SCA 10K Championships - Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K

SCA ROAD RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS
SCA 10K Championships
Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K
Friday - November 27, 2009

Results

• SCA Grand Prix Standings: www.scagrandprix.org
• SCA 10K Championships - Dana Point 10K Results (PDF)
• SCA 10K Championships - Press Release (PDF)
  
• 2009 Dana Point Turkey Trot 5K / 10K

Awards

Overall Open Winners

• Charlie Serrano 29:34 M
• Mary Akor 34:33 F

Overall Masters Winners

• Dave Parsel 34:51 M 50-54
• Sue Zihlmann 39:11 F 45-49

DANA POINT, CA—As the sun rose to reveal clear skies and perfect racing conditions, elite USATF runners were handed the few precious bib numbers still available early on the crisp, Southern California Thanksgiving morning. For the second year in a row, the Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K had sold out, and numbers were in very short supply. With more than 10,000 participating runners in 2009, Dana Point claims the title as the most popular Turkey Trot event in the United States!

Overall Open Winner - Female - Mary Akor

As the top twenty bib numbers were distributed, Mary Akor, the 2008 Southern California Association Half Marathon Champion, was handed bid number one from Bob Seagren, CEO of International City Racing. “She’s a helluva runner!” Seagren remarked, recognizing Akor from her many wins at ICR events.

From the start of the race, it was clear that Akor was anything but intimidated by wearing bib “1” as she took a strong lead and held it for the entire race. By the time Akor crossed the finish line in 34:33, she was more than thirty seconds ahead of Carly Harris (35:04) and Kaitlin O’Sullivan (35:16). The close finish between ICR teammates Harris and O’Sullivan mirrored their first and second place finish less than two weeks earlier at the 2009 SCA Cross Country Open Championships on November 15, at Kenneth Hahn Park.

Overall Open Winner - Male - Charlie Serrano

In the men’s division, the competition was closer, but Charlie Serrano, (ICR runner and 2009 SCA Cross Country Open Champion) won with a blistering finishing time of 29:34. Serrano left nothing on the road that day, finishing just three seconds ahead of Morocco’s Karim Elmabchour (29:37). Ben Bruce, of Oregon Track Club Elite rounded out the top three runners with a time of 29:50.

Masters Winners - Dave Parsel & Sue Zihlmann

Dave Parcel (34:51) and Sue Zihlmann (39:11) win the 2009 Southern California Association USATF 10K Masters Championships

While International City Racing continues their domination of open events, A Snail’s Pace Track Club showed the depth and power of their team roster in the masters division, where Dave Parcel and Sue Zihlmann took home the top honors, finishing in 34:51 and 39:11 respectively.

Under the direction of Bob Morris, A Snail’s Pace Track Club fielded some of the best runners in the 2009 Road Running Championships, and the motivated club looks well positioned to lead in scoring in the 2010 Road Running Championships as well.

It All Comes Down to the Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K!

SCA 10K Open and Masters Championships – Grand Prix
Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K
Thursday - November 26, 2009 
Print Press Release (PDF)

The 2009 Southern California Association USATF 10K Open and Masters Championships will be held on Thursday, November 26, the 32nd annual Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K.

One of the largest Thanksgiving Day races in America, more than 12,000 runners are expected to participate on Thanksgiving morning. The stunning course takes runners on a tour of one of the most scenic coastal running tracks in the nation. Participants will feel the pounding surf and cool ocean breezes as they wind through the Dana Point Marina, Doheny State beach, and over the Island Way Bridge, by the majestic cliffs and coves of Dana Point.

Eulogio Rodriguez

For runners participating in the inaugural 2009 Road Running Grand Prix Series, the Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K is the final race. In the men’s division, Eulogio Rodriguez, the 2009 Southern California Association Marathon Champion, holds a commanding 200-point lead. Rodriguez has completed the four-race minimum required for final awards and cash prizes. However, there are several competitors who have run only three races, including top masters runners Perry Forrester and John Araujo. Depending on the fortunes of the day, any of these runners could take the top prize in the 2009 Road Running Grand Prix Series.

Rosalva Bonilla

 Lydia Salinas

In the women’s division, competition between Rosalva Bonilla and Lydia Salinas has been incredibly close for months now, and it is impossible to predict the outcome between these two determined runners. Bonilla held the lead in the Grand Prix series coming into October, when Salinas moved ahead by a razor thin margin of just 22 points following the Run Forrest Run 5K! After the results of the 2009 Southern California Half Marathon Championship race, the Santa Barbara News-Press Half Marathon, were totaled, Bonilla now leads 3304 to 3293! Only 11 points separates the two runners! There are seven races in the 2009 Grand Prix series, but only the four highest scores for each runner are used to determine the winners! So not only do both runners have a chance to raise their highest score at the Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K, but they can also drop their lowest scoring race.

In addition to the chance for Grand Prix runners to earn cash prizes at the end of the series, the Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K also offers a total of $3,500 in prize money on race day:

• 1st Place Male and Female: $1,000
• 2nd Place Male and Female: $500
• 3rd Place Male and Female: $250

For an Elite Runner Entry contact: nchambers@danapointchamber.com.

To add more excitement to the Southern California Association USATF 10K Championships event, a handsome USATF Championship plaque will be presented to both the Open winners, and to the Masters winners. The Open winner will be the first USATF runner to cross the finish line, and the Masters winner will be the first runner over 40 to cross the finish line. Gold, silver, and bronze USATF championship medals will also be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in 26 men’s and women’s 5-year age groups.

Awards will be presented on race day to USATF competitors, and age-graded scores from the 10K will be posted at www.scagrandprix.org. The Grand Prix also offers team scoring with a minimum of five runners from a USATF affiliated team needed for scoring. More than five runners per team can participate, but only the five highest scores will be used.

The Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K is a USATF certified and sanctioned event. The course map of the 10K certification is online at
http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=CA01050RS.

Online registration for the 2009 Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K is available through 5:00 pm, November 23! There is on-site registration available on November 25 and 26, however, the Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K sold out last year! The Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K limits registration to 4,000 runners. No race-day registration was available in 2008! Early, online registration is highly recommended!

TO REGISTER ON-LINE:
http://www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1729988

SCA-USATF CONTACT:
Wayne Joness
Chair, Open Athletics Long Distance Running Committee
Southern California Association/ USA Track & Field
Cell (310) 600-5332 Email: runner@joness.com

SCA Cross Country Championships Results

SCA Cross Country Championships 
November 15, 2009
Kenneth Hahn Park
Results | Video

SCA Men's Open Cross Country Championships

SCA Women's Open Cross Country Championships

SCA Men's and Women's Masters Cross Country Championships

SCA Cross Country Championships Awards and More

Sharp and McLarty Take Top Honors at 2009 Santa Barbara News-Press Half Marathon

SCA Half Marathon Championships
Santa Barbara News-Press Half Marathon
Saturday - November 7, 2009

• SCA Half Marathon Championships Results (PDF)
• Santa Barbara News-Press Half Marathon / 5K
• SCA Grand Prix Standings: www.scagrandprix.org

Andrea (“Drea”) McLarty and Aaron Sharp

It was another spectacularly beautiful day for racing, as the Southern California Association USATF Road Running Grand Prix and Road Championships returned to Santa Barbara on Saturday, November 7, at the 33rd annual Santa Barbara News-Press Half Marathon. Taking first place in the men’s division was Aaron Sharp, with a time of 1:09:16, and in the women’s division Andrea McLarty wins her championship title with a time of 1:22:12.

Aaron Sharp 

At a previous USATF event, one runner described racing in Santa Barbara, as “Aaron Sharp, and then everyone else way behind him.” 2009 looked like a field to challenge Sharp’s domination. Joining Sharp at the start line was Robert Olivera of Ventura, winner in October of the Ojai Half Marathon with a time of 1:10:32, and Eli Rodriguez, of Whittier, the 2009 Southern California Association USATF Marathon Champion, who also had an October victory, winning the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon in 2:25:57.

A little more than an hour later, as the top runners neared the finish line, the race appeared to be “Aaron Sharp, and then everyone else way behind him.” Sharp, who is preparing for the 2009 California International Marathon in December, won a decisive victory, finishing three minutes ahead of Olivera’s 1:12:48, and six minutes faster than Eli Rodriguez’s 1:15:27. This was also Sharp’s third time running the Santa Barbara Half Marathon, and his best finish as well.

Andrea "Drea" McLarty 

While Sharp held a decisive lead throughout the entire race, Andrea McLarty (Drea), had more of a challenge to keep her distance from challengers Sara Dillman and Chrystee Bradley. McLarty reported that while she felt strong for most of the race, the last 5K was a tremendous struggle. Despite having the worst “bonk” she could remember in a major race, McLarty held her focus and won convincingly in 1:22:12, followed by Dillman, 1:23:52, and Chrystee Bradley, 1:25:04.

After becoming a mother to two children, McLarty is returning to running with a real passion and fire. This was not McLarty’s first Santa Barbara Half Marathon; she also ran the course in 2007, finishing in 1:31:51. Two years older and two years wiser she cut nearly ten minutes off her previous time! Like Sharp, McLarty is preparing for a marathon, in her case the inaugural 2009 Santa Barbara International Marathon.

The Santa Barbara News-Press Half Marathon is also part of the 2009 Road Running Grand Prix, and competition in the 2009 Road Running Grand Prix for overall scoring is about as close as possible. In the women’s division, both Rosalva Bonilla and Lydia Salinas ran a great race. In October, Salinas took the overall lead from Bonilla by 22 points after the Run Forrest Run 5K in Long Beach. When the scores from the Half Marathon were in, Bonilla moved out in front of Salinas again, with a razor thin margin of 11 points. Bonilla has a score of 3304 compared to 3293 for Salinas. The final outcome between these top runners will not be known until after the final Grand Prix race, the Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K, on November 26, which is also the 2009 Southern California Association 10K Championship.

Several men have now run the four-race minimum for end-of-year cash prizes and awards in the Grand Prix, and the leader, not surprisingly, is Eli Rodriguez. Rodriguez holds a commanding 200-point lead over his nearest rival, David Kent. But Rodriguez has lots of potential competition by runners who have only run three races in the Grand Prix, including top masters runners Perry Forrester and John Araujo, and young Nicholas Lopez, the 2009 Southern California Association USATF 5K Champion.

In the team competition, a newly filled-out Santa Barbara Athletic Association trounced Track Club LA, 4001 to 3666. The Santa Barbara Athletic Association had no fewer than four runners scoring above 800, the mark for “nationally ranked” runners. Leading the SBAA was Maggie Mason, who also took top honors at the Semana Nautica 15K race in July.



The final Association Road Running Championship race will be the Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K, held on November 26, 2009. This race will give overall awards to USATF runners, as well as determine the final winners in the 2009 Road Running Grand Prix.

USATF Contact:
Wayne Joness
Chair, Open Athletics Long Distance Running Committee
Southern California Association/ USA Track & Field
Cell (310) 600-5332 Email: runner@joness.com

SCA Cross Country Open 11/1

SCA Cross Country Open
November 1, 2009
Kenneth Hahn Park
Results

2009 SCA Cross Country Open 8K

2009 SCA Cross Country 6K

It’s a Party at the 25th Annual Long Beach Marathon/Run Forrest Run 5K!

LONG BEACH, CA—The 2009 Southern California Road Running Grand Prix recharged on Sunday, October 11, with the Run Forrest Run 5K, part of the massive running spectacle that was the 25th annual International City Bank Long Beach Marathon. The festive atmosphere on Shoreline Drive energized Southern California Association members, and with a nearly flat course, many runners set new personal records at the 5K race.

For the first time ever, both the full and half marathon events sold out, with the Run Forrest Run 5K also bringing in one of its largest fields of runners. The starting line for the 5K resembled a class reunion for many USATF runners who participated in earlier Grand Prix events. It had been several months since the last Grand Prix race, the Semana Nautica 15K on July 4th, and SCA runners showed the results of their summer training.

Luis Guevara, 15:09, of International City Racing

Crossing the finish line first was USATF member Luis Guevara, with a time of 15:09. Luis ran as a member of the International City Racing Track Club. This recently formed group, coached by Jason Bruton, has proven itself to be a dominant force, and Sunday was no exception. Luis’s ICR teammate Eli Rodriguez won the marathon event on Sunday. In May, Rodriguez also won the OC Marathon, taking the title of the 2009 Southern California Association Marathon Champion. And fellow ICR runner Jimmy Grabow won the half marathon, making a perfect sweep for International City Racing in all three events. In addition to his victory Sunday, Grabow was also the first SCA runner to cross the finish line in the elite Coaster 5K race this March!

Cambria D’Amico of the Janes, 17:20

In the women’s division, Cambria D’Amico handily won with a time of 17:20. D’Amico runs as a member of the Janes Elite Racing Team, a USATF elite development club. While the 5K was D’Amico’s first Grand Prix event, the Janes turned in an outstanding team performance in the 2009 Grand Prix, posting the highest single score by a team at the Brentwood 10K in June. D’Amico has been strong all year, also winning the Conquer the Bridge 5 mile Road Race held in San Pedro on Labor Day.

In the team competition, Track Club LA edged out Elite Health Track Club. This was a rematch for the two teams, who also traveled to Goleta in July to run in the Semana Nautica 15K. While Track Club LA is a large group of Westside Los Angeles runners, Elite Health Track Club is a smaller, close-knit group of determined runners coached by Wayne Douglas. Douglas has really encouraged his runners to participate in the Road Running Grand Prix, and as a result Elite Health Track Club is the only group to claim one hundred percent participation, with every one of Wayne’s runners showing up in at least one Grand Prix race!

With the age-graded scores calculated and posted online at www.scagrandprix.org, one thing is very clear: the race for the first place overall finisher in the women’s division is going to be very close. Rosalva Bonilla has consistently placed high in every race this year, scoring in the 800s except when fighting a cold at the Semana Nautica 15K. But close behind Bonilla has been Lydia Salinas. After her 798 score at the Semana Nautica 15K, Salinas was determined to break 800, and she easily did at the Run Forrest Run 5K, posting a score of 877! For the first time ever, Salinas has taken the lead in Grand Prix scoring by the narrow margin of 22 points, 3269 (Salinas) to 3247 (Bonilla). Bonilla did not post a time for the Run Forrest Run 5K, since she was on the marathon course, running the Long Beach Marathon in 3:06:56, and finishing first in her age group!



A Snail’s Pace Running Club also had a strong showing at the Run Forrest Run 5K, with Dale Campbell (M-56) turning in a spectacular 16:29 time, for an age-graded score of 941. Dale’s score is the highest of the 113 runners participating in the 2009 Grand Prix. Sue Zihlmann (F-45) ran 18:35, only one week after her 2:53:22 finish at the St. George Marathon. Club liaison Bob Morris indicated there would be more participation by ASPRC at 2010 USATF events, so Southern California runners are officially on notice to watch out for great performances by this motivated running club!

With the 5K race behind them, runners relaxed and enjoyed the best finishing line feast ever, with lunch provided by Bubba Gump Shrimp, the title sponsor of the Run Forrest Run 5K. Runners were offered a selection of box lunches, including smoked salmon and shrimp! While the half and full marathon runners dined on traditional bagels and orange slices, every 5K runner felt like an elite athlete on Sunday morning, with the first class treatment offered by race organizers International City Racing. And in celebration of the silver anniversary of the International City Bank Long Beach Marathon, more than 25,000 cupcakes were distributed on Sunday!

The next race on the schedule is the Santa Barbara Half Marathon, on November 7. This race is also the 2009 Southern California Association Half Marathon Championship event, and turnout should be strong. The Grand Prix Series concludes with the Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K, the 2009 Southern California USATF 10K Road Championship race, on Thanksgiving Day, November 26.

For more information, please visit:
Road Championship Series: www.scaroadchampionship.org

For current Grand Prix Point Standings, please visit:
www.scagrandprix.org

CONTACT:
Wayne Joness
Chair, Open Athletics Long Distance Running Committee
Southern California Association/ USA Track & Field
Cell (310) 600-5332 Email: runner@joness.com

SCA Road Running Championships Series - Santa Barbara News-Press Half-Marathon on 11/7

Photo: Santa Barbara News-Press

The 2009 Southern California USATF Half Marathon Championships will be held on Saturday, November 7, in conjunction with 33rd annual Santa Barbara News-Press Half-Marathon.

The Santa Barbara News-Press Half-Marathon offers a course that is both scenic and challenging to members of the Southern California Association. Much of the race is on Shoreline Drive, first running west up the coast past Shoreline Park, then turning around for a long stretch that heads back down the beach past the start/finish line. The course continues past Stearns Wharf, Cabrillo Pavilion, the Bird Refuge, with a bike path out-and-back turnaround, heading back to the finish line. Conditions should be perfect for a beautiful Saturday morning run. The Half-Marathon starts at 8:00 am, with average early morning Santa Barbara temperatures in the mid-fifties. Runners World magazine readers will recognize the Santa Barbara News-Press Half-Marathon as one of their prestigious “Half Marathon of the Month” selections.

As the Southern California USATF Half Marathon Championships race, the overall men's and women's winners receive a handsome USATF Championship plaque. Gold, silver, and bronze USATF championship medals will also be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in 26 men's and women's 5-year age groups.

Photo: Santa Barbara News-Press

For runners in the 2009 Southern California USATF Road Running Grand Prix the Half-Marathon is the sixth race in the seven race series. Runners must complete four of the seven races to be eligible for end-of-year prize money and awards. Many runners will be competing in the Half-Marathon to complete the four race minimum requirement, or to better their overall score in the inaugural year of this series. Age-graded scores from the half-marathon will be posted at www.scagrandprix.org The Grand Prix scoring also has a team component, with a minimum of five runners required for team scoring.

Online registration closes midnight, November 1! USATF discount only available with online registration!

Photo: Santa Barbara News-Press

The current registration fee for the Half-Marathon is $55. There is a $5 discount for Southern California USATF members who register online by midnight, November 1. Runners simply need to indicate they are USATF members, and enter their 2009 membership number when registering online. A $5 discount is automatically applied. Online registration closes after November 1, and the price increases to $65. After November 1, runners must register in person, either at the Santa Barbara Running Store, 110 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101, on November 5 and 6, or on race day, November 7, between 6:30 am and 7:45 am. There is no USATF discount available after November 1!

TO REGISTER ON-LINE:
http://www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1725965

USATF Southern California Road Racing Grand Prix Information
For more information on the 2009 Southern California Association USATF Road Running Grand Prix Series and to see the current Grand Prix rankings, please visit: www.scagrandprix.org

To receive regularly updated news about the 2009 Road Running Grand Prix series, we invite you to send an email to: roadrunning-subscribe@scausatf.org

USATF Contact:
Wayne Joness
Chair, Open Athletics Road Running Committee
Southern California Association/ USA Track & Field
Cell (310) 600-5332 Email: runner@joness.com

SCA Road Running GP - Run Forrest Run 5K

Sunday - October 11, 2009
Run Forrest Run 5K
Register



LONG BEACH, CA—With summer behind us, Long Beach is the next stop on the 2009 Southern California USATF Road Running Grand Prix Series for the Run Forrest Run 5K on Sunday, October 11.

Held in conjunction with the silver anniversary of the popular International City Bank Long Beach Marathon, the 5K will start at 8:30 am—an hour and a half after the 7:00 am start of the Marathon and Half-Marathon races. This means that 5K runners can avoid the heavy traffic arriving for Marathon/H-M starts and complete the 5K in time to see the top finishers of the longer races cross the finish line.

The exciting Run Forrest Run 5K starts at the Marathon starting line and threads along beautiful Shoreline Drive and Aquarium Way accompanied by live music along the course! In keeping with the “Forrest Gump” theme, there will be a Bubba Gump Party & fixens waiting for runners at the finish line. This scenic, ocean side course is flat and fast and uses the “D” chip timing system to insure split second accuracy for runners aiming for personal bests and high scores to add to their Grand Prix totals.

The Run Forrest Run 5K is the fifth event of the 7-race 2009 Southern California USATF Road Running Grand Prix Series. A minimum of four (4) races is required to be eligible for the year-end prize money and awards. The eighty some runners who have completed only one race in the Grand Prix Series will need to participate in the Run Forrest Run 5K, as well as the November 7 Santa Barbara Half -Marathon and November 26 Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K, to meet the four race minimum.

The Grand Prix provides a total of $800 in cash awards and championship medals to the top-10 overall men’s and women’s individual scorers. Gold, silver, and bronze USATF medals will also be awarded to the top-3 scorers in 26 men’s and women’s 5-year age-groups. Championship plaques will be awarded to the top-10 scoring clubs. As with individual runners, clubs must also field teams for a minimum of four races.

The link below will take you to the Active.com website for the 25th annual Long Beach International City Bank Marathon. When you start registration, select the "5K Run/Walk" for the Run Forrest Run 5K.

http://www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1643362

USATF Contact:
Wayne Joness
Chair, Open Athletics Road Running Committee
Southern California Association/ USA Track & Field
Cell (310) 600-5332
Email: runner@joness.com
Website: www.scagrandprix.org

SCA-USATF member Rosemarie Jeanpierre to appear on NBC Today Show - Mon, 9/14

Rosemarie Jeanpierre (right) and niece Anna Rose Bejasa (left)
at the OC Marathon Expo, May 2009

Southern California Association USATF member Rosemarie Jeanpierre will be making an appearance on the popular NBC "Today" show, on Monday, September 14, 2009. Rosemarie has been an inspiration to runners everywhere with her story of dramatic weight loss, and her passion for running.

After being diagnosed with prediabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol several years ago, Rosemarie made a commitment to turn her life and her health around. She changed her diet, started exercising, and found a new passion for running. Since she started running, Rosemarie has a lot of new personal records, including cutting her body weight in half from 220 pounds to 110!

In 2009 Rosemarie ran nearly a race every weekend, and she has no less than 165 races times recorded on the athlinks website, including a personal best 5K time of 21:59. Rosemarie is now actively pursuing the dream of so many runners: qualifying for the historic Boston Marathon. While she ran the 2005 LA Marathon in 6:31:24, she improved that time by more than two hours this year, finishing the 2009 LA Marathon in 4:26:30. Incredibly enough, she followed this remarkable accomplishment one week later by running a personal best of 4:18:53 at the 2009 San Diego Marathon.

Rosemarie's goal is to live her life as an example for other runners who want to challenge themselves to reach goals once thought impossible. Rosemarie and her niece Anna Rose Bejasa have become cheerful, familiar faces at Southern California USATF races this year, and we congratulate her on her upcoming national television appearance. We are proud to have Rosemarie as a member of the Southern California Association USATF.

NBC Today Show

2009 SCA Cross Country Championships

SCA Open & Masters Cross Country Championships
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Kenneth Hahn Park

• Information & Entry
• SCA Open Cross Country Schedule
• SCA Masters Cross Country Schedule
  

SCA Youth JO Cross Country Championships
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Mt San Antonio College

• Information & Entry
• SCA Youth Cross Country Schedule
  

Tribute to Mary Bakjian with New Award

Sunday - August 9, 2009
Carson Community Center

Our long time Southern California Association office manager Mary Bakjian retired this past March after 26 years of dedicated service to and support of the SCA Board and Committees, Officials, Coaches, Event Directors and thousands of athletes.

On Sunday afternoon August 9, sixteen members of Mary’s family and over 60 others, including representatives from the national office, gathered at the Carson Community Center to honor Mary and thank her for all she has contributed to the Association. During the festivities it was announced that the SCA Executive Committee was establishing the “Mary Bakjian Outstanding Service Award.” The recipient of this award will be selected by the Executive Board and presented annually to sport or administrative committee chairs, committee members, or SCA Athlete Representatives who make outstanding contributions to the SCA.

Donations funded an Alaskan cruise and a digital television. The cruise left port on August 14. We all wish Mary a long and happy retirement and thank her for all she has done for and meant to this association.

Deun White Completes 3-Meet Sweep

SCA Summer Track & Field Grand Prix
July 25, 2009
Santa Monica College

SCA Summer GP Results & Scoring - Meet #3

Deun White Completes a 3-Meet Men’s 100-200m Sweep
Felix Sanchez runs 45.72 in the Men’s 400 Meters

SANTA MONICA, CA—At the 3rd and final meet of the 2009 Southern California Summer Grand Prix Track & Field Series, 2008 Arizona State grad Deun White completed a 3-meet sweep of the men’s 100 and 200 meters races. Representing the Phoenix-based AAG Elite Track Club, Deun won in 10.42 and 20.89 respectively, compared to his 2009 season bests of 10.33 and 20.61.

Other men’s event highlights included 2004 Olympic 400m Hurdle gold medalist Felix Sanchez winning the flat 400m race in a season best 45.72. Felix was a 2-time California State JUCO Champion in the 400m hurdles and the 1999 PAC-10 Champion at USC where he graduated with a degree in psychology. Between 2001 and 2004 he won 43 consecutive 400m hurdle races. Although Felix was born in the United States, his parents were born in the Dominican Republic and he has competed for that country since 1999.

Even without Felix Sanchez in the field, the Men’s 400m Hurdles was one of the best races of the meet with Ben Clark holding off Jonathan Williams, 50.60 to 50.80.

On the women’s side, Natasha Mayers, a graduate of Inglewood H.S. and USC who competes for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, won the 100m in 11.89 into a -1.6mps headwind.

Argentina’s Solange Witteveen, a 2-time Olympian, completed a 3-meet sweep of the high jump at 5’ 10”/1.78m, with her best mark in the Series being 6’ ¾”/1.85m on July 25.

And Vanderbilt University freshman and Palisades High School grad Kristabell Doebel-Hickok won the 5000m in 17:13.60.

Contact for Additional Info: Eric Barron 310-434-4009 barron_eric@smc.edu

Balumbo & Smith Set Triple Jump Stadium Records

SCA Summer Track & Field Grand Prix
July 25, 2009
Santa Monica College

• SCA Summer GP Results & Scoring - Meet #2
  

Kosinza Balumbo & Toni Smith Set Triple Jump Stadium Records in Meet-II of Summer Grand Prix Series

Deun White and Ebony Collins Double Sprint Winners

SANTA MONICA, CA—Men’s and women’s triple jump stadium records of 53’ 1” and 44’ 1¼” were field event highlights at the 2nd edition of the 3-meet 2009 Summer Track & Field Grand Prix Series at Santa Monica College. The men’s mark fell to Kosinza Balumbo, who attended James Logan H.S. in Northern California before graduating from the University of Arkansas as the 2008 NCAA Triple Jump Champion and a 5-time All-America performer. Kosinza has a wind-legal PR of 54’ 4”/ and placed 4th at the 2009 USA Championships with a wind-aided 54’ 10 ¼”. Toni Smith broke the 2-week old women’s record 44’ ¾” set by Yvette Lewis on July 11. Toni graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2008 where she was an All-America long jumper and triple jumper. She was the 3rd place finisher in the triple jump at the 2009 USA Championships and was hoping to achieve the 45’ 11 ¼” qualifying mark to punch her ticket to the World Championships in Berlin, Germany next month.

On the track, 2008 Arizona State grad Deun White matched his July 11 double win with a windy 10.31 100 meter win and a wind-legal 20.81 200 meter victory. Duen was a semi-finalist in the 200 at the 2009 USA Championships. In the women’s sprints, the 4th place finisher in the 400m hurdles at the 2009 USA Championships, Ebony Collins, was a double winner running a PR 52.58 in taking the 400 meters and 23.60 in winning the 200—just 0.18 off her lifetime best.

After a U.S. leading 1:44.47 800 meters mark by Khadevis Robinson on July 11, former USC star Duane Solomon ran nearly identical 24.2, 50.2, 1:17.2 intermediate 200m splits. Finally healthy after an injury-plagued season, Duane slowed over the final 200 to cross the finish line a in a no less stellar 1:46.82. Running close behind start to finish was 2008 Jamaican Olympian Aldwyn Sappleton, who finished in 1:47.98—just off his 1:47.11 PR.

Other notable performances included Craig Everhart running 46.60 to win the 400m, Ben Clark winning the men’s 400m hurdles in 50.01, James Jenkins’ 2nd place mark of 50’ 8¼” in the triple jump, Nick Garcia throwing 57’ 2” to win the shot put, and USC junior Manjula Wijesekara clearing 7’ 2 ½” to win the high jump.

On the women’s side, Toea Wisil from Papua New Guinea repeated her July 11 100 meter victory in 11.50, Argentina’s Solange Witteveeen recorded a season best in winning the high jump in 6’ ¾” with Romary Rifka from the Cal Coast Track Club 2nd at 5’ 10 ¾”, and Rhonda Watkins won the women’s long jump in 20’ 3 ¾”.

The third and final stop on the 3-meet Southern California Summer Grand Prix Series returns to Santa Monica College on Saturday, August 8, starting at 4:00pm.

Contact for Additional Info: Eric Barron 310-434-4009 barron_eric@smc.edu

USATF Region 15 JO Track & Field Results

USATF Region 15 JO Multi-Event Championships
July 11 - 12, 2009
West Covina High School

USATF Region 15 JO Track & Field Championships
June 26 - 28, 2009
Cerritos College

2009 USATF Region 15 JO Combined Results

Come Celebrate Mary Bakjian's Retirement

Sunday - August 9, 2009
Carson Community Center
3 Civic Place
Carson 90745
2:00pm - 6:00pm

SCA-USATF is hosting a celebration honoring Mary Bakjian’s retirement.

• Download Invitation (PDF)
• RSVP by 7/26/2009

SCA Office Contact:
info@scausatf.org
562-941-2621

Khadevis Robinson, Lashinda Demus and Yvette Lewis Set Stadium Records in Summer Series Kick-off

2009 SCA Summer Grand Prix Series
Saturday - July 11, 2009
Santa Monica College

• SCA Summer GP Results & Scoring - Meet #1
  

SANTA MONICA, CA—Khadevis Robinson recorded the fastest 800 meters by an American in 2009 with a 1:44.47 clocking at the first of three summer grand prix track meets being held at Santa Monica College this summer. Following his 2nd place finish at the 2009 USA Championships in Eugene, OR, two weeks ago, the 8-time USA indoor/outdoor 800m champion will be part of his 6th USA World Championship Team on August 15-23 in Berlin, Germany. With 2nd place almost :10 seconds behind, “KD” ran 200m splits of 24.2, 49.7(25.5), and 1:17.0(27.3) en route to his nation-leading season best, despite on-shore winds that were gusting above 4mps readings.

In the women’s 400 meters, Lashinda Demus, the 2009 USA 400m hurdles champion, bucked similar winds down the backstretch, but nevertheless crossed the finish line in 51.40, the fastest flat 400 she’s run since her 2002 PR of 51.24. A 2-time USA Outdoor champion, 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist, and 2004 Olympian in the 400m hurdles, Lashinda attended Long Beach Wilson H.S. and the University of South Carolina.

At the 2009 USA Championships, Yvette Lewis placed 4th in the women’s triple jump and missed making the World Championship team by one inch. Saturday, the 2007 NCAA Champion from Hampton University jumped 44’ ¾”/13.43m into a 2.4 mps wind. The marks by Robinson, Demus, and Lewis were all stadium records.

Other notable women’s performances included an 11.55 100m/24.15 200m double win by Toea Wisil from Papua New Guinea and a 5’ 11 ½”/1.82m clearance in the high jump by Argentina’s Solange Witteveeen.

On the men’s side, Deun White claimed 100/200m titles in 10.40 and 21.15. Jeshua Anderson won the 400m hurdles in 50.73, James Jenkins won the triple jump in 51-01.75/15.59m bounding into a -3.3mps wind, Nick Garcia took the shot put in 56’ 10”/17.32m, and USC junior Manjula Wijesekara won the high jump at 7’ 1 ½”/ 2.17m, then had 2 good attempts at 7’ 5 ¾”/2.28m.

The second stop of the 3-meet Southern California Summer Grand Prix Series returns to Santa Monica College on Saturday, July 25, starting at 4:00pm.

Contact for Additional Info:
Eric Barron 310-434-4009
barron_eric@smc.edu

Santa Barbara Runners Make Strong Showing at Semana Nautica 15K

Semana Nautica 15K
July 11, 2009
Goleta, CA

• 2009 SCA 15K Grand Prix Results
• 2009 Semana Nautica 15K Overall Results
• 2009 Semana Nautica Nautica 15K Press Release (PDF)

GOLETA, CA—On a beautiful 4th of July holiday weekend, Connor Mellon, 53:30, was the first USATF runner to cross the finish line, and the second runner overall, at the 55th annual Semana Nautica 15K held just North of Santa Barbara. Making a strong showing were local runners Scott Deardorff (M46) and Maggie Mason (F52) who took first place in both the overall USATF age-graded competition and the masters men’s and women’s divisions.

Under perfect overcast running conditions provided by the coastal marine layer, Deardorff’s age-graded score was 808 points, while Mason’s was 799 points. The 15K marked Mason’s and Deardorff’s first entry to the inaugural 2009 Grand Prix series. Their high scores mark them as solid contenders for overall honors if they compete in the next three races to meet the 4-race minimum for prizes and awards. As a member of the USATF club Santa Barbara Athletic Association, Mason must have felt at home on the beautiful course of tree-canopied gentle hills. But close behind her point-wise was Lydia Salinas of Track Club LA who scored 798 points.

While some runners favor one distance or event, Salinas has proven to be a remarkably consistent competitor, scoring 798 points at the Coaster 5K, 796 points at the Brentwood 10K, and 798 points at the Semana Nautica 15K. Her current goal? “I just want to break 800!” she said with a laugh after the race results were posted. Salinas’s consistent scores also demonstrate the value of age-graded scoring, which enables the Grand Prix to easily compare runner’s results from different distances.

One runner already guaranteed to be a finalist for 2009 honors is Rosalva Bonilla, the 3rd place age-graded finisher, and the only runner to compete in each of the first four Grand Prix races this year. While struggling with a cold, her score of 779 points marked the first time the 2000 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials participant has scored less than 800 points. As the current point leader in the Grand Prix standings, Rosalva has the luxury of aiming to improve her final score in the next 3 races. The Grand Prix scoring takes a runner’s best four age-graded time scores and ignores the lower ones.

The well-organized, popular Santa Barbara area race, directed by USATF member John Brennand, also featured age-graded scoring results posted immediately after the race. A quick look at USATF runners revealed quite a battle in the master’s division, where 2nd and 3rd places went to Culver City residents Oliver Gallego (791pts) and Wayne Joness (747pts).

Oliver was also there to represent the Elite Health Track Club, and Wayne to represent Track Club LA, both of which had the minimum 5 finishers needed to participate in team scoring. Track Club LA has now completed 3 Grand Prix events and the Elite Health Track Club has completed two. While Team Runners High and The Janes Elite Racing have fielded teams in one race each with an astonishing average score of 829 for each team, they will have to compete in all the remaining Grand Prix races to catch up with Elite Health and Track Club LA in terms of overall points.

Congratulations Connor Mellon and Lisa Davis, fastest USATF runners at the Semana Nautica 15K, and honors to Scott Deardorff and Maggie Mason, high scorers in the age-graded 15K Grand Prix competition.

Southern California USATF members will now get a 14-week break before the next Grand Prix Series race—the Run Forrest Run 5K, to be held on Sunday, October 11 as a part of the 25th annual Long Beach International City Bank Marathon and half Marathon. The Grand Prix will then return to scenic Santa Barbara again on Saturday, November 7, for the Santa Barbara Half-Marathon, the 2009 Southern California USATF Half-Marathon Road Championship. The Grand Prix Series concludes with the Dana Point Turkey Trot, the 2009 Southern California USATF 10K Road Championship race, on Thanksgiving Day, November 26.

For more information, please visit:
Road Championship Series: www.scaroadchampionship.org

For current Grand Prix Point Standings, please visit:
www.scagrandprix.org

Contact:
Wayne Joness
Chair, Open Athletics Long Distance Running Committee
Southern California Association/ USA Track & Field
Cell (310) 600-5332 Email: runner@joness.com

2009 World Track & Field Championships

IAAF World Youth Championships
July 8-12, 2009
Sudtirol, Italy
Results

World Masters Athletics Championships
Lahti, Finland
July 28- August 8, 2009
Results

IAAF World Championships in Athletics
August 15-23, 2009
Berlin, Germany
Results

2009 USA Track & Field Championships

USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships
June 25-28, 2009
Eugene, OR
Results | Videos | Pics

World Youth Track & Field Trials
June 30 - July 1, 2009
Ypsilanti, MI
Results | Pics

USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships
June 30 - July 5, 2009
Ypsilanti, MI
Results | Pics

USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships
July 9-12, 2009
Oshkosh, WI
Results | Pics

USATF National Club Track & Field Championships
July 10-11, 2009
New York, NY
Results | Pics

USATF National JO Track & Field Championships
July 28 - August 2, 2009
Greensboro, NC
Results

California State Senior Games

Track Events - June 6, 2009
Road Race - June 28, 2009

2009 CA State Senior Games Results

SCA Youth JO Track & Field Championships Results

June 12 - 14, 2009
Cerritos College

SCA Youth JO Track & Field Championships Results (PDF)

SCA Summer Track & Field Grand Prix Series

Saturday - July 11, 2009
Saturday - July 25, 2009
Saturday - August 8, 2009
Santa Monica College

Download Entry Information & Schedule (PDF)

MEET SITE: Santa Monica College—Featuring a brand new Track & Field Complex with a Recordtan track and excellent throwing and jumping facilities.

TIMING: Fully automatic timing by Finish Lynx.

ENTRY FEE: Pre-Meet Entries: $15.00 per athlete (unlimited events) Meet Day Entries: $20 per athlete (unlimited events)

PRE- MEET ENTRY DEADLINES: Pre-meet entries must be emailed to DCHADEZ@aol.com no later than 5:00pm on the THURSDAY prior to each meet. On meet day, athletes must enter no later than 45-minutes before the scheduled start of their event(s). All entry fees will be paid on meet day.

PARKING: Campus parking in the 3-story structure next to the track is FREE.

FINAL CHECK-IN: 15-minutes prior to each running event, competitors must report to the CLERKS STATION for their event to pick-up their hip number and heat assignment. Field event competitors report to the Head Judge for their event.

ADMISSION FEE: Spectator admission is $5.00.

RESULTS: Results will be posted event by event and, afterwards, at FlashResultsWest and www.scausatf.org.

SATURDAY, JULY 11
Field Events:
4:00 DISCUS
4:00 POLE VAULT
4:00 LONG JUMP
5:00 HIGH JUMP
5:30 SHOT PUT
5:30 TRIPLE JUMP
Track Events:
4:00 MEN’S 110m HURDLES
4:10 WOMEN’S 100m HURDLES
4:15 MEN’S 1500m RUN
4:25 WOMEN’S 1500m RUN
4:40 MEN’S 100m DASH
4:55 WOMEN’S 100m DASH
5:10 MEN’S 400m DASH
5:20 WOMEN’S 400m DASH
5:30 MEN’S 800m RUN
5:40 WOMEN’S 800m RUN
5:55 MEN’S 400m HURDLES
6:05 WOMEN’S 400m HURDLES
6:15 MEN’S 200m DASH
6:25 WOMEN’S 200m DASH
6:35 3000m RUN

SATURDAY, JULY 25
Field Events:
4:00 DISCUS
4:00 POLE VAULT
4:00 LONG JUMP
5:00 HIGH JUMP
5:30 SHOT PUT
5:30 TRIPLE JUMP
Track Events:
4:00 MEN’S 110m HURDLES
4:10 WOMEN’S 100m HURDLES
4:15 MEN’S MILE RUN
4:25 WOMEN’S MILE RUN
4:40 MEN’S 100 YARD DASH
4:55 WOMEN’S 100 YARD DASH
5:10 MEN’S 400m DASH
5:20 WOMEN’S 400m DASH
5:30 MEN’S 800m RUN
5:40 WOMEN’S 800m RUN
5:55 MEN’S 400m HURDLES
6:05 WOMEN’S 400m HURDLES
6:15 MEN’S 200m DASH
6:25 WOMEN’S 200m DASH
6:35 2 MILE RUN

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8
Field Events:
4:00 DISCUS
4:00 POLE VAULT
4:00 LONG JUMP
5:00 HIGH JUMP
5:30 SHOT PUT
5:30 TRIPLE JUMP
Track Events:
4:00 MEN’S 110m HURDLES
4:10 WOMEN’S 100m HURDLES
4:15 MEN’S 1500m RUN
4:25 WOMEN’S 1500m RUN
4:40 MEN’S 100m DASH
4:55 WOMEN’S 100m DASH
5:10 MEN’S 400m DASH
5:20 WOMEN’S 400m DASH
5:30 MEN’S 800m RUN
5:40 WOMEN’S 800m RUN
5:55 MEN’S 400m HURDLES
6:05 WOMEN’S 400m HURDLES
6:15 MEN’S 200m DASH
6:25 WOMEN’S 200m DASH
6:35 5000m RUN

VS ATHLETICS Grand Prix Competition
Will take place in these seven (7) men’s & women’s event groups:
Sprints (100-200-400)
Hurdles (100H/110H/400H)
Middle Distances (800/1500)
Long Distances (3000/2M/5000)
Horizontal Jumps (LJ/TJ)
Throws (Shot/Discus)
Vertical Jumps (HJ/PV)

• Grand Prix participants must be 2009 USATF members. Athletes can join/renew their memberships at www.usatf.org/membership/application. Athletes entering the meet on-site will be able to join USATF for the annual fee of $30.00.
• GP throwers must use the college/international M&W weights: Shot- Men 16lb/ Women 4kg Discus- Men- 2kg/ Women- 1kg
• Scoring will use the IAAF Scoring Tables and each participant’s aggregate points for their best mark from two (2) of the three (3) meets.
• VS Athletics Discount Coupons will be awarded for the 1st , 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in each event group.
• A Grand Prize will be awarded to the highest men’s and women’s point scorers.

More Information: www.scausatf.org

USATF Emerging Elite Coaches Camp

July 18-23, 2009
July 27-August 1, 2009
ARCO Olympic Training Center
Chula Vista, CA

Download Information & Application Form (PDF)

These USATF High Performance Group sponsored Learn-By-Doing Clinics are specifically designed for high school, club, and college coaches who have coached nationally-ranked, top Junior Athletes, ages 14-19.

If you are serious about enhancing your level of coaching expertise and taking your coaching and your athletes to the elite level, sign up NOW!

SPACE IS LIMITED!

**TWO SESSIONS
• July 18-23:
All Field Events, Mulit-Events, Horizontal/Vertical Jumps &Throws

• July 27-August 1:
Sprints, Hurdles, Relays, and Endurance Events

**These courses are part of the USATF Coaching Education Level I, II and III Program and involve intensive study and application. Science and technically based, they will be taught by some of USA Track & Field’s top clinicians.

USATF and the USOC Will Pay For All Costs Except Travel !

CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Mike Holman: mhtrackfield1@yahoo.com

• Emerging Elite coaches will be selected to attend and participate in these Coaches Camps, generally 10 per event.
• Coaches are responsible for their travel expenses. USATF/USOC will provide transportation to and from the San Diego Airport along with housing and meals.
• USATF Men’s & Women’s Development Committees, High Performance Committee, and Coaches Education Committee will provide world-class to serve as Camp Clinicians.

PARTICIPATING COACHES WILL:
• Attend and observe all classroom and field sessions in their respective event(s).
• Take part in interactive coaches “Rap Sessions.”
• Receive written handouts and complete a follow-up evaluation.
• Have the opportunity to engage in informal discussions before, after, and between camp sessions with the instructor staff and other participating coaches.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:
Coaches will be selected based on their record of developing athletes in their respective event area(s) of expertise to the State and National levels, and their projected potential to develop future Olympic medalists. These camps are designed to enhance the expertise of current elite-level high school, club, and college coaches with the goal of them joining our nation’s finest developers of Olympic World Championship medalists in their respective events.

SELECTION:
Selection will be based on nominations from USATF Development Committee Event Coordinators, USATF Coaches Education representatives, the National H.S. Senate members, and by application.

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http://twitter.com/scausatf

SCA Road Running GP - Brentwood 10K Results

Brentwood 10K
Sunday, June 7, 2009

• Brentwood 10K Results
• Results Press Release (PDF)
  
• SCA Road Running Championships
  
• www.scagrandprix.org
  

BRENTWOOD, CA—The customary Southern California “June Gloom” marine layer magically gave way to a warm, sunny Sunday morning as members of Southern California USA Track & Field raced for points in the 2009 Road Running Grand Prix at the Brentwood 10K.

Mary Akor - Winner Women's 10K
Southern California USATF members took top honors in the popular Los Angeles race—the 3rd race in the inaugural 7-race Grand Prix Road Running Series. The first place women’s finisher was Mary Akor with a time of 35:17. Mary also won the 2008 Southern California USATF Half-Marathon Championship at the International City Bank race in Long Beach last October. She was pleased with her winning time, noting that she was using the Brentwood 10K as a tune-up race for the June 20th Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota.

The second and third place women’s finishers were Erika Aklufi (36:12) and Tania Fischer (36:55), both members of the The Janes Elite Racing Team. Every member of The Janes who raced on Sunday placed among the top-3 finishers in their respective 5-year age-group, including Sissel Berntsen-Heber, chair of the Southern California USATF Masters Road Running Committee.

Team competition in the 2009 Road Running Grand Prix has been spirited and The Janes managed to edge-out Team Runners High by just one point for the highest single club score—4,148 points to the 4,147 points that Team Runners High scored at the Coaster 5K in March! In overall team point totals, the leader is Track Club LA with 7,809 pts by virtue of their having competed in two Grand Prix races. To qualify for end-of-year awards, teams must compete in at least four Grand Prix races with five finishers. Four races remain on the 2009 calendar, leaving lots of opportunities for any Southern California USATF Club to take the lead.

Eulogio Rodriguez - Winner Men's 10K
Barely a month after a runaway win at the OC Marathon, Eulogio Rodriguez battled it out with fellow USATF runner Peter Magill for first place in the men’s division. Eli ran in tandem with Peter for most of the race, then pulled away at the finish for a :15 second victory in 31:48. Eli has now competed in all three Grand Prix races to date, each time scoring well into nationally-ranked mid-800 point range and taking the overall lead in men’s grand prix points.

Peter Magill, however, is his senior by 22-years, making his age-graded score an incredible 935 points. The only other Grand Prix runner to reach the 900 point level is Jimmy Grabow, who won the Coaster Run 5K in 14:16. While Eli is in position to win the 2009 Grand Prix title, it is still possible for other elite runners to challenge his lead with four races remaining in the Series.

For the current Grand Prix Scoring totals visit www.scagrandprix.org.

On the women’s side, Rosalva Bonilla is in position to claim the 2009 Women’s Grand Prix title. Like Eli, Rosalva has competed in all three grand prix races todate and accrued an impressive average score of 822.7 points across the 5K, 10K, and marathon distances! She shows no signs of slowing down and plans to race the Semana Nautica 15K on July 4—the next grand prix race in the Series.

All told, 33 Southern California Association members competed in the Brentwood 10K, bringing the total number of participants in the 2009 Road Running Grand Prix Series to 93.



The Grand Prix Series will hit its mid-point on July 4 at Semana Nautica 15K race with many talented USATF runners from the Santa Barbara area joining the competition. That race could see new contenders emerge in the competition, or solidify the hopes of the current leaders for cash prizes and awards at the conclusion of the inaugural 2009 Road Running Grand Prix

USATF Contact:
Wayne Joness
Chair, Open Athletics Long Distance Running Committee
Southern California Association/ USA Track & Field
Cell (310) 600-5332 Email: runner@joness.com

SCA Open Track & Field Championships

Jim Bush So Cal Championships
USATF West Region Championships
Saturday: June 6, 2009
Mt San Antonio College

• SCA Jim Bush Championships Results
• Traveling Cup Awards
• RunnerSpace Videos

Jason Bruton Leads International City Racing Track Club to Victory!

Jason Bruton, Race Director for International City Racing (IRC), recently kicked off the Long Beach half marathon and marathon training program, drawing over 50 runners of all levels to listen to experienced coaches talk about the benefits of the 21-week program and spark enthusiasm for the hands-on training sessions.



“We wanted to make this program a little different than others,” said Bruton, a former Long Beach State track star. “This program is designed to meet everyone’s needs. Whether you run a 10 minute mile or a seven minute mile, it will help you reach your racing goal.”

Bruton started the ICR training club a year ago merging with Orange County’s Beach Runners club and implementing more targeted training programs for racing. The IRC’s 100 plus runners meet twice a week, Tuesday’s at the Newport Dunes in Newport Beach and Saturdays at Whaley Park in Long Beach.


2009 SCA Marathon Champion, and ICR running coach Eulogio Rodriguez (left), SCA LDR Co-Chair Lily Zepeda (center), and Jason Bruton, USATF runner and ICR coach/race director.
The former 1500 meter and 5k competitor also heads the IRC Track Club which includes hand-picked elite runners such as, USATF’s OC Marathon Road Championship Series Winner, Eulogio Rodriguez and Jimmy Grabow, Bruton’s high school running mate and top racer at the Coaster Run 5k. Bruton hopes his track club will add some healthy competition for local track clubs like Nike Club Run LA and the Fluffy Bunnies. Rodriguez has proven himself a stand-out runner. In the 2009 SCA USATF Road Running Grand Prix men’s division, Eulogio Rodriguez is the current overall leader, taking first place in all three 2009 Grand Prix races.

International City Racing, led by Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Seagren, provides race management for other events, including two of Southern California USATF’s Road Championship Series races, the Dana Point Turkey Trot and the OC Marathon. Their signature event, the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon is now in its 25th year. An estimated 18,000 plus competitors are expected to participate in the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon, Half-Marathon, Marathon Bike Tour, Run Forest Run 5k Run / Walk and Kids 1 Mile Fun Run on Sunday, October 11.

The Run Forest Run 5K is also part of the 2009 SCA USATF Road Running Grand Prix series (www.scagrandprix.org). Runners can register online for the October 11 2009 Run Forest Run 5K at:
http://www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1643362

And choosing the 5K event. Also, a $5 registration discount is available to current 2009 Southern California Association USATF members. Email runner@joness.com with your current membership number to receive the discount.

- Lily Zepeda, co-chair open athletics, long distance running

SCA Road Running Grand Prix Series Comes to Brentwood!

SCA Road Running Grand Prix
Brentwood 10K
June 7, 2009

• Brentwood 10K Information and Online Entry
• SCA Grand Prix Press Release (PDF)
• Subscribe to receive e-mail updates:
  
• roadrunning-subscribe@scausatf.org

BRENTWOOD, CA--Competition in the inaugural Southern California USATF Road Running Grand Prix Series is heating up with the 3rd stop in the 7-race series being the Brentwood 10K on Sunday, June 7—one of the most popular late spring Los Angeles area road races.

Thanks to its ideal, year-round training conditions, Southern California boasts some of the nation’s finest distance runners…including the Santa Monica-based Fluffy Bunny Track Club, winners of the 2008 USATF National Masters Cross Country Championships held in Spokane, Washington, last December. On the women’s side, The Janes Elite Racing Team, a USATF Elite Athlete Development Club also based in Santa Monica, has won two national cross country team titles led by their captain, the nationally-ranked Tania Fischer.

While the SCA recognizes the accomplishments of individual athletes in its Road Running Championships, the 7-race, 2009 Grand Prix Series is a new competition that emphasizes and rewards team-based competition as well. “We are very excited about working with W2 Promotions to bring our Grand Prix series to Brentwood,” says Long Distance Running chair, Wayne Joness. “The Brentwood 10K is a very popular local race and our USATF clubs are looking forward to the opportunity to compete against each other towards the individual and team cash prizes that will be awarded at the end of the Series.”

“The distance running talent that lines up at the starting line for the Brentwood 10K is outstanding,” Wayne continues. Runners that other races would fly-in to compete just happen to live a within a short drive the beautiful West Los Angeles Brentwood community!” In addition to the elite running teams like the Fluffy Bunnies, The Janes, and Nike Team Run LA, other local USATF clubs include the Elite Health Track Club based in Culver City, the Santa Monica Track Club, Track Club LA, Track West, and the VS Athletics Track Club—all based in Santa Monica. These clubs include more than a few local heroes, with runners who range in age from 19 to 69.”

Regardless of your fitness level, it is a good idea to have a well-planned strategy on race day. The Brentwood 10K is an out-and-back loop, with runners repeating the 5K loop twice before finishing in the middle of the Brentwood business district on beautiful San Vicente Boulevard. There is a slight uphill grade at the beginning and, consequently, a slight downhill grade to the finish line.

“I have been surveying some of our more experienced runners for suggestions on how best to approach racing the 10K,” Wayne noted. “USATF member Tyrus Deminter, who runs with Team Runners High, suggests focusing on holding a consistent effort the second time you hit the gradual uphill at the beginning of the second loop. He advises not to worry if you slow down a bit, just keep your effort the same. Then, when you make the turn-around before 26th Street, let the downhill assist you in building turnover for a strong finish and a final kick. Tyrus should know, as he has been the overall winner of the Brentwood 10K on more than one occasion!”

Veterans of the Brentwood 10K may be surprised to learn that it has been quite a while since Southern California USATF has conducted a competitive road running series. With the Southern California Association encompassing 34,000 square miles, this year’s Grand Prix Series features races from Dana Point in the South to Santa Barbara in the North. “For numerous local USATF runners, the grassy San Vicente Boulevard island is where their training runs start or end,” Wayne notes. “Runners you see circling the dirt path around the Brentwood Golf course later show up on the covers of Runners World and Cal Track and Running News magazines.”

USA Track & Field is about far more than just elite-level runners, however. For the Grand Prix Series, it uses age-graded scoring—which is a way of providing equal recognition and rewards for those who produce a great effort on race day based on their sex and age. Typically, Grand Prix Teams are a mixture of men and women teammates of various ages. USATF Clubs provide training groups that help runners of every ability improve their running. The energy and dynamics of training with a group inspires everyone to work harder and increases every member’s potential to achieve success. The effort to increase and expand club-based training and competition opportunities is a new priority for Southern California USATF and is what created its Road Running Grand Prix Series.

CONTACT:
Wayne Joness, Chair
Open Athletics Long Distance Running Committee
Southern California Association / USA Track & Field
Cell (310) 600-5332 Email: runner@joness.com

SCA Jim Bush Track & Field Championships

Jim Bush So Cal Championships
USATF West Region Championships
June 6, 2009
Mt San Antonio College

• SCA Jim Bush Track & Field Championships
• Championships Information (PDF)
• Subscribe to receive e-mail updates:
  
• jimbushchamps-subscribe@scausatf.org

USATF MEMBERSHIP:
All competitors must be a 2009 member of USA Track & Field. A current 2009 membership number will be required to submit an online meet entry. Athletes can join/renew their memberships at www.usatf.org/membership/application. For athletes entering the meet on‐site, you will be able to join USATF for the annual fee of $30.00. (There is an additional $5 processing fee for issuing USATF memberships for residents of Associations outside Southern California.)

ENTRY PROCEDURE & DEADLINE:
All pre‐meet entries must be made on‐line at www.usatf.org by 11:59pm PDT on Sunday May 31. Athletes must be entered as “unattached” if they are not members of a USATF‐registered club. Pre‐meet entries will be posted at www.usatf.org and updated hourly as received. “A” section heats and flights will be posted at www.flashresults.com/flashwest on Thursday, June 4.

LATE ENTRIES:
Please note the late entry fee is $30.00.

SCA Marathon Championships Results

OC Marathon
Sunday - May 3, 2009

• SCA Marathon Championships Results (PDF)
• Results Press Release (PDF)
• OC Marathon Results

NEWPORT BEACH, CA—Under perfect marathon running conditions (overcast and cool), the 2009 Southern California USATF Marathon Championship was held in conjunction with the 5th annual Avia Orange County Marathon on Sunday, May 3. Taking first place in the men’s division was marathon newcomer Eulogio Rodriguez, who traversed the scenic 26.2 mile course in 2:26:30. In the women’s division, veteran Cheryl Smith claimed the championship title with a time of 3:07:04.

Eulogio Rodriguez - Winner Men's Marathon with USATF Coach Bob Larsen

Photo by Armando Brown, courtesy the Orange County Register

Cheryl Smith - Winner Women's Marathon

For Rodriguez, it was only his second marathon—the first being the Long Beach Marathon last October in which he ran a nearly identical time of 2:26:27. “Eli”, as he is known to his International City Racing Club teammates, was hoping for a time of 2:22. “I thought the next runners were only 3-4 minutes behind me,” Rodriguez noted. “So every time I cramped up and had to stop and walk, I was worried they would catch me.” As it turned out, his nearest competitor was almost 25-minutes behind, leaving Rodriguez to race against the clock for the last half of the race.

While Eli is new to the marathon, Cheryl Smith, the women’s champion, claimed the title again after winning the inaugural OC Marathon in 2004. Close behind Cheryl was runner-up Rosalva Bonilla, the first Masters Woman finisher, with a time of 3:10:37. While, start-to-finish, the course elevation is a net loss (i.e. downhill), the rolling hills of the redesigned course sapped the speed from some of the top runners in the race.



In addition to those top athletes, the Southern California Association was well-represented in all its 5-year age-groups. Among those runners were age-group gold medal winners Ryan Albu (31) of Pasedena and Andy Bussell (28) of Newport Beach. Like Eli and Cheryl, both were also 2009 Southern California 5K Champions at the Coaster Run 5K in March. In addition to running both those Association Championship races and participating in the Road Running Grand Prix Series, Andy, who ran 6-miles Sunday morning before the start of the marathon (!!), is also launching an ultra-distance runner career and participating in the 2009 SCA M.U.T. Ultra Runners Grand Prix.

With the highs and lows of racing the challenging marathon distance behind them, SCA runners are now focusing on the next Southern California Grand Prix race—the Brentwood 10K—on Sunday, June 7 in beautiful Brentwood, California. This starts a stretch of Grand Prix scoring-only races, which continues with the Semana Nautica 15K on July 4 in Santa Barbara, and the Run Forest Run 5K, held in conjunction with the Long Beach Marathon, on October 11.



The next Southern California USATF Championship race will be the Santa Barbara Half-Marathon on Saturday, November 7, 2009.