Caltrack & Running News Sept-Oct 2012

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Includes the Runner’s Schedule Calendar!

CaliforniaTrack &RunningNews

With a huge personal best of 1:44.65, California’s DUANE SOLOMON finished 3rd in the 800m, got the A standard, and won a spot on the U.S. Olympic team at the Track & Field Trials in June.

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See story on page 14.

www.caltrack.com

Sept–Oct 2012

VOLUME 38 NUMBER 4 $3.95

OLYMPIC TRIALS WRAP UP SHOE REVIEW ASSOCIATION NEWS & SCHEDULES

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CaliforniaTrack &RunningNews Volume 38, Number 4 September–October 2012 Group Publisher Larry Eder Group & Coordinating Editor Christine Johnson, CTRNeditorial@gmail.com Contributing Editors Cregg Weinmann Apparel, Footwear Reviews Dave Shrock Community Colleges Mark Winitz Northern California Kees & Sandy Tuinzing Calendar Photographers Victor Sailer/www.PhotoRun.net Wayne Joness Eric Barron Irene Herman Association Consultants John Mansoor Pacific Lawrence Watson Central Wayne Joness 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 chuck@runningnetwork.com ADVERTISING Publisher Larry Eder, Shooting Star Media, Inc. phone: 608.239.3785 fax: 920.563.7298 caltrackads@gmail.com Publisher’s Representative David Parham 517.914.3181 dparham@runningracepromotions.com Advertising Production Manager Alex Larsen Counsel Philip J. Bradbury Melli Law, S.C. Madison, WI

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

From the Publisher A

nd the rain came dow.... I loved the 2012 Olympic Trials. It was perhaps, the best one that I have every seen, with great, gutty performances like Ashton Eaton’s world record decathlon; Allyson Felix’s screaming 21.68 for 200m that made her the fourth-fastest woman ever at that distance; and Galen Rupp’s win in the 5000m that showed Americans can run competitively at the distances.

Then, one month later in London, the U.S. laid claim to 29 medals! Among them, 1–2 in the triple jump by Christian Taylor and Will Claye; a WR in the 4x100m by the U.S. women; and Rupp taking silver in the 10,000m behind his training partner, Mo Farah, who also won the 5000m.

The U.S. men took 4th and 5th in the WR-setting 800m, silver and 4th in the 1500m, 6th in the steeplechase, 4th and 7th in the 5000m, and silver in the 10,000m. All four relays medaled: two golds and two silvers. The men’s 4x100m broke the AR twice, with a 37.38 in the heats, and a 37.04 in the spine-tingling final.

U.S. women took silver in the 100m, gold in the 200m, gold and bronze in the 400m, silver in the 400mH and the high jump, gold and bronze in the long jump, and gold in the pole vault. Of special note is Shannon Rowbury’s 6th in the 1500m, the best-ever finish by a U.S. woman in that race, and Michelle Carter’s 5th in the shot put, the best place by a U.S. woman since 1960!

The 2012 Olympics ended with Meb Keflezighi coming from 20th place to finish 4th in the marathon, eight years after his silver medal finish in Athens.

So, what do we learn from 70,000 fans in the mornings and 80,000 each evening? Track & Field is universal: it’s running, jumping, and throwing. Not only do I see many events live, I also watch the TV coverage. Most of the time, the Eurosport broadcast or BBC is much better than the U.S. broadcast. Why? We don’t introduce the field, we don’t show splits, we don’t get inside the racing, jumping, or throwing.

But our problems in this sport are solvable. As Max Siegel, CEO of USATF, told me at the Marathon Majors reception for the men’s marathon: “Anytime one of us wins in this sport, we all win.

Let’s focus on the good we are doing.”

For the latest news, “like” us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CaliforniaTrackRunningNews) and follow us on Twitter (@caltrackrn). To see our event coverage, sign up on www.runblogrun.com for our daily newsletter. See you soon.

Regards,

Larry Eder

CaliforniaTrack &RunningNews

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

Publisher’s Information

Let Us Hear From You!

California Track & Running News (ISDN #1098-6472), incorporating Pacific Athlete, is the official publication for the USA Track & Field associations in California and Northern Nevada. It is produced, published, and owned by Shooting Star Media, Inc., P.O. Box 67, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538.

Christine Johnson, President; Larry Eder, Vice President.

All ad materials and insertion orders should be sent to Shooting Star Media, Inc., 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 © 2012 by Shooting Star Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be repro duced in any form without prior written permission of the Publisher. California Track & Running News is solely owned

by Shooting Star Media, Inc.

California Track & Running News welcomes your suggestions, comments, and questions. Direct them to: Christine Johnson, Group Editor Shooting Star Media, Inc./CTRN 608.239.3787 CTRNeditorial@gmail.com

Address Changes/Missing Issues Third class mail is not forwarded! Please inform your local USATF association about address changes, duplicate mailings, or missing issues. See page 5 for how to contact your association for help.

Member of:

september–october 2012 • ct&rn

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3 9 22

From the Publisher The Runner’s Schedule Calendar Running Network’s Shoe Review

Departments 6 11

14 25 30

Regional USATF Association News Regional Association Event Schedules: Grand Prix and Championships USA Olympic Trials Wrap-Up Long Distance Running Race Walking

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 Pacific Association: 916.983.4715 or heikemansoor@aol.com San Diego/Imperial Association: 619.275.6542 or sdi_trackandfield@sbcglobal.net Southern California: 562.941.2621 or info@scausatf.org

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At the U.S. Olympic Trials, California’s WILL CLAYE claimed an Olympic team spot in both the long and triple jumps. See story on page 14.

Available at:

Sept–Oct 2012

Victor Sailer/www.PhotoRun.NET

Contents

Cal Track & Running News

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Association News President’s Message FROM IRENE HERMAN Iherman49@yahoo.com

The Pacific Association is an awesome community. We awarded 27 elite training grants to LDR and track & field athletes in January and February of this year. Some of the athletes have participated in our board of athletics meetings and communicated their thanks and appreciation via email and cards. For the last two years, Rachel Longfors has sent lovely thank you cards. And when I bumped into Yosef Ghebray, a grant awardee, at the recent mileTrial USA in June, he said, “I love the PA.” In 2012, we awarded approximately $20,000 in elite training grants timed with the Olympic Trials. These grants pay for travel, massages, coaches, transportation, etc. We understand the dedication and sacrifices these athletes make to achieve success, and these grants defray some of those expenses. Check our website (www.PAUSATF.com) to learn about all the other opportunities for grants.

The Association Athlete Development Program (AADP) for LDR is also available each year. The chairs select the races in our LDR circuit that qualify. If you’re interested, please check with one of our board of athletic contacts: Tyler Abbott, Ashley Grosse, or Lloyd Stephenson.

Our new marketing chair, John Rembao, is busy working on two bids for national events.

He will serve as meet director for our 2014

San Diego/Imperial

BY GINA MERCHANT Summer Nights Series, Event 1 Cathedral Catholic; June 6 For the third year in a row, the San DiegoImperial USATF Association sponsored the San Diego Summer Nights Track & Field Series.

The four-event series features an abbreviated line-up of hurdles, sprint, long sprint, mid-distance, and distance running events, plus shot put, long jump, and high jump. These all-comers meets attract a range of abilities and ages— the only prerequisite being a love for all things track & field. This passion was on display at the first meet of the series on June 6 at Cathedral

l–r Irene Herman, starter Gerald Collette, and John Rembao at mileTrial USA Cross Country Club N a t i o n a l Championship bid.

Tim Wason will be our technical director. We hope that the Cross Country selection committee will agree that San Francisco is a destination city. Rembao is also executive director of the mileTrial, USA for Charity. The beneficiary of this event is Wounded Warriors.

Another of John’s positions is the meet director of our bid for the 2013–14 Paralympics. We’re going to offer two venues for the Paralympic committee to consider: College of San Mateo and San Jose City College. This bid is in line with the grant that our Association received last year from the national office giving the PA the marketing seed money to promote our Physically Challenged LDR circuit. 2012 is the second year of this circuit. Our California International Marathon has a visually impaired category. Please let your friends in these sport categories know that the PA has competition opportunites for them. George Rehmet is the Disabled Athlete chair and Charlie Sheppard is our Disabled Athlete Youth chair. Their email Catholic High School in Del Mar. Fathers were overheard encouraging their daughters in their first-ever track meet, masters competed alongside high school athletes, and a number of kids’ races displayed fantastic competition.

Participants’ and fans’ experiences were also enriched by the presence and words of wisdom from San Diego Olympians such as Steve Scott and Tonie Campbell.

In the Steve Scott Mile, Torrey Pines HS athlete Tal Braude won easily in a time of 4:21.9, followed by Yale Bulldog alum Murat Kayali in 4:35.5. Prado Racing Team’s Dan Farmer almost overtook Kayali, crossing the line in 4:35:9 for third. The women’s mile played out similarly, as Prado Racing Team’s Gina Merchant finished in 5:15.2, followed by her teammate Hilary Corno (5:28.5) and Celeste Arambulo (5:28.8).

6 ct&rn • september–october 2012

Courtesy of Irene Herman

Pacific

addresses are on the PA website.

Our association cross country season begins in August, so be sure your registration is current! Remember that this year, the Golden Gate Park race has exchanged places with another race on the schedule, so it’s always a good idea to double-check information online so that you’re aware of any last-minute changes.

September is the annual meeting for the Board of Athletics. A major action item at this meeting will be the selection of sport committee representatives and delegates to the National Convention in Daytona Beach, Florida, where we’ll have the opportunity to meet Max Siegel, USATF’s new CEO. The finish of the Thom Hunt 5000 was more spread out, with Mesa College’s Dylan Marx crossing the finish line far in front of his competitors in 14:45. Second place went to UCLA alum Marco Anzures (15:17), and third went to Cuyamaca College’s Ryan Lawler (16:08).

The Monique Henderson 400 had some fast running as well, with Granite Hills HS graduate Taylor Schneider finishing in 48.46, followed by Scripps Ranch HS record holder (4x100) Kevin Ottwright (49.29) and Chase Peterson (50.77). Local standout David Edwards of BSK/Running Center won the Men’s 1500 in 3:46.28. Sean Brosnan (3:52.31) edged out Pete Hass of San Diego Track Club (3:52.92) at the line, to finish second and third, respectively.

Association News continues on page 8.

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Association News continued from page 6

Southern California

Bryshon Nellum

Courtesy of Eric Barron

At long last, the USATF Southern California Jim Bush Championships and West Region Championships came home to UCLA’s famed Drake Stadium. Former UCLA coach Jim Bush’s career includes coaching 30 Olympians and 118 FROM ERIC BARRON NCAA medalists. Coaches and competitors alike VP, Open Athletics look forward to the annual meet, for the opportunity to talk with inspirational living legend Jim Bush.

In an Olympic Trials year, more than 450 athletes competed with an enthusiastic crowd cheering them on. Setting their goals on reaching London, there were 10 “A” qualifiers and 31 “B” qualifiers for the USATF Outdoor Championships, and Jamie Nieto set a new meet record in the men’s high jump, 2.24 meters. Masters runner Peter Magill (M50) continued his streak of setting new American records in the M50–54 age division, running the 5000 in 15:06.83, well ahead of the current record, 15:41.67, set by Mike Heffernan in 1991.

Peter Magill (#7, M50) and Robert Olivera (M26) battling for third in the 5000m. Magill claimed it with a new AR for M50–54, 15:06.83.

Victor Sailer/www. PhotoRun.NET

SCA/USATF Jim Bush Championships & West Region Championships UCLA; June 2

2012 Team USA Track and Field Olympic Roster California Residents and Athletes with California Ties Members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field team (pending approval by the USOC) with strong California roots and ties, defined as currently residing in Calif., born in Calif., attended school in Calif., and/or trained in Calif. for a significant period, and/or hold current USATF membership in a Calif. USATF association.

Bold = Athletes currently residing in California MEN 400m Bryshon Nellum (Los Angeles) – 3rd 800m Khadevis Robinson (Las Vegas) – 2nd (former longtime LA-area resident) Duane Solomon (Los Angeles) – 3rd 3000m Steeple Kyle Alcorn (Mesa, Ariz.) – 3rd (Buchanan H.S. /Clovis, Calif. '03) 50K Race Walk John Nunn (San Diego) – 1st Marathon Meb Keflezighi (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) – 1st Ryan Hall (Flagstaff, Ariz.) – (Big Bear H.S. ’01, Stanford Univ. ’06) – 2nd 110m Hurdles Jason Richardson (Los Angeles) – 2nd 400m Hurdles Kerron Clement (Los Angeles/Gainesville, Fla.) – 3rd High Jump Jamie Nieto (Chula Vista) – 1st; Jesse Williams (Eugene, Ore.) – 4th (b. Modesto, 1983) Note: Williams had Olympic ‘A’ standard. 3rd place did not.

Pole Vault Brad Walker (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.) – 1st (trained with Tri-Valley Athletics in Stockton in ’08); Derek Miles (Tea, S.D.) – 4th (Sacramento native / Bella Vista HS, former Fair Oaks, Calif. resident) Note: Miles had Olympic ‘A’ standard. 3rd place did not.

Long Jump Will Claye (Imperial Beach) – 2nd Triple Jump Will Claye (Imperial Beach) – 2nd Discus Throw Jarred Rome (Chula Vista) – 2nd Javelin Throw Sean Furey (San Diego) – 4th Note: Furey had Olympic ‘A’ standard. 1st and 2nd places did not.

Relay Pool Ronell Mance (Los Angeles, Calif.)

WOMEN 100m Carmelita Jeter (Gardena) – 1st; Tianna Madison (Los Angeles) – 2nd; Allyson Felix (Santa Clarita) - 3rd (tie with Jeneba Tarmoh, Los Angeles/San Jose, who was selected for relay pool) 200m Allyson Felix (Santa Clarita) – 1st; Carmelita Jeter (Gardena) – 2nd 800m Alysia Montano (Canyon Country) – 1st; Alice Schmidt (Coronado) – 3rd 1500m Morgan Uceny (Mammoth Lakes) – 1st; Shannon Rowbury (San Francisco) – 2nd 5000m Kim Conley (West Sacramento) – 3rd 10,000m Amy Hastings (Mammoth Lakes) – 1st Marathon Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Mich.) – 2nd (b. Chula Vista, Hilltop HS ’01) 100m Hurdles Dawn Harper (Los Angeles) – 1st 400m Hurdles Lashinda Demus (Palmdale) – 1st High Jump Chaunte Lowe (Loganville, Ga.) – 1st (J.W. North/Riverside H.S. '02); Amy Acuff (Isleton) – 3rd Shot Put Jillian Camarena-Williams (Tucson, Ariz.) – 1st (Woodland H.S., Stanford ’04) Discus Throw Stephanie Brown Trafton (Galt) – 1st Hammer Throw Jessica Cosby (Mission Hills) – 3rd Javelin Throw Kara Patterson (Chula Vista) – 2nd Heptathlon Hyleas Fountain (Daytona Beach, Fla.) – 1st (trained with Tri-Valley Athletics in Stockton, in ‘08); Sharon Day (Costa Mesa) – 2nd Relay Pool Jeneba Tarmoh (Los Angeles/San Jose); Keshia Baker (Los Angeles) —Compiled by Mark Winitz

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CaliforniaTrack &RunningNews presents the

! e e r F

September–October 2012

Runner’s Schedule Calendar YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO RUNNING, WALKING, TRAIL & MULTI-SPORTS IN CALIFORNIA containing events through May 2013!

25,000 Copies Distributed!

Check inside for information on:

Victor Sailer/www.PhotoRun.NET

• Event Listings • USATF Association Events • Californians at the U.S.

Olympic Track & Field Trials

• Running Network Shoe Review

AMY HASTINGS (Mammoth Lakes) says that one of the best pieces of advice that Deena Kastor, her Mammoth Track Club teammate, has given her is to keep fighting; never give up. In running, just as in the rest of life, there are good miles and bad miles, good times and bad times. The good times are easy. Getting through the bad times is what makes the athlete. After a heartbreaking 4th place finish at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, Amy regrouped and set herself a new goal: become an Olympian on the track. Our coverage of the 2012 U.S. Track & Field Trials (page 14) includes athletes and performances—of course, with a Golden State emphasis—that illustrate how elite athletes embrace qualities such as persistence, mental focus, overcoming doubt, and the pursuit of coaching excellence that allow them to soar and reach the upper echelons of their sport.

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

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Calendar Aug 11, SAT Sausalito: GOLDEN GATE SHARKFEST SWIM® - 2nd Annual. $125, Fees go up 1/1. 1.6mi swim. The swim course from the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge to the north tower in the San Francisco Bay. Enviro-Sports, PO Box 1040, Stinson Beach, CA 94970; info@envirosports.com; www.sharkfestswim.com; 415/868-1829.

Echo Summit: Echo Summit Trail Challenge 50M, 50K, 20 & 10 Milers, 6:00am 50M, 50K, 8am 20/10M. Start/Finish Echo Summit (Lake Tahoe Winter Experience) (Adventure Mountain Lake Tahoe) . The course is on the Historic Pony Express Trail, primarily single tract. AWESOME RACE. Please check out the website for more information & other runs.www.tctruns.com Twin Bridges: Echo Summit Challenge, For further info www.theschedule.com Aug 12, SUN Pinecrest: 5 Mile Pinecrest Run, For further info www.theschedule.com Aug 14, TUES San Mateo: EMEF 5K Run/Walk, 1 mile fun run. This Family Fun Run is all about fitness, fun and supporting a great scholarship foundation. A scenic 5K loop around the park and marina, this event should be quick and comfortable for all ages. Kids welcome. T-shirts and medals to all finishers, snacks for everyone. 100% of proceeds go to funding scholarships for local high school students heading to college. For further info www.theschedule.com Aug 25, SAT Gilroy: Bill Flodberg Mt. Madonna Challenge (37th), The Mt. Madonna Challenge offers four race distances (6K, 12K, 18K, 30K), with all courses following established trails within Mt. Madonna County Park. Participants will run through groves of Oak, Manzanita and Redwood trees, experiencing spectacular scenery and views. The 6K loop course has an elevation gain of 700 feet; the 12K loop course has an elevation gain of 1,200 feet; the 18K course combines the 6K and 12K loops, with an elevation gain of 1,900 feet; and the 30K combines the 18K course and the

12K course, for a total elevation gain of 3,100 feet. 1st place overall male and female winners in each distance will receive a custom ceramic vase. For further info www.theschedule.com Aug 26, SUN Hayward: 10K Run, 5K Run/Walk on the Bay, 8:30am $30 until 8/23. (4902 Breakwater Ave). Run or walk along the Bay Trail and enjoy breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay-Estuary. Participate in a 10K or 5K run/walk.

Proceeds from this event help to maintain and enhance the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center's educational programs, exhibits, and facilities. Both races are on a gravel/packed dirt trail and as flat as it gets along the beautiful shoreline. There will be prizes for the first-place winners (male and female) of each race and ribbons for each age group winners. Walkers are welcomed (and encouraged to participate!) but unfortunately dogs cannot be allowed. Online www.theschedule.com.

Sep 01, SAT Orinda: Golden Gate DU, The Golden Gate Duathlon will be a 3.6 Mile Run / 22 Mile Bike / 2.0 Mile Run.Plus 3.6 mile race.There are team ,mixed,men,women divisons.Race at the beautiful San Pablo Dam Reservoir - Orinda Entrance.

5 year age groups/awards 1st to 5th places in each age group and awards are plaques.For the Duathlon and Medals ,1 st to 3rd for the 3.6 mile run www.WolfPackEvents.com Sep 02, SUN Shasta: Mt. Shasta Tinman Tri, (740yds-10mB-4.5mR), Fun, family event for novices and experienced alike. In the shadow of beautiful Mount Shasta at Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort. For further info www.theschedule.com Sep 09, SUN Seattle: SEATTLE ‘ESCAPE FROM THE ROCK’ TRIATHLON™ - 15th annual. Adult $70, Juniors (17 & Under) $40, Relay (per person) $40, w/t-s. Prices go up 7/1. 0.5 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 14 mile run. Mercer Island sets the stage for this beautiful course. We shut down the I-90 express lanes just to give athletes the

10 c t & r n • s e p t e m b e r – o c t o b e r 2 0 1 2

unique chance to bike across the floating bridge. EnviroSports, PO Box 1040, Stinson Beach, CA 94970; info@envirosports.com; www.envirosports.com; 415/868-1829.

Sep 22, SAT Boston: BOSTON SHARKFEST® SWIM- Inaugural. Entry fees TBA. 1m swim. The swim will be 1 mile in Boston harbor from Columbia Point (Kennedy Library) across Old Harbor to finish at Carson Beach by the Edward J. McCormack Bathhouse. Enviro-Sports, PO Box 1040, Stinson Beach, CA 94970; info@envirosports.com; www.sharkfestswim.com; 415/868-1829.

Sep 30, SUN Mt. View: Trailblazer, 10K, 5K, 3 Mile Trail Walk, Flat and scenic 10K USATF certified race from Microsoft Campus, up Stevens Creek Trail, around Shoreline Park, and back.

Includes event t-shirt and all activities. For further info www.theschedule.com Oct 06, SAT Napa: TRI, GIRL, TRI – ALL WOMEN’S SPRINT TRIATHLON™ - 9th annual. $90-Individual, $165-Relay Team, w/t-s. 0.5m swim, 11m bike, 3.1m run. This allwomen's triathlon has fast become a favorite for first-timers as well as seasoned triathletes looking for a fun, supportive atmosphere! Enviro-Sports, PO Box 1040, Stinson Beach, CA 94970; info@envirosports.com; www.envirosports.com; 415/868-1829.

Fort Bragg: Noyo Run 5K and 10K, 9am $25/$30 after 9/22. Ages 19 and under $15-INCLUDING race day! This 5k Run, 10k run, 5k Competitive Walk & 5k Walk is held in the Redwoods region of Mendocino Coast near the City of Fort Bragg. Online www.theschedule.com Continued on page 12 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS!

September 16, 2012, San Francisco 5k, Your Next Step is Cure 5k, San Francisco, CA, www.yournextstepiscure.org, ad on page 21 October 13, 2012, Kiss Me Dirty, San Jose, Ca, www.kissmedirty.com, ad on page 19 October 13, 2012, Chili Pepper 10k and Fun Mile, Fayetteville, ARK, chilepepperfestival.org, ad on page 9 October 14, 2012, City to the Sea, Half Marathon, Pismo Beach, CA, citytothesea.org, ad on page 2 October 27, 2012, Merrell's Down & Dirty Mud Run, Sacramento, CA,www.facebook.com/ downanddirtymudrun, ad on page 24 October 27, 2012, Warrior Dash, Casa de Fruta, Hollister, CA, www.warriordash.com November 10, 2012, Kiss Me Dirty, Temecula, CA, www.kissmedirty.com, ad on page 19 November 22, 2012, Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot, San Jose, Ca, www.svTurkeyTrot.com December 2, 2012, Santa Hustle, your Next Step is Cure 5k, Irvine, CA, yournextstepiscure.org, ad on page 21 May 11, 2013, Ridiculous Obstacle Challenge 5k, San Diego, CA, www.ROCrace.com, ad on page 24.

01-32 CTRN-Sept-Oct_sept/oct 2008 8/30/12 11:22 AM Page 11

Association Schedules Cross Country

Road Racing

Pacific Association Grand Prix

Pacific Association Grand Prix

www.pausatf.org/data/2012/xcgp2012.html

www.pausatf.org/data/2012/RRSchedule2012.html

8/18 8/25 9/1 9/9 9/15 9/23 9/29 10/6 10/13 10/27 11/3 11/18

10/21 11/11

12th Annual UC Santa Cruz XC Challenge, Santa Cruz 20th Annual Phil Widener Empire Open, Santa Rosa 2nd Annual Rebels XC Challenge, Sacramento 8th Annual Garin Park XC Challenge, Hayward NorCal XC Challenge, Redding 27th Annual Golden Gate Park Open, San Francisco 14th Annual Presidio Challenge, San Francisco 4th Annual Willow Hills XC Open, Folsom 15th Annual Shoreline Open, Mountain View 17th Annual John Lawson Tamalpa Challenge, Marin Headlands 3rd Annual Ancil Hoffman Challenge, Sacramento 27th Annual PA Cross Country Championships, San Francisco

11/22 12/2 12/16

Humboldt Redwoods Half Marathon, Weott (1.5, Long, $2,900) Clarksburg Country Run Half Marathon, Clarksburg (1.5, Long, $2,900) Silicon Valley Turkey Trot 5K, San Jose (2.0, Open only/no teams, Short, $2,900, additional all-comers prize $ available) California International Marathon, Sacramento (2.0, no Open, Long, $2,900) Christmas Relays, San Francisco (2.0, team only, None, $2,900)

Information on physically challenged divisions will be supplied when schedule is finalized

San Diego Association—Open/Masters

Southern California Association Grand Prix

www.sdusatf.org

www.scagrandprix.org

SD-I/USATF ASICS Dirt Dog Cross Country Series

10/7 11/4 12/9

8/25 9/1 9/22 10/13 10/20 11/3 11/10

Wild Duck 5K, Guajome Park, Joe Crosswhite 760.723.3257 Balboa 4-Miler, Balboa Park, Stephen Burch 619.562.8061 Bonita 8K Stampede, Sweetwater Regional Park, Antonio Melchor, 619.370.1184 Ursula Rains Balboa Boogie 5K, Morley Field, Nancy Morris, 858.874.8784 Cougar Challenge 5K/8K, Cal State San Marcos Track, Steve Scott, 760.750.7105 Cuyamaca College 6K, Lindo Lake, Patrick Thiss, 619.660.4518 USATF San Diego XC Championship 8K, Mission Bay, Paul Greer, 619.388.3704

Southern California Association—Youth www.scausatf.org 9/15 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28 11/11 11/18

Valley United Striders, Pierce College Ron McGee, vuntc@yahoo.com, 818.833.9516 California Comets, Pierce College Bryan Riggs, riggsinc@sbcglobal.net, 805.578.2400 South Orange Co Wildcats, Laguna Niguel Regional Park Darren Phelps, ocwildcats@cox.net, 949.235.5968 Free Spirit, Mt SAC, Denise Smotherman, Smotgnd52@earthlink.net, 909.595.0103 Temecula Time Machine Grape Stomp, TBA Chino Hills Flash Halloween XC Festival, Prado Park Ben Mejia, bmejia@chinohillsflash.com, 714.454.3977 SCA Youth JO Cross Country Championships, Mt SAC Denise Smotherman, Smotgnd52@earthlink.net, 909.595.0103 USATF Region 15 JO XC Championships, Mt SAC Denise Smotherman, Smotgnd52@earthlink.net, 909.595.0103

Racewalking

Mountain/Ultra/Trail Pacific Association Grand Prix www.pausatf.org 10/13 10/27 11/10 11/24

www.pausatf.org/data/2012/rwschedule2012.html 8/18 10/7 11/18

PA/USATF Grand Prix & West Region 3000m Championship, Reno Hosted by the Pacific Race Walkers and Silver State Striders PA/USATF Grand Prix 10K Championship, Sacramento Hosted by Sierra Race Walkers PA/USATF Grand Prix 20K Championship, Sacramento Hosted by Santa Cruz Track Club

Dick Collins Firetrails 50M, Castro Valley, (trail, 1.6) Julie Fingar, 916.765.6021, events@norcalultras.com, www.firetrails50.com Whiskeytown 50K, Redding, (trail, 1) John Luaces, 530.246.8560, jkluaces@sbcglobal.net, www.sweatrc.com To be renamed 50M/50K, Granite Bay, (road, 1.6/1.0) Julie Fingar, 916.765.6021, events@norcalultras.com Quadruple Dipsea (28.4M), Mill Valley, (trail, 1) John Medinger, tropicaljohn@yahoo.com, www.run100s.com/qd.htm

Southern California Association Grand Prix www.scausatf.org 9/15 10/6 11/3

Pacific Association

SCA USATF Road Mile Championships, El Toro Airfield, Irvine Dino Dash 5/10K, Tustin Holiday Half Marathon, Fairplex So Cal, Pomona

11/24 12/02

Noble Canyon 50K, Pine Valley, Scott Mills, scottemills@aol.com Cuyamaca 100K Endurance Run, Cuyamaca Scott Crellin, cuyamaca100k@gmail.com Chino Hills Trail Run Half/Marathon/50K, Brea Fred Pollard, rd@runchinohills.com, 213.422.6442 Santa Barbara Red Rock 50M, Los Padres National Forest Luis Escobar, luis@reflectionsphotographystudio.com, 805.922.2932 High Desert 50K, Ridgecrest Terry Mitchell, terrymitchell@ridgecrest.ca.us, 760-375-0168

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Continued from page 10

El Sobrante: Fall Showdown 5K/10K, Half Marathon, 8am $40/$45 after 10/5- half, $30/$35 5K/10K. All of the runs will be on what is called the Old San Pablo Dam road that used to take horses, mules, and later automobiles from El Sobrante to Orinda, a stagecoach route. It runs parallel with the entire Watershed area known as the San Pablo Reservoir. The Half Marathon is an out and back course.

There will be 30 % pavement and the rest on trails, with loads of scenery. After mile 5 you will have the challenge of running up to and across Briones Reservoir and then back home to the park. www.wolfpackevents.com; Online www.theschedule.com Oct 07, SUN Pescadero: Pumpkin Classic 5K/10k, 1/4M Kid’s Free Run, 10am $20/$25 after 10/6 w/Free pumpkin, medal and T-shirt to ALL 5K/10K finishers! Native Son’s Hall; flat, scenic course. Event numbers not mailed-you will pick them up on event day. Sky High Events, Online reg www.theschedule.com.

Stinson Beach. Enviro-Sports, PO Box 1040, Stinson Beach, CA 94970; info@envirosports.com; www.envirosports.com; 415/868-1829.

Nov 04, SUN Reno, NV: Anything is Possible 5K, 1:50 a.m.—yes, 1:50 a.m. Run forward as the clock turns back during this unique and fun 5K on the University of Nevada campus. The race starts at 1:50am, so bring your brightest and flashiest running gear. Sign-up early to guarantee your pajama pants. www.renotahoeodyssey.com Nov 22, THURS Oceanside: Pacific Marine Credit Union O’side Turkey Trot 5M/5K, Kids Races, 7am-5M, 8:30am-5K, 10am-Kid’s races. 330 N Coast Hwy: Come "move your feet before you eat." Race course is a very fast downhill 5Mile/5K which starts at the Civic Center and finishes at the Pier area along the Beach. Kinanaeevents.com

Oct 12, FRI Huntington Beach: Surf City Beach Derby 10 Miler, 10K, and 5K/2K Beach Obstacle Course, 6:45am- 10M, 7:30am-10K, 7am- 5K/2K. PCH and Main St.; Enjoy a flat scenic course on Pacific Coast Highway along California's coastline for a 10Miler or 10K run/walk. Try the zany 5K or 2K beach obstacle course. www.kinaneevents.com

Dec 01, SAT Death Valley: DEATH VALLEY TRAIL MARATHON & 30K™ 24th annual. $120-Mar/30K, $130 after 8/1; w/t-s. Trail running doesn't get any better than this wide, jeep road twisting through the towering red rocks of Death Valley's Titus Canyon. Enviro-Sports, PO Box 1040, Stinson Beach, CA 94970; info@envirosports.com; www.envirosports.com; 415/868-1829.

Oct 14, SUN San Diego: SAN DIEGO SHARKFEST® SWIM- 4th annual.

Adult $60, Juniors (17 & Under) $35, Active Military $45; w/t-s. Prices go up 1/1. 1m swim. The swim will start at the 5th Avenue Landing behind the San Diego Convention Center and finish at the Tidelands Park beach at the foot of the Coronado Bridge on the Coronado side. Enviro-Sports, PO Box 1040, Stinson Beach, CA 94970; info@envirosports.com; www.sharkfestswim.com; 415/868-1829.

Dec 08, SAT Angel Island: HARK THE HERALD ANGELS 12K & 25K™ 25th annual. $50-12K/25K, $55 after 11/1. w/t-s. You'll fall in love with San Francisco all over again as you follow this hilly loop-trail circumnavigating Angel Island with panoramic vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Alcatraz Island, the East Bay and Marin County. Enviro-Sports, PO Box 1040, Stinson Beach, CA 94970; info@envirosports.com; www.envirosports.com; 415/868-1829.

Oct 20, SAT El Sobrante: Du the Bears-Duathlon, This is a 2/19/2 Duathlon and a 5K Run/Walk. Held in the beautiful San Pablo/Orinda Reservoir on the Old San Pablo Dam Road, the stagecoach trail from the Bay to Orinda, it's a beautiful venue. For further info www.theschedule.com

Feb 03, SUN 2013 Huntington Beach: Surf City USA Marathon and Half Marathon, 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! Kinanaevents.com

Oct 27, SAT Napa: NAPA WINE COUNTRY MARATHON, HALF MARATHON & 10K™ - 22nd annual. $70-Mar, $45-Half, $40-10K. Entry fees go up $10 after 8/1; w/t-s. Babbling streams will be your soundtrack as you challenge yourself on the lush single-track trail within Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. Enviro-Sports, PO Box 1040, Stinson Beach, CA 94970; info@envirosports.com; www.envirosports.com; 415/868-1829.

Nov 03, SAT Stinson Beach: STINSON BEACH MARATHON, 25K & 7 MILE™ - 24th annual. $70-Mar, $50-Half, $40-10K. Entry fees go up $10 after 10/1; w/t-s. As you run this course, you will drink in the fresh smell of the towering redwoods and oaks that surround you. Your summit will be rewarded with panoramic vistas as you begin your descent back into

May 31–June 1, FRI 2013 Reno, NV: Reno-Tahoe Odyssey Relay. 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 hight 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

You can also find this calendar at

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Californians Shine Track & Field Trials

By Mark Winitz

Victor Sailer/www.PhotoRun.NET

Who noticed the partial rainbow that broke through clearing skies over Eugene’s Hayward Field last June on Day 8 of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials? Relatively few, since it unfolded following the conclusion of the day’s competition. Yet the significance was unmistakable, as the U.S. Olympic track & field team heads to London in pursuit of the

fabled pot of elusive Olympic Gold that, perhaps, lies at rainbow’s end.

Our coverage of the 2012 Trials includes athletes and performances—of course, with a Golden State emphasis—that illustrate how elite athletes embrace qualities such as persistence, mental focus, overcoming doubt, and the pursuit of coaching excellence that allow them to soar and reach the upper echelons of their sport.

And if you’re not quite at that level? Well, any athlete can learn from these inspiring stories to chase their own personal arcs of light.

Day 1, June 22 Hastings Realizes Olympic Dreams in Women’s Trials 10,000m Amy Hastings (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) says that one of the best pieces of advice that Deena Kastor, her Mammoth Track Club teammate, has given her is to keep fighting; never give up.

In running, just as in the rest of life, there are good miles and bad miles, good times and bad times. The good times are easy. Getting through the bad times is what makes the athlete.

Four years ago, following an All-American career at Arizona State, Hastings, 28, was on the verge of giving up the sport. Her running had no direction and her performances reflected that fact. And last January, after finishing a heartbreaking fourth at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, missing the U.S. Olympic marathon team headed to London by one spot, she easily could have shelved her Olympic dreams. She didn’t.

Instead, in a dramatic women’s 10,000m on a rainy Friday evening at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene.

Hastings demonstrated the resolve that Kastor encouraged in her. After winning the race—in which Kastor herself could not compete as she was recovering from a back injury—Hastings is now an Olympian.

“Coming across the finish line today, it’s a night-and-day difference,” Hastings said about the roller coaster ride over the last six months.

“It was heartbreaking in Houston [at the Marathon Trials], and I can’t really believe it right now. I’m completely overwhelmed. I can’t really believe that I’m an Olympian.”

The race was initially a conservative and

14 c t & r n • s e p t e m b e r – o c t o b e r 2 0 1 2

tactical one as University of California standout Deborah Maier assumed the leader’s chores through the halfway point, maintaining a 15to 20-meter gap over the packed field.

“I just wanted to go out at a good pace,” said Maier, who eventually finished ninth in 32:25.82. “I figured that I don’t have the Olympic A standard and there’s no pacer, so even if I don’t get the standard, maybe I’ll help someone else by pulling them along. In these championship races, you just might as well go for it. I’m not a huge fan of it going out super slow.”

With 11 laps remaining, Hastings took over the lead from Maier and never looked back. “For the majority of the race [my thoughts were] just, ‘top three, top three, top three,’” Hastings said. “Then, toward the very end, everything just shut off and it was back to every race I’ve ever run, trying to win it.”

Indeed, Hastings cranked up the wheels and recorded a 65-second last lap en route to a 31:58.36 winning time, holding off Texas A&M’s NCAA champion Natosha Rogers (2nd, 31:59.71 PR) and Olympic Trials marathon winner Shalane Flanagan (3rd, 31:59.69).

“I’ve grown so much over the past four years. I’m a completely different runner, a completely different competitor,” an elated Hastings shared in a post-race press conference. “I owe so much to [Mammoth Track Club coach] Terrence Mahon and my teammates. It’s just an incredible group. After the Marathon Trials, it was about refocusing and not dwelling on it.

I just wanted to be on the team.”

Immediately after the Marathon Trials race, Hastings had returned to her hotel room and told Mahon that she wanted to point toward a spot on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team at 5000m or 10,000m.

“The reason that I’ve stayed in the sport is because there was just a little bit of hope where I thought, ‘I think I can make this happen and be an Olympian,’” said Hastings. “If that hope was gone, I would have stopped running. I guess I always thought that I could be an Olympian.”

Thanks to the sage advice of 2004 Olympic marathon bronze medalist Deena

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Day 3, June 24 Stephanie Brown Trafton’s Mental Focus, Faith Produce U.S. Trials Discus Victory Even a reigning Olympic gold medalist and American record holder who has enjoyed a ranking as #1 in the world in her event can have doubts when the big meets come along. Only three weeks before the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, 2008 Olympic discus gold medal winner Stephanie Brown Trafton (Gault) had a disastrous outing at the Prefontaine Classic. She committed fouls on every throw at the important IAAF Diamond League meet, finishing at the bottom of a top international field.

There wasn’t much time to regroup before Brown Trafton would return to Hayward Field in Eugene to vie for her third Olympic team berth. She knew that she was facing a formidable task to get back on track.

“This was probably the most complicated and hardest meet of my lifetime. It was really my test of mental maturity,” Brown Trafton said after winning the women’s discus throw competition at the Trials with a best throw of 65.18 meters/213 feet, 10 inches. “Getting into the ring, I really had to rely on my faith. It was hard to even step into the ring.”

Although two days earlier, the 6-4, 205pound athlete placed first in the qualifying round going into the final, she was far from confident. In her warm-ups for the preliminary, she fell down twice, and then fouled in the first round, in jeopardy of falling into the same downward spiral that she experienced at the Prefontaine meet.

“People might have seen me as falling apart, mentally,” Brown Trafton related in a post-competition press conference. “But, in reality, I was being put through the fire and being redeemed, and I came out at the other end a much stronger and thankful person.”

How did Brown Trafton get herself back on track when her Trials candle was burning low? She maintains that her faith, as a religious person, and a mental focus on technique and performance rather than on distractions, made the difference.

“From a mental standpoint, everybody has their own way of refocusing,” the women’s discus champion reflected. “Sometimes [as an athlete] our brain wants to focus on victory, money, fortune, or fame. But when you start diverting your attention to those things, you take your attention away from performance and what you can do to make the most of the gift that you’ve been given.”

In an arena where distractions are numerous and emotions run high, Brown’s focus on

all the technical details that yield solid performances in her event paid off. Now she heads to the Games in London with renewed vigor.

“It’s really been a roller coaster, coming from the top of the top to hitting rock bottom—going from the top of the medal stand to where I couldn’t compete to my standards,” Brown Trafton said. “Hopefully, I’ll rise up to the top again. It’s going to be a hard competition in London, but I’m very excited about it.”

Additional Day 3 Notes: Three-time Olympian Suzy Powell-Roos (Modesto) placed third in the women’s discus behind Brown Trafton and Aretha Thurmond (Alabama). Powell-Roos, however, did not attain the Olympic A standard, so did not qualify for the U.S. team.

“I competed well compared to what other people were doing today, but didn’t get that A standard, which was extremely frustrating,” Powell-Roos said. “But that’s the way it goes. To me, that’s the beauty of Olympic Trials and sports. It’s just the ultimate test of people and what you’re made of. I feel very honored and blessed to have had the opportunity to test myself in this arena for many years. This is my last Olympic Trials, no doubt.”

Will Claye (San Diego) finished second in the men’s long jump and USC’s Bryshon Nellum (Los Angeles) rolled to a PR 44.80 to place third in the men’s 400m. Both have A standards, so they’re on the team for London.

Day 4, June 25 Coaches Instrumental for California’s 800m Olympic Team Members The 800m finals at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials featured strong performances by Golden State athletes as three Californians and another with strong California ties earned spots on the U.S. team headed for the London Olympic Games. California showcased a strong middle distance contingent as the state’s residents composed nearly 50% of the men’s and women’s 800m fields.

Before 21,626 fans at a soggy Hayward Field, Alysia Montano (Canyon Country) led the women’s 800m wire to wire, holding off her competitors along the final straight to earn her first Olympic team berth. The former University of California, Berkeley star registered the victory in 1 minute, 59.08 seconds. Alice Schmidt’s (Coronado) third-place time of 1:59.46, behind Johnson and Oregon’s Genna Gall (1:59.24), earned her a spot on her second Olympic team.

In the men’s 800m, former USC star Duane Solomon (Los Angeles) scored a huge personal best of 1:44.65 to claim third place and a spot on the U.S. Olympic squad.

Longtime Santa Monica resident Khadevis Robinson (who now lives in Las Vegas) also

made the team with a 1:44.64, behind Nick Symmonds (Oregon) who captured the victory in 1:43.92.

What do these athletes who made it to the Trials podium all have in common? They are all guided by vibrant, attentive coaches whom they credit as essential factors in attaining their status as Olympians. At a post-race press conference, California Track & Running News obtained the inside scoop on these strong athlete-coach relationships. Here’s what the athletes had to say: Alysia Montano (guided by longtime UC Berkeley coach Tony Sandoval for the past eight years. Editor’s Note: Not to be confused with Tony Sandoval, the 1980 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials winner, who is a different person.): “Tony’s had the opportunity to interact with many world-class athletes and Olympians and see how they tick. And he’s not afraid to learn from his students. We make a dynamic duo, and I trust him. I think the most important part of being a world-class athlete is being able to trust your coaches. In the last three rounds here at the Trials, where I’ve been running hard for the first 600 meters—that’s all Tony. At first, in the back of my mind, I was saying ‘but why?’ But [I concluded] that he just knows and I trust his guidance.”

Alice Schmidt (coached by Joachim Cruz, the Brazilian 1984 Olympic Gold medalist at 800m, for the past five years): “Coach Cruz

Victor Sailer/www.PhotoRun.NET

Kastor, a supportive coach and training group, and an resurgent belief in herself, Hastings’ hard work has now reached fruition.

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Additional Day 4 Notes: The rainy conditions affected the men’s high jump final, where Jamie N i e t o (Chula Vi s t a ) made his second Olympic team by winning the competition with a first-attempt clearance at 2.28m/75.75. University of Arizona junior Nick Ross (Murrieta) also made that height on his first try and finished third.

But since Ross didn’t have

the Olympic ‘A’ standard, fourth-placer and 2011 world champion Jesse Williams (USC ’06, now lives in Oregon) will have a spot on the team.

Day 5, June 28 Kim Conley Captures Olympic Team Spot in Women’s 5000m Few might have given 26-year-old Kim Conley (West Sacramento) a chance at gaining an Olympic team spot in the women’s 5000m race at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene. Coming into the race, the former University of California, Davis standout and current Aggies volunteer assistant coach had a 5000m PR of 15 minutes, 24.89 seconds—over 4 seconds slower than the Olympic A standard for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Although the Santa Rosa native finished eighth overall at the 2011 USA Cross Country Championships and 10th in the 5000 at the 2011 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, she wasn’t on most people’s radar screens.

Now Conley is a 2012 Olympian after scoring a dramatic third-place finish at the Trials with a time of 15:19.79, less than a quarter of a second faster than the 15:20:00 A standard required to land her an automatic spot on the U.S. team headed to the Games.

“This is beyond a dream come true,” Conley told a packed room of reporters at a post-race press conference. “In 2008, I was sitting at home watching the Olympic Trials thinking that it would be really cool to run at the Trials one day. Four years later, I’m an Olympian. I can’t even wrap my head around it yet.”

Conley, who represents New Balance and Sacramento Running Association Elite, used her head to good advantage in the race, which she led for almost 3000m to keep the pace honest enough for a chance at the Olympic standard. American record holder Molly Huddle (Rhode Island) took the lead just before 3K, closely followed by Conley and others, going through the split in 9:22.9. After seeing the split, Conley had doubts about getting the standard. But she used a technique ingrained in her by UC Davis sports psychologist Paul Salitsky to block negative thoughts and turn them into positive ones.

“I [started] think-

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Victor Sailer/www.PhotoRun.NET

inspires me every day. I started working with coach Cruz because I wanted to work out at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista.

I knew he would be my ticket to work out at the center. The first day I talked to him on the telephone, I knew it was going to be a really great coach-athlete relationship. He speaks my language and writes great, time-tested training program[s], since he was a phenomenal 800m runner. He’s not afraid of hard work or speed.

He also plays an important sports psychologist role. He’s been there and knows what’s inside an athlete’s head. He reminds me to have courage in races [and provides] different ways for me to approach the mental aspects of training.”

Duane Solomon (coached by American 800m record holder Johnny Gray for the past three years): “I’m just now really learning everything that he’s taught me, and putting it to work. He really encourages me to believe in what I can do in the training. So I really came into the Trials with a lot of confidence. I didn’t really race a lot, but we knew what I could do from the training I’ve been doing. Johnny gives me the confidence in myself so I can run with anybody. Today, I ran a huge PR, got the Olympic A standard, and made the team, so it was a great day.”

Johnny Gray (who also formerly coached Khadevis Robinson) added this perspective: “First and foremost, I instill in my athletes the five Ps—that Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performances. So hard work outdoes talent that doesn’t work hard. Once you get the conditioning, you need the heart to execute it. So we’ve been working on Duane’s confidence in workouts. For the time today, he went out and executed the race like I wanted him to.”

ing about place at that point,” Conley said. “I wasn’t willing to give up on a top-3 spot whether it meant having the standard or not.”

Julia Lucas (Oregon) had an almost twosecond lead heading into the final lap, but over the final circuit Julie Culley (15:13.77, New Jersey) and Huddle powered to the front and went on to finish 1-2, respectively. Behind them, the drama came as Conley sprinted down the home stretch on her way to a 68-second last lap. It wasn’t until the final 100 meters that Conley felt she had a good chance for the team.

“I could feel that I was reeling people in again, and something clicked in my brain and I was not willing to give up on a top-3 spot. I just buckled down and went for it,” an elated Conley said.

Indeed, Conley caught and narrowly outleaned a fading Lucas, 15:19.79 to 15:19.83. It

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Additional Day 5 Notes: In the men’s discus throw final, Jarred Rome (Chula Vista) made his second Olympic team with a sixth-round blast of 63.35 meters/207 feet, 10 inches. Lance Brooks (Colorado, 65.15m/213-9) won his first national title and Jason Young (Texas) took the third slot with a final round toss of 62.15/203-11.

“I graduated college in 2000 and didn’t make my first Olympic team until 2004. So there were three years where, if it wasn’t for family helping me, I wouldn’t have made the 2004 team, the last four World Championship teams, or this Olympic team,” Rome said. “I would have got a job and quit the sport. There’s no money coming out of college. I didn’t make one cent in this sport until I made the Olympic team. Nike, who I’ve been with since 2004, makes it possible for me to continue training.”

Variable winds and damp conditions hampered the men’s pole vault where Scott Roth (Granite Bay), a multiple NCAA titlist while at the University of Washington, placed third at 5.60m/8-4.25, but does not have the Olympic A standard.

“I was pretty disappointed not to get the Olympic standard and not make the team,” said Roth. “But I’m very happy to be here and run a victory lap [with first- and second-placers Brad Walker and Jeremy Scott] around Hayward Field. It was a great experience.”

Day 7, June 30 Olympic Trials 20K Race Walk Produces Top Results for Californians On a muggy morning at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, the men’s 20K race walk featured several new American records and a number of California connections among the top placers. Trevor Barron’s (Pennsylvania)

win in 1 hour, 23 minutes, and 0.10 seconds (1:23:00.10) chopped almost 40 seconds off the previous 20K race walk record set by Tim Seaman (Chula Vista) in 2000. The 19-year-old Barron also set a new U.S. 15K race walk record (1:02:06.57) en route to his victory and firsttime berth on a U.S. Olympic team.

Seaman, a multiple U.S. record holder and two-time 20K race walk Olympian, placed second in 1:27:29.48, a new U.S. masters M40–44 age-group record, despite incurring two infractions for “lifting” (the boundary between walking and running) during the race.

Seaman also set three additional new U.S. M40–44 records (5K, 10K, and 15K) en route to his runner-up finish.

Seaman coaches Barron and 20-year-old Nick Christie (El Cajon) who placed third in 1:29:47.30. Only Barron, however, qualified for a U.S. Olympic team berth since he was the only finisher who has attained the Olympic 20K race walk A standard of 1:22:30.

Christie commented: “I’ve only been participating in race walking for 13 months.

Coach Tim [Seaman] said to me [at Cuyamaca College in El Cajon], ‘If anyone starts race walking, I’ll get them to the Olympic Trials in a year.’ I finished up my track and cross country seasons at Cuyamaca, said goodbye to it, and started race walking.”

Another Seaman-coached athlete, Tyler Sorensen, 18, of Lafayette (who recently moved to the San Diego area) was sixth in 1:34:24.52.

Sorensen set a new U.S. Junior men’s 15K race walk record (1:10:57.96) and a 20K personal record while competing in his first U.S. Olympic Trials. Sorensen will compete in the IAAF World Junior Track & Field Championships in Barcelona, Spain in midJuly before beginning studies at Stanford University.

“The Trials has been very exciting and motivational for me to keep going for the next four years and, hopefully, make my first Olympic team in 2016. I’d like to make the U.S. team for the [IAAF] World Championships in Moscow next year.”

2 0 0 4 Olympian John Nunn ( C h u l a Vista) had an off day and did not finish. Last January, Nunn won the U.S. Olympic Team 50K Race Walk Trials, and qualified for a berth on the London Olympic team in that event.

Day 7, June 30 Californians Stand Out on Day 7 A drizzly Day 7 of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene ended with Californians Allyson Felix shattering the women’s 200m Olympic Trials record and Carmelita Jeter taking the runnerup slot. Californians Will Claye (triple jump), Sharon Day (heptathlon), and Jason Richardson (110m hurdles) also turned in solid performances, earning slots on a U.S. Olympic team packed with Golden Staters. Also, ’97 UCLA graduate and longtime Californian Amy Acuff (high jump) made her fifth Olympic team.

A crowd of 20,791 witnessed a muchanticipated women’s 200m final where Felix (Santa Clarita) ran away from one of the best fields of American 200-meter women ever assembled. Felix’s 21.69 victory took down the 24-year-old meet record of 21.77 set by Florence Griffith-Joyner as Felix became the fourth-fastest woman in history. In her wake, 2011 World silver medalist Carmelita Jeter finished second with a lifetime-best of 22.11.

400m champion Sanya Richards-Ross (Texas) claimed her second spot on the London squad with a third-place, 22.22 performance. Felix had a margin of victory of 0.42 seconds, the largest in the electronic-timing era at the Trials.

Jeneba Tarmoh (Los Angeles), who tied with Felix for third in the women’s 100m final, placed fifth in 22.35.

Taking advantage of still winds early in the men’s triple jump, Will Claye’s (San Diego) 17.55m/57-7 effort secured second place behind Christian Taylor’s (Florida) world-leading 17.63m/57-10.25. The pair earned the only two berths on the London-bound team since third-placer Walter Davis (Louisiana) does not have the Olympic A standard of 17.20m.

september–october 2012 • ct&rn

Victor Sailer/www.PhotoRun.NET

was a 5-second PR for Conley and met the Olympic A standard of 15:20, giving her a spot on the London team.

Conley credited her parents and her coach (UC Davis head coach Drew Wartenburg) for getting her to the Olympic Trials podium.

“I’m not someone who had a ton of support coming out of college to pursue running, so my parents have been very supportive of me staying in the sport,” said Conley. “And my coach has been a big factor to give me the consistency and really push me to go after this.”

2008 Olympic marathoner Magdalena Lewy Boulet (Oakland) placed 11th in 15:34.31 after suffering a plantar fascia injury last March from which she was slow to recover.

“Last Friday was the first day I was able to do a track workout,” Lewy Boulet said. “I was afraid of coming in here and running, like, 18 minutes. So this was the best thing to have happened to me. It was awesome just to make the final.”

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Sharon Day (San Luis Obispo), the only woman coming into the heptathlon with the Olympic A standard, amassed a lifetime-best score of 6,343 points and placed second behind 2008 Olympic silver medalist Hyleas Fountain’s (Florida) 6,419-point score. Day has previous Olympic experience as a 2008 U.S. Olympic team member in the high jump.

In the 110m hurdles final, 2011 World Outdoor champion Jason Richardson (Inglewood) matched his PR 12.98-second effort from the semifinal to finish second and earned a slot on his first Olympic team. Winner Aries Merritt’s (Texas) 12.93 mark equaled fifth on the all-time U.S. list and eighth on the alltime world list.

Ageless Amy Acuff, who turns 37 in a couple weeks, made her fifth Olympic team, placing third in the women’s high jump final with a best jump of 1.95/6-4.75. She’s only the fifth American woman ever to make five Olympic teams.

Jason Richardson (2nd, 110m hurdles): “Coming off the semis, I definitely felt the effort that I was putting in. I won’t say that I’m bionic and that I was 100%. What I will say is that I’m capable of doing whatever it takes whenever it counts. In the middle of the race I had a little problem. I don’t know if I hit a hurdle, or if I came off of one wrong, but I definitely fell back. It was at that moment that I decided I wasn’t going to let this dream slip and I decided to battle back. I was confident and I was leaning. I ran my second sub-13, which I didn’t think I was going to do for a while.”

Day 8, July 1 Californians Uceny and Rowbury Make U.S. Olympic 1500m Squad Morgan Uceny had nothing to prove in the women’s 1500m final at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials. After all, in 2011, Uceny (Mammoth Lakes) was ranked #1 in the world in the 1500m and dominated the IAAF Diamond League circuit.

On the other hand, Shannon Rowbury (San Francisco) did. She lost eight months of training and competition last year with an Achilles tendon injury and a femoral stress fracture. Despite the injuries, Rowbury put together what she considered “a pretty decent season” in 2011, even though she failed to advance beyond the semi-final at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Daegu. Yet, some critics wondered if Rowbury, who placed 7th in the 1500m at the 2008 Olympic Games and was the 2009 World Champs bronze medalist, had the wherewithal to come back.

Victor Sailer/www.PhotoRun.NET

Quotes: Allyson Felix (1st, women’s 200m): “It’s very rare for me to be coming off any curve in the lead. I was just staying focused. I knew that there [were] so many strong people in the race that you can never just relax or be content where you are. So, I decided to keep digging and kept it going.”

“I have a great relationship with Jeneba Tarmoh. I’m just so proud of her. I really [encouraged] her to come and train with us [coach Bob Kersee’s group]. What she has done this year is really phenomenal. So many collegiate athletes have a tough time transitioning,

and she’s done one of the best jobs of doing that.

We do all of our training together, helping each other reach our goals. As long as she stays dedicated, things will work out just fine for her.”

Carmelita Jeter (2nd, women’s 200m): “I’m so happy right now. It felt really good to come out and execute, and make the team in the 100m and 200m. I’m having such a such great year right now going into London. I’m just excited to be on this team with these women. It’s my first Olympics and it’s one of the best feelings in the world.”

Sharon Day (2nd, heptathlon): “It feels so good right now to go to London, represent Team USA, and do the best that I can. I’m looking for a big PR score and looking to get on the [medals] podium.”

Amy Acuff (3rd, high jump): About coming back after a brief retirement from the sport: “After Beijing [2008 Olympic Games], I really let myself down and was feeling really burnt out. I continued another year, but I think deep down I felt like I had unfinished business. I felt that I had it within me to jump higher. I got fourth place in Athens [2004 Olympic Games] and I just wanted another shot at it. Give me another chance, and I’ll make it right.”

Will Claye (2nd, triple jump): “I moved out to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista last January because Jeremy Fisher (the jumps coach at the training center) was my coach during my freshman and sophomore year at Oklahoma. I got there, I was wet behind the ears, and I improved by four feet. I knew that something he was teaching me was working. I felt it was time for me to go back to him.

There’s still a lot of room to improve.”

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Terrence Mahon and I have been working on.”

“She stuck to the race plan and wanted to make a hard last lap,” Mahon commented. “She made everybody hurt and was training hard for it. There were some great women in there. Any one of them could have won.”

Said Rowbury: “Despite my not making the World Championships final last year, I’ve proven that I’m a championship racer. If there’s any sort of redemption [following the Trials race], it’s proving to myself that everything I’ve believed—that the confidence that I tried to keep even through my darkest times of injury—wasn’t a fantasy. I’m really capable of the things that I thought. Standing here now, I feel like [making my second Olympic team] is something that I was meant to do.”

And for Uceny, a first-time Olympian, it’s a dream come true.

“It’s a big stepping stone,” Uceny said.

“Lots of people go through their careers having not made an Olympic team. It’s tough when you can never say that you were an Olympian.

But now I can always say ‘I’m an Olympian’ and it’s something I’ll always cherish.”

Additional Final Day Trials Action: In the women’s 400m hurdles, American record holder and reigning World champion Lashinda Demus (Toluca Lake) reaffirmed her position as a gold medal threat in London. Demus turned in the fastest time by an American this year, taking her fourth national title and the 2012 Olympic Trials crown in 53.98.

“I’m still coming back from a [right hamstring] injury, so my race wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be,” Demus admitted. “This is my fastest time of the year and I have a good month of training [ahead]. I think I can get back down

there to be able to compete at the Olympic Games because my time has to come way down to be a contender. I’m happy with the time, but know that I have a lot more work to do.”

American record holder Kara Patterson (Chula Vista) had the early lead in the women’s javelin throw, but tripped and tweaked a knee on her fourth-round throw. She elected to pass on her final two throws and placed second at 59.79 meters/196 feet, 2 inches to 2012 NCAA champion [while at Oklahoma] Brittany Borman (61.51m/201-9).

“I really wanted to keep my shoes on for [the entire competition], but my [U.S. Olympic Training Center] coach, Ty Sevin, and I decided that it was better to be careful for London than attempt my last two throws,” Patterson said.

In the men’s 1500m final, David Torrence (Oakland) finished sixth in 3:37.70. The former University of California, Berkeley standout and three-time USATF road mile champion was in contention on the last lap, but faded over the final 150 meters behind winner Leonel Manzano (Texas, 3:35.75).

“I was aggressive. I really wanted to make sure I was close to the front with a lap to go,” Torrence said. “I executed my plan almost perfectly. I was trying to get into the lead over the last lap, but I just didn’t have it in the last 100m.

“I didn’t think I was going to fall apart that bad. I thought I was [as] prepared as anyone in the world for this race—my nutrition, workouts, and timing were great. Now, the title of Olympian means that much more. These [Olympic team members] are the real deal.”

Victor Sailer/www.PhotoRun.NET

At times, Rowbury wondered that, too.

“Last year, when I was injured, there were times when I really didn’t want to run any more,” Rowbury admitted. “When you’re questioning yourself as an athlete, that’s the deepest, darkest place you can go.”

How quickly deep darkness turns to radiant sunshine. As sun broke through the predominantly rainy skies at the Trials, 22,497 fans at Eugene’s Hayward Field witnessed Uceny and Rowbury place 1–2 in a captivating women’s 1500m. Both athletes, along with third-placer Jenny Simpson (the 2011 World Championships gold medalist from Colorado) proved that the U.S. will, indeed, field a medalcontending female metric mile contingent in London.

Both Uceny and Rowbury stayed close behind early leaders Treniere Moser (11th, Texas) and Brenda Martinez (12th, Rancho Cucamonga). Following an 800m split of 2:14.1, Uceny took the lead and cruised a final lap of 60.14 seconds for the victory in 4:04.59.

Rowbury finished with a 60.46 last lap for second place in 4:05.11. Simpson grabbed the third London position at 4:05.17.

“I’m confident in my closing speed,” Uceny said. “I knew that if it came down to 200 meters I’d be okay. It was all about keeping my cool and knowing that I had an extra gear if I needed it. I felt that I was always able to respond. I just knew with all the work I’d done, that—as long as I ran smart—there was no way I was going to lose this race. When the three of us broke away, I wanted the win. I wanted it bad.

“For me, a lot of it’s all about running smart,” Uceny explained. “I tend to want to run hard until I die. Holding back is hard for me. So that’s something [Mammoth Track Club coach]

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*)('&%'$#'"

Summer Shoes 2012 The summer season is here, and so is our guide to more running shoes from which to choose.

The selection is a nice cross-section of offerings: three Performance shoes, three Neutral shoes, and one shoe each from Motion Stabilizing and Hybrid Trail. Always make sure you know what type of shoe works for you by knowing your foot shape, foot strike, and foot motion.

Check the shoe widget at www.runningnetwork.com for updates and, for additional shoe information, click the banner for Running Product Reviews.

!*# *& ' # & The Instinct is the first shoe of the 33 series designed for the trail. The upper, like its cousin the Speedstar, uses a no-sew TPU lattice that completely covers the upper and is light as well as supportive. It uses the same midsole as the Speedstar, though here it’s just a bit livelier thanks to the 33 series’ Propulsion Trusstic, which offers energy return from the material’s recoil. The outersole effectively splits the difference between trail traction and road performance. The combination of characteristics makes a successful hybrid trail shoe that’s light enough for faster running with plenty of cushioned protection.

HYBRID TRAIL Sizes Men 7–13,14,15; Women 5–12 Weight 11.7 oz. (men’s 11); 9.6 oz. (women’s 8) Shape semi-curved Construction Strobel slip-lasted, SpEVA (EVA) Strobel board Recommended for medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

&

&

& Karhu has evolved its Fulcrum technology several times since its introduction in 1985. The Forward

3 introduces the latest iteration. Previously constructed of molded foam, it’s now a Pebax device that provides both midfoot support and the unique ride that the Fulcrum offers in forward motion. Now the midsole foam conforms around the Fulcrum and offers a cushy ride in both the heel and the forefoot. The outersole is a thin layer of durable carbon rubber in the heel with blown rubber up front for a bit more cushion. The upper is lined with moisturewicking mesh. On the outside, an open mesh fabric wraps the foot comfortably and secures it with plenty of toeroom. The performance is effective, representing the best execution yet of the Fulcrum concept.

PERFORMANCE Sizes Men 8–12,13,14; Women 6–11 Weight 11.2 oz. (men’s 11); 9.3 oz. (women’s 8) Shape semi-curved Construction Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

& &$ &

The Vomaro continues as the flagship of Nike’s neutral running line. Round 7 makes some changes while maintaining its most important strengths. The upper is still a closed mesh, but alterations have been made to the midfoot supports. The thermoplastic saddle has been replaced by straps reinforced with Flywire that overlap and attach directly to the lacing, effectively locking the foot over the midsole. The midsole has a firm and resilient ride, just the type of shoe for high-mileage training. The encapsulated Zoom Air configuration offers a ride that is both hard to beat and hard to match. The outersole is segmented to allow good flexion and reduce weight, and is much the same as previous versions of the Vomaro. You can expect the same kind of cushioning and performance the Vomaro has been known for.

NEUTRAL Sizes Men 6–13,14,15; Women 5–12 Weight 12.4 oz. (men’s 11); 10.1 oz. (women’s 8) Shape semi-curved Construction Combination Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board (forefoot) Recommended for medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

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01-32 CTRN-Sept-Oct_sept/oct 2008 8/30/12 11:24 AM Page 23

*)('&%$#"$! !( On Running has consistently grown its line of uniquely cushioned shoes. The Cloudsurfer is the latest of its updated models, receiving adjustments all around. The upper has benefitted from refinements to the last that have brought it more in line with accepted sizing standards. (Previously, they were a little short.) Retained is the breathable open mesh and the secure wrap of the foot, though now with a bit more toeroom. The midsole remains pretty consistent—cushiony with good flexibility. The outersole lugs are a bit thicker and harder, so that while still providing a unique ride, they’re more durable. The resulting combination of foam and the compressable lugs provide a ride that’s effective and certainly worth a serious look.

NEUTRAL Sizes Men 8–14; Women 6–10 Weight 12.9 oz. (men’s 11); 10.4 oz. (women’s 8) Shape semi-curved Construction Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for mediumto high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

% ( )%( & ( ( ( Reebok updates its running focus for ZigTech with the ZigNano Fly II SE. The upper is more of a color-up, as the fit and mesh are all but the same as the original: open mesh with minimal synthetic leather overlays. The midsole offers the same offsets, flexibility, and ride featured in Round 1, with the exception of adjustments to the segmentation in the heel plate between the midsole and upper. This improves the articulation in transition, which was a bit of a problem in earlier versions of ZigTech shoes, including the ZigNano Fly. The minimal carbon rubber has been retained largely intact, still aimed at balancing weight and durability. Fans can celebrate the improvements, while those seeking a reliable neutral road shoe will find it in the ZigNano Fly II SE. NEUTRAL Sizes Men 7–13; Women 5–11 Weight 11.7 oz. (men’s 11); 9.4 oz. (women’s 8) Shape semi-curved Construction Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for mediumto high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

$ %) ( ! ( ( Round 2 of the Mirage aims at continued performance while freshening the shoe overall. The upper switches from its open two-layer mesh to a relatively closed, engineered mesh that breathes well, while adding a small measure of protection and support. It also makes the fit just a little closer. The midsole is much the same as before—a responsive layer of cushioning with geometry that drops only 4 millimeters from heel to toe—so it encourages a midfoot strike. The outersole, also unchanged, sports just enough rubber in the highest wear portions of the sole to boost durability. The sum of these parts is a light, well-cushioned shoe that’s great for a mix of faster running and regular training.

PERFORMANCE Sizes Men 7–13,14,15; Women 5–12 Weight 10.4 oz. (men’s 11); 8.3 oz. (women’s 8) Shape semi-curved Construction Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for mediumto high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

! ( ) " "( ( This version of the Genesis shows the real progress Spira has made in recent seasons. Its cushioning technology is provided, in large part, by steel springs that are well incorporated in traditional foam. The upper is its best effort yet: Elasticized lace eyelets move with the foot and stretch mesh better hugs the midfoot, while allowing room in the forefoot. The midsole has been shaped to allow the foot to flex, while providing cushioning and allowing the function of the spring as well. The outersole is a typical and effective carbon rubber heel with a blown rubber forefoot. Though just a bit on the heavy side, the stability and cushioned ride of the midsole compensate well for the extra weight.

MOTION STABILIZING Sizes Men 7–13,14,15 (D,2E widths); Women 6–11,12 (B,D widths) Weight 15.3 oz. (men’s 11); 11.9 oz. (women’s 8) Shape semi-curved Construction Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for medium- to high-arched feet with mild to moderate overpronation

%% ( & ! ( ( ( The TT 5.0 is the update to Zoot’s multipurpose trainer designed to handle both triathlon training as well as the running duties in longer triathlons. The stretchy monosock upper fits closely, though it’s pretty roomy over the toes. Elastic laces snug the midfoot, which is a nice blend of responsive EVA and Zoot’s Z-bound inserts. The outersole is a thin layer of carbon rubber in the heel, while the forefoot has fabric-backed TPU treads for grip and durability. The success of the TT series is advanced by Round 5, producing a long racer that serves well for tempo runs, speedwork, and even a little motivation on regular training runs.

PERFORMANCE Sizes Men 7–12,13,14; Women 6–11 Weight 9.8 oz. (men’s 11); 7.8 oz. (women’s 8) Shape semi-curved Construction Strobel slip-lasted Recommended for medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

CREGG WEINMANN is footwear and running products reviewer for Running Network LLC. He can be reached via e-mail at shuz2run@lightspeed.net.

Copyright Š 2012 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.

september–october 2012 • ct&rn

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01-32 CTRN-Sept-Oct_sept/oct 2008 8/30/12 11:24 AM Page 25

LDR News FROM WAYNE JONESS

Magic Shoe 5K Corona Del Mar; May 19

By Contributing SCA/USATF Members A festive atmosphere, great weather, a worthy cause, and a fast course greeted over 900 registered runners at the “Biggest little 5000 in Orange County.” The streets of Newport Beach were host to over 170 SCA/USATF participants for the fifth race in the 2012 USATF Grand Prix Road running series. Coach Sumner usually engineers a fast course and the competitors did not disappoint, with 4 men running sub-15 minutes and 20 men under 16 minutes.

On the men’s open side, Roosevelt Cook (M32), from Cal Coast Track Club, was the top USATF finisher with a time of 14:55. Carlos Carballo (M29), running for adidas Legacy Run Racing, was second at 14:59, and Jorge Jabaz (M25) finished third at 15:03. Just 8 seconds separated the top three USATF men in a very close competition.

The women’s open field was also competitive with The Janes Elite Racing runner Erika Akulfi (F36) winning with a time of 16:43. On the strength of her four fantastic races this year,

Wayne Joness

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Aklufi is positioned to move to the top of the women’s Grand Prix standings. Second place went to Jenni Johnson (F32) at 17:01 and close behind in third place was Brooks ID runner and 2012 SCA/USATF marathon champion Sara Raschiatore (F31) with a time of 17:22.

In the men’s masters division, Peter Magill (M50), from Cal Coast Track Club, was first with a 15:05 finish, a new American record for the 50–54 age division. Magill’s feat was amazing in face of the fact that he had just broken Ken Ernst’s (M50) 5000m record on the track at the Oxy Invitational on May 5 with a time of 15:11. Magill’s time at the Magic Shoe 5K beat his pending American record of 15:24 from last year’s La Palma July 4 5K. And Magill went on to break his own record at the USATF West Region Jim Bush meet just two weeks later on June 2, when he ran 15:06. Showing the talent of the Cal Coast Track Club in the masters division, Ken Ernst (M50) and Jeff Ambos (M50) completed the Cal Coast masters sweep, finishing second and third with times of 15:52 and 15:55, respectively.

Club Ed Running standout runner Nathalie Higley (F42) at 17:02 was the top masters woman and also moved up to challenge for a top spot in the women’s Grand Prix standings. Ingrid Walters (F40), also from The Janes Elite Racing, finished second at 19:06. Cal Coast Track Club’s Rosalva Bonilla (F49) finished third at 19:10 and will maintain her position as one of the top three women in the overall Grand Prix standings.

L–R New AR holder in the M50–54 5K (15:05) Peter Magill (M50), with previous track 5K record holder and Cal Coast team member Ken Ernst (M50); Men’s open winner Roosevelt Cook (M32).

Above Three-time defending Pasadena Marathon champion Mandy Grantz

Pasadena Half/Full/Relay Marathon Pasadena; May 20

By Wayne Joness

Wayne Joness

While only a few years old, the Kaiser Permanente Pasadena Marathon has created a formula for success in the crowded Southern California road running circuit, selling out all of its events for 2012. Runners who know Pasadena trained for a course that presented some hills, but were also rewarded with a scenic course that included the Rose Bowl and a route LDR News continues next page. september–october 2012 • ct&rn

25

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Wayne Joness

LDR continued from page 25

that parallelled the beautiful Arroyo Seco River.

7,000 runners took to the streets of Pasadena on Sunday, May 20 to race a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, or a kid’s run 1K. In addition, race director Israel Estrada worked closely with USATF and Pasadena-based Gritty City Track Club to organize an invitational relay marathon event, the first relay marathon in the Los Angeles area since the demise of the fabled Jimmy Stewart Relay Marathon in 2006.

In the full marathon competition, Alexander Garabedian (M20) of the Santa Monica Track Club led the way for USATF runners with a time of 2:58:26. Finishing right behind Garabedian was three-time defending Pasadena Marathon champion and 2012 Olympic Trials qualifier Mandy Grantz (F25) representing the hometown favorites, the Gritty City Track Club. The USATF masters competition was won by the ubiquitous long distance running machine, Joe Ogata (M63), with a time of 3:48:30. In the last 10 years, Ogata has run more than 100 marathons, consistently qualifying for the Boston Marathon in his age group. Rounding out the masters competition was Cheri Rich (F50) with a time of 4:05:09.

In the half marathon, 2012 SCA/USATF marathon champion Mark Batres (M27) of Run With Us had a comfortable finish of 1:11:50.

Underlining the depth and talent of the Gritty City Track Club was team member Nicole Luque (F32) finishing in 1:31:17. In addition to her athletic abilities, Luque is well known as a reliable volunteer for various races and scores the Road Running Grand Prix, as well.

While most of the Cal Coast Track Club raced the previous day at 26 c t & r n • s e p t e m b e r – o c t o b e r 2 0 1 2

A Runner’s Circle Pasadena Relay team members L–R Sergio Arias, Brian Ramos, and team caption Gerard Deegan

the Magic Shoe 5K, distance specialists Matt Ebiner (M51) and Linda Hodgson (F57) represented their team well in Pasadena with first-place masters times of 1:15:57 for Ebiner and 1:44:42 for Hodgson. There can be no doubt that the Cal Coast Track Club is determined to dominate road racing in the Southern California Association: It was the only club to field teams at both the Magic Shoe 5K and the Pasadena Marathon.

Flying under the radar was the Pasadena Relay Marathon, a joint effort of the Pasadena Marathon and Southern California USATF to explore developing a new relay marathon event. Participation was limited to six local teams, with A Runner’s Circle fielding three teams of runners, the Gritty City Track Club contributing two teams, and the Pasadena Pacers with one team. A Runner’s Circle pushed the pace, finishing in 2:35:25, with “True Grit” (Gritty City Track Club) second with a time of 2:42:47.

The five-person relay marathon was formatted according to national rules, with legs of 10 km, 5 km, 10 km, 5 km and a stretch of 12.2 km to the finish line. Special thanks to Gritty City member Alex Bruno, who did much of the organizing to make this event possible, and even drove one of the transport vans used to ferry runners around the course on race day.

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PACIFIC ASSOCIATION

BY MARK WINITZ

Pacific THERx 5K4Play PA/USATF Championship Portola Valley; May 12 The inaugural Pacific THERx 5K4Play yielded some fine performances on a sunny morning that was ideal for running. The field, composed of several hundred primarily Pacific Association/USATF competitors, was eager to try out a newly USATF-certified 5K out-andback course on shaded, semi-rural Portola Road. The route offered a gradual 128-foot drop over the “out” leg which, after the 180º turnaround point, became a moderately challenging uphill charge over the final 1.5 miles.

Among women, YiOu Wang (ASICS Aggies) and Annie Bersagel (New Balance Silicon Valley) took an early lead, followed closely by Kate Niehaus (NBSV). At the 1mile mark (5:08 split), Bersagel began to pull away, hit the turnaround, and navigated the uphill second mile in 5:49 before proceeding to the finish line in 16:45 for the win. Niehaus (2nd, 17:00) passed Wang (3rd, 17:05) about halfway through the race and held on for the runner-up spot.

“My split times were very positive, which I think was the case for just about everybody,” Bersagel joked about the rise back to the finish line. “But this is actually the fastest 5K I’ve run on a roads in a little while.”

Bersagel, the 2006 NCAA Woman of the Year (for academic and athletics excellence while at Wake Forest University), scored her road PR of 16:24 at the 2006 Carlsbad 5000.

As of this writing, her 5000m PR on the track was 15:50.59.

41-year-old Kris Paaso won the women’s masters title, garnering fourth place overall in 17:22 and contributing to New Balance Silicon Valley’s PA/USATF open women’s team victory.

Barbara Miller, 72, scored the women’s performance of the day. The multiple agegroup record holder easily won the PA/USATF women’s Super Senior (70–79) age division in a blistering 24:35 (a 94% age-graded score).

“I haven’t run a PA/USATF race for a while so I really enjoyed seeing the old crowd,” Miller said. “My training and racing has been going well this year, but I’ve been racing mostly close to home (Modesto-Sacramento area).

Actually, I was hoping for a sub–24-minute 5K. I ran 24:08 in Elk Grove a couple of months ago so it seemed like a possible goal [before I experienced] the long, steady uphill here and the slanted road. But it’s a beautiful

area and the race is a lot of fun. I would definitely race here again.”

(Editor’s Note: Miller improved on her mark at two subsequent 5Ks within a few weeks, bettering the currently ratified U.S. W70–74 5K record. (See Additional Road Racing Notes below for more.)

In the men’s contest, a lead group of about a half-dozen navigated the downhill first mile in 4:42. By 2 miles, the group was down to four. With about three-quarters of a mile remaining, Kota Reichert made a move, accompanied by his ASICS Aggie compatriot Carl Dargitz and Transports adidas competitor Chris Chavez.

“At that point, I said, ‘Just hold on [to them] through the hills,’” Chavez said. “‘Don’t do anything stupid.’”

Over the final 600 meters, Chavez forged a bit of a gap and expanded it for the victory in 14:54. Dargitz (2nd, 15:01) and Reichert (3rd, 15:03) followed, leading the Aggies to the PA/USATF open men’s team victory. Chavez, the 2011 PA/USATF short road Grand Prix open men’s champion, garnered his second consecutive individual PA/USATF Grand Prix 5K victory in 2012. Chavez also won the Zippy 5K three weeks earlier in 14:42.

“I wasn’t worried about my time today,” said Chavez. “There was a good group out there today, and I had a lot of fun.”

Richard Bolt, 41, scored a narrow, 2-second men’s masters victory over Jaime Heilpern in 16:08. Brian Pilcher’s 16:30 at age 55 (94% age-graded score) was most notable among men.

Thanks to race director Dena Evans and New Balance Silicon Valley for hosting a superb first-year event that benefits Playworks Silicon Valley. Playworks is a national nonprofit organization that supports learning by providing safe, healthy, and inclusive play and physical activity to low-income schools at recess and throughout the school day.

Marin Memorial Day 10K PA/USATF Championship Kentfield; May 28 Contested in the shadow of Marin’s Mount Tamalpais, through the nearly flat, manicured neighborhoods of Kentfield, Larkspur, and Ross, invariably in bright, sunny-but-comfortable running conditions, this race is one of the gems of Northern California road running.

And the devotees who return here year after year are never disappointed. In this year’s Marin Memorial Day (MMD) 10K, Clara Peterson registered the second fastest female time in the history of the 31-year-old event.

Plus, Hans Schmid set a possible new U.S. 10K record (pending ratification by USATF) in the men’s 70–74 age-group ranks.

Peterson won the women’s contest in

33:33. Only April Powers, Marin County’s female running standout in the 1980s, has run faster (33:26 in 1988) on this USATF-certified loop course that finishes on the College of Marin track. That says a lot, as a plethora of female Olympians and luminaries have ascended the winner’s platform at the MMD 10K, including Lynn Nelson, Maria Trujillo, Ruth Wysocki, Magdalena Lewy Boulet, and Kate O’Neill.

Now Peterson, who lives in San Anselmo, can be added to the list of local, Marin County residents who have grabbed a PA/USATF open women’s title at this event.

“I was nervous before the race because I’d heard about a girl name Malika [Mejdoub] who was flying in from Morocco to try and break the race record,” Peterson said. “It turns out that it was perfect that she was there because it helped me run faster than I probably would have. I let her take out the race just to get a feel for what she was capable of.”

In fact, Mejdoub, who scored a 2:39:31 win at the Pittsburgh Marathon earlier in the month, went through the first mile in what Peterson, who was right on her heels, called a “comfortable” 5:17. At the 5K split (16:45), Peterson felt confident enough to take the lead.

Mejdoub hung onto the former Duke University standout for 2 more miles before Peterson dropped her and stretched a 7-second gap over her rival by the finish line. Mejdoub (2nd, 33:40) was followed by YiOu Wang (3rd, 34:42).

“I felt fantastic and was so happy to get the win,” Peterson related. “My house is less than a half-mile from parts of the course, so I run it all the time. I would have been devastated if I got beat in my own backyard.

“But the most exciting part of the day was when my 3-year-old son, Ramsey, won his 50meter toddler division race. I’m crossing my fingers that he can keep up his winning streak through high school and college,” Peterson laughed.

Four years ago, Chris Chavez (see sidebar) ran the MMD 10K as his first race as a postcollegian after completing his track & field and cross country eligibility at UC-Berkeley.

“It was the race where I fell in love with the Pacific Association/USATF road circuit,” Chavez said.

Now, after two fourth- and two thirdplaces here since 2008, Chavez is the MMD 10K men’s champion as he defends his 2011 PA/USATF short Road Grand Prix open men’s division overall title.

A lead pack composed of Kota Reichert, who set the early pace, Crosby Freeman, Kevin Pool, and Chavez worked together through the first 5K at 4:55/mile pace. After moving to the front, Chavez made a concerted move at 3.5 miles, lowering the pace to 4:45.

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LDR continued from page 27 “I felt I’d waited long enough,” Chavez recounted. “I had an idea of Kota’s and Crosby’s fitness from recent races, but Kevin was a wild card so I wanted to put myself in control.”

Over the Corte Madera Creek pedestrian/bike path, Chavez’ competitors dropped off one by one, and by mile 5, the eventual winner was in the clear as he motored on to a 30:15 win. Pool (2nd, 30:28), Reichert (3rd, 30:41), and Freeman (4th, 30:50) followed.

Chavez registered his third consecutive win on the 2012 PA/USATF short Grand Prix road circuit.

The masters titles went to Valerie Young, age 48, in a superb 36:12 and senior extraordinaire Brian Pilcher, age 55. Pilcher’s 32:57 translates to a 97% age-graded score—one of the highest ever recorded in PA/USATF Road Grand Prix competition since 2003, the first year age-graded scores on the circuit were tracked.

“I always enjoy Marin Memorial Day since it’s my local race,” said Pilcher, who lives in Ross. “At this race, I like to go out fast, find people to run with, and hang on. This was an [all-time] 10K PR for me today. It’s really important for me to say that I ran sub-33.”

PA/USATF age-group standout Hans Schmid (age 72, Greenbrae) set a pending U.S. men’s 70–74 age-group record. Schmid’s time of 40:45 bettered the listed U.S. record of 41:09 set in 1984 by Alfred Funk.

“I had no idea what the record was and I didn’t even think about it. I had hoped to run at least a time similar to last year,” Schmid said.

“I’m not a technical runner, no Garmin, no stopwatch. My body usually tells me how to run. Pacing is always a bit of a mystery for me.

However, I have run a few PA/USATF races and know who runs at a similar speed as I do. I try not to go out too fast, and I keep a steady pace throughout the race. Somehow everything came together for me today. I still can’t believe that I established a [pending] U.S. record for us old-timers.”

There were 538 finishers in this year’s 10K championship race, and 231 finishers in the accompanying 5K. Thanks to the Tamalpa Runners, the event’s organizers, for presenting another superlative race.

Additional Road Racing Notes Barbara Miller (72, Modesto) was sidelined for much of last year with a bone bruise followed by a string of family emergencies. That didn’t stop the longtime Buffalo Chips Running Club standout, who holds eight U.S. agegroup records and several more pending records at distances from 10K through the marathon, from returning with a mission in 2012. But, as a veteran competitor, she’s taking it a step at a time.

For the first half of this year, Miller has

Chavez Finds Enjoyment Key to Running Success For Menlo Park’s Chris Chavez, running for fun has become a key ingredient to success in his sport. After all, the 26-year-old PA/USATF standout is studying full-time for his MBA at CalBerkeley while holding down a part-time job at a financial management firm. He needs time to change focus, temporarily leave his commitments behind and just plain enjoy life. He’s found that in running.

Between train commutes back and forth to Berkeley, his studies, and work, Chavez spends his precious personal time training up to 120 miles per week in the foothills near Stanford University and on the Stanford track with members of the Bay Area Track Club. He chooses his races carefully and competes for the Berkeley-based Transports adidas Racing Team. Chavez considers himself fortunate to have Olympic marathoner Magdalena Lewy Boulet as a coach. His wife, Jordan, a social worker at Stanford Hospital, supports his endeavors.

After a personally disappointing performance at last January’s U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, where he finished 53rd in 2:20:18, Chavez took some down-time, then discovered a new pleasure in his running this past spring when he cut his weekly mileage to 75–95 and decided to focus on the 5K distance.

In doing so, here’s what Chavez discovered, in his own words: “With the Marathon Trials behind me, I thought about the things that I wanted to accomplish that were different than what I’d been focusing on. I’ve always felt my 5K PR was one of my weakest, so starting in late February my coach, Magda, and I started working on getting me in shape for a couple of track races.

“I ran 14:10 at the Stanford Invitational in early April, which was a PR. But it wasn’t the sub-14 I felt I had in me. I took another go at a PR on the track at the Payton Jordan Invitational meet at Stanford, but I had one of the worst races of my career that day.

“The benefit of the track work is that it got me fit for shorter road races. The Zippy and Portola Valley (Pacific THERX 5KRun4Play) 5Ks came at a good time for me. After the second track race, I put in a couple of longer workouts in preparation for Bay to Breakers where I was part of the LinkedIn centipede team that set a new course record and the Marin Memorial Day 10K. Those races both worked out nicely, too.

“So I can really attribute these wins to wanting to chase a PR in a distance that I hadn’t seriously raced since college. Sometimes with running you just have to do what you want, and what you know you’ll have fun with. I needed a break from marathon training and this spring was a lot of fun, even if I didn’t get under 14 minutes for the 5K.” —Mark Winitz

concentrated on the 5K distance, turning in stellar performances on several USATF-certified “record quality” courses. Following a fast 24:35 performance at the Pacific THERx 5K4Play on May 12 (see race report in this issue), she improved to 23:46 at the Buzz Oakes No Excuses 5K (May 28, Sacramento).

This mark bettered several pending U.S. W70–74 5K records on USATF’s record books for a mixed men’s/women’s race. Then, at the Kaiser Permanente Women’s Fitness Festival 5K (June 3, Sacramento), Miller recorded a 23:50—12 seconds faster than the current U.S. W70–74 5K record in a women-only race.

“I really wanted to run somewhere around 23:30 at these races, but it didn’t happen,” Miller said. “Hopefully, I can drop an additional 5 seconds per mile off my times.

I’m definitely working on it. I think I’ll work on my 5K time for another month before I move on to longer races.”

Longtime running standout Sharlet Gilbert (61, El Sobrante) is also enjoying a running resurgence. In particular, over the Memorial Day weekend, the veteran of over 50

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marathons who has a best of 2:38 at the 26.2mile distance, scored a mind-boggling array of age-group victories at shorter distances on both the roads and track. First, at the Pacific Association/USATF Open and Masters Track & Field Championships on Sunday, May 27, at the College of San Mateo, Gilbert competed in four events, topping her age group in all: 100m (16.05 seconds), 200m (35.17), 800m (3:02.87, despite a shoelace that came untied mid-race), and 5000m (22:43.27). The following day, she ran in the Marin Memorial Day 10K, topping the W60–64 age division in 46:24.

“Since there were few masters’ track events in Northern California this year, the PA/USATF championships were a priority for me,” Gilbert said. “And the Marin Memorial Day 10K is on the PA/USATF short road Grand Prix, where I’ve been competing. The only solution was to prepare for both. The weekend of racing was a blessing and a dream come true. My goals were achieved, and both events were tremendous. I’d better recover for a while now, though. I’m not 20 anymore.”

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Race Walking PACIFIC ASSOCIATION

BY ART KLEIN PA/USATF RW Chair Olympic Fever Can Be Contagious There are many who think that the Olympic Trials are more exciting than the Games themselves. This may be because we have been anticipating the contests so long that we ached to have that release of emotion that comes from seeing intense competition. Yes, we identify with the U.S. athletes that we have seen and heard of time and again, some of them whom we know personally.

In the months before the Trials, it seemed that fever have spread so much that even the not-as-well-known events (such as race walking) were perking the interest of many. On one of my regular walks, my training partner and I were confronted by a runner heading briskly in the opposite direction. She called out that we were showing good race walking form. I thanked her and as we passed she asked if I knew that race walking was an Olympic event.

I remarked matter-of-factly as she ran out of sight, “Yes, 20K for men and women and 50K for men.”

My friend, Bonnie Stein, M.Ed., CPTS also felt the need to share that race walking was an Olympic event. As a walk coach in Florida, she taught hundreds to walk well, some who have embraced the rigors of the techniquedriven event. Here are a few words from her lat-

est newsletter: Did you know that YOUR sport (race walking) will be part of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London? The Men’s 20-kilometer (12.4 miles) Race Walk will be held on August 4th at 5:00pm London time. The Men’s 50kilometer (31 miles) Race Walk will be contested August 11th at 9:00am London time, and the Women’s 20-kilometer Race Walk will be the same day at 5:00pm. The race walk events start and finish at The Mall. Athletes race over a 2km loop, taking them up The Mall towards Buckingham Palace, around the Victoria Memorial and up Constitution Hill towards Hyde Park Corner before returning to complete the loop. The Men’s 50K Race Walk is the longest road race in the Olympics.

The Men’s Olympic Race Walk was first contested in 1908 (104 years ago.) Various distances have been used for the men since, the 20K and 50K were finally settled upon in 1992, the same year that the women’s contest was added. This occurred at the Games in Barcelona, at a distance of 10K, It was 10K once more for the women in Atlanta in 1996, and then changed to 20K in 2000, and remains that distance today. There is some talk about perhaps adding a Women’s 50K race walk, but so far that hasn’t happened.

PA/USATF 5000m Championships San Mateo; May 27 Historically, the PA Open Track & Field Championship has been used as a set of preparatory contests for college-age through Masters (and a few youth) to sharpen their skills

at the beginning of the new year’s track & field season. This year, it was decided by the Pacific Association Board of Athletics to combine the Masters Track & Field Championship with the Open Championship. The result was a high turnout with 500 athletes converging on the College of San Mateo campus.

The day started with a women’s world masters record in the 10,000m run by 70-yearold Marie-Louise Michelsohn, who ran 46 minutes, 38.5 seconds. She bettered the previous W70–74 world record of 47:09.94 by Rita Rasimus of Finland set last year and the American record of 48:11.29 by June Machala in 2003. This excited the crowd and primed the walkers to put on a good performance.

In the 5000m race walk, elite athlete Mark Green (age 56) took the lead with Alex Price (age 30) and Bobby Missirian (age 12) in toe.

Three-time Junior Olympic gold medalist Caitlin Palacio (age 14) and top contender Lila Haba (age 16) led the women’s pack.

As can be seen in the results below, these are fast times for the Youth and they drove some of the elder walkers to fine performances, as well. Another special highlight was the 44:17 performance by veteran walker Richard Hansen, age 85. His age-graded performance of 70.58% placed him 13th in the list of 21 finishers.

The weather cooperated by being pleasantly overcast and about 60 degrees with a light breeze for the whole race. Only one athlete was disqualified and one did not finish.

For complete results of the steeplechase, runs, throws, jumps and 5,000m race walk go to www.pausatf.org

PA/USATF 5000m Championships

By Speed Name, Age Men 1. Mark Green, 56 2. Alex Price, 30 3. Robert Missirian, 12 4. Kevin Killingsworth, 56 5. Shoja Torabian, 63 6. Joseph Berendt,56 7. Steven Popell, 73 8. Walter Stewart, 66 9. Joseph Anderson, 72 10. Ronald Missirian, 61 11. Garland Murphy, 64 12. Richard Hansen, 85

Team

Time

Graded %

A-G %

Pegasus PRO SCTC Marin Marin Sierra Unattached Marin SCTC SCTC Marin Unattached

25:35.1 26:54.0 27:34.0 28:28.5 29:45.0 32:11.1 33:52.8 35:05.6 35:55.9 36:25.9 37:34.8 44:17.1

84.42% 66.92% 75.36% 75.85% 77.75% 67.11% 76.80% 68.09% 71.49% 62.19% 62.20% 70.58%

1 18 7 5 3 17 4 16 9 21 20 13

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Susan Mears, 57 Karen Stoyanowski, 57 Doris Cassels, 72 Melissa Woodburn, 59 Chris Everman, 59

PRO Sierra Marin Marin Sierra

33:23.5 33:49.7 35:03.7 35:07.4 39:05.7

71.59% 70.66% 82.87% 69.56% 62.50%

8 12 2 15 19

Team Results Team score is the average of the top 3 age-grade percentages Team Average (Top 3 Points) 1. Marin 78.82% 10 (2nd, 3rd, and 5th) 2. SCTC 72.70% 8 (7th, 9th, and 10th) 3. Sierra 69.55% 7 (11th, 12th, and 17th) Judges: Beth Price (chief judge), Jon Price, Ann Gerhardt, and Helen Storrs

Women 1. Caitlin Palacio, 14 2. Lila Haba, 16 3. Diana Rossman, 45 4. Nicolle Goldman, 53

LSI SCTC SCTC Sierra

27:50.1 28:47.8 30:22.2 32:23.0

75.70% 71.27% 70.42% 70.87%

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6 10 14 11

Team Name Glossary: LSI = LSI Sprint; Marin = Marin Race Walkers; Oak Hill = Oak Hill Racing; Pegasus = Pegasus Athletic Club; PRO = Pacific Racewalkers Organization; SCTC = Santa Cruz Track Club; Sierra = Sierra Race Walkers

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