a textbook example of how a USATF championships race should be presented. Race pre-registration discounts were offered to USATF members, and VIP treatment was available to USATF members at the race expo.

USATF volunteers Jim Spear, Tim Petersen, and Stephen Terry were stationed at the USATF-certified mile markers to call times for runners and to act as course monitors. USATF official Jim Hanley was on hand to officiate the race start and to certify potential new 5K records.

28 ct&rn • Jan–Mar 2013

Sub-4:00 Mile at the 2012 SCA USATF Road Mile Champs

By Wayne Joness The third time proved to be the charm at the 2012 USATF Southern California Road Mile Championships when AJ Acosta (M26) rocketed across the finish line in 3:58.98, delivering a blistering finish to the excitement and applause of runners and spectators who had hoped to witness a sub-4:00 mile. Second-place finisher Jon Rankin (M30) just missed the sub-4:00 mark, running 4:00.43. Despite the strong competition and record turnout in other divisions, Acosta was the only runner to set a new course record at the championships, held on Sun., Aug. 26 at the El Toro Airfield. In fact, both Acosta’s and Rankin’s times beat the previous open men’s course record of 4:01.02 run by Christian Hesch (M32) in 2011.

For the youth runners, each USATF youth age division competed in its own race, making for an hour of exciting youth competition. The Sub-Bantam division was won by Melina Gonzalez (F7, 6:56.81) and Noah Lindo (M8, 6:07.76). Bantam division winners were Brianna Valles (F10, 5:46.81) and Coney Jackson (M10, 5:35.24). Gonzalez and Valles were among a number of USATF members representing the McFarland Track Club, who made the long trip to Irvine to compete and showed the depth of talent in the Central California association.

In the Midget division, first-place gold medals were awarded to Chloe Arriaga (F11, 5:22.17) and Raymon Ornelas (M11, 5:13.10). In the Youth division, Bianca Alonzo (F14, 5:08.02) and Hugo Nova (M13, 4:43.36) claimed the titles. Intermediate division honors were claimed by Laura Guidolin (F15, 5:00.97) and Anthony Palazzo (M15, 4:37.82). Wrapping up the hour of youth competition was the Young division, with top spots going to Sara Kebede (F17, 5:25.03) and Michael Pincchini (M17, 4:28.43).

Youth participation grew in 2012, with the Equalizers posting 4,342 points in the Youth club competition, besting the South Orange County Wildcats’ 4,141 and the Chino Hills Flash’s 3,999.

The spectators were truly impressed with the outstanding performances of the youth athletes, so open competitors had quite a high bar to meet.

Head on over to www.caltrack.com to read all about it. n

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san diego assn

Racewalking, Winter T&F

Feb. 2—Winter Classic T&F #4 Mt. Carmel HS, San Diego

www.PhotoRun.net

Jan. 26—Winter Classic T&F #3 Montgomery HS, San Diego

RW Chair Tim Seaman

Racewalk Training in San Diego San Diego has a variety of racewalking opportunities for walkers of all ages and abilities. For walkers interested in learning the basics or improving their skills, check out Liz Salvato’s Walk2Win (www.walk2win.com) training program for a “goaloriented program offering guidance, motivation, structured training and FUN!” For younger walkers, several youth clubs offer regular practices and competitions in various locations around the county. Check out the list of local clubs at www.sandiegousatf.org or visit www.racewalk.com

San Diego Winter Track & Field Series 2013 The San Diego-Imperial Association is sponsoring the Winter Track & Field Series. Athletes of all ages and abilities are welcome.

tim@sdusatf.org

San Diego Walking Festival The San Diego Walking Festival will take place at Cuyamaca College on Sun., Feb. 17, 2013. Included in the Festival are 3km, 5km, 10km races, and a 1600m race for kids. Plans are to make the event a Western Regional Championships.

Feb. 9—Winter Classic T&F #5 Mount Miguel HS, Spring Valley Feb. 23—Spring Fever All-Comers Meet Patrick Henry HS Details, including fees, times, events, & directions are at www.sdusatf.org/tandf.html

Jan–Mar 2013 • ct&rn 29

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central ca assn

New Year, New Events

Lawrence Watson

lawrencewatsonus@yahoo.com

President’s Message

Greetings to all in Central California! We have made excellent growth in all areas in 2012. Our plan for improvement is on target. Thank you for helping us reach our goal. Let’s keep recruiting members, athletes, coaches, officials, clubs, event promoters, and friends of our sport!

Central California Association is a member organization of USA Track & Field. Registration and renewal can be done on-line at www.usatf.org. All athletes must be registered prior to competing. All club coaches and volunteers are required to have a current USATF membership to be covered by insurance. All coaches and officials are encouraged to maintain memberships with the association. Visit us on the web at www.Central-California.USATF.org

30 ct&rn • Jan–Mar 2013

Membership Information Contact Tikee Miller, PO Box 70658, Bakersfield CA 93387, phone 661-444-6634. Email Tikee at tikeemiller@yahoo.com

CENTRAL CA USATF EVENTS Sat. Feb. 9 Officials Certification Clinic 2013 10:30am Foothill HS (Classroom F-6) 501 Park Drive, Bakersfield Parking (no fee) on Foothill Drive Free lunch if you RSVP by 2/2/13.

Contact lawrencewatsonus@yahoo.com Sat.-Sun., Feb. 17–18 RUN for the DREAM Indoor Track Championships 2013 SaveMart Center, Fresno (youth, high school, college, open, masters divisions) Contact Bob Fraley at napva@hotmail.com

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