USATF Southern California Runners Continue Domination of Brea 8K Classic

Brea 8K Classic, Sunday February 26, 2012, Brea CA

By Wayne Joness

Members of USATF Southern California cannot get enough of the irresistible one-two punch of the Brea 8K Classic, which combines the unique road racing distance of 8 kilometers with a finish line food feast which alone is worth the price of race registration. And for the third year in a row, USATF members turned out in record numbers to set new course records, competing in the largest field of registered Brea 8K runners in the history of the 21 year-old event.

Carlos Carballo (M29) of adidas Legacy Run Racing won convincingly in 24:32, a good twenty seconds ahead of second place finisher and masters champion Christian Cushing-Murray (M44) of Cal Coast Track Club who raced 24:57. The Brea 8K course was slightly changed for 2012, and recertified by USATF. Runners may debate how the 2012 course compares to the original, but Carballo’s time is seven seconds faster than the previous record set by Brian Livingston in 2010. Rounding out the open finishers were John Gardiner (M39) from A Snail’s Pace Running Club with 25:57 and Miguel Batista (M15) 26:18 of the Equalizers Track Club

In the women’s division Erika Aklufi (F35) of The Janes Elite Racing won with a time of 28:26. In a parallel of the men’s finish, Aklufi was also followed by a top masters competitor, Nathalie Higley (F42) of Club Ed Running, finishing in 28:38. 2^nd and 3^rd place in the open division went to Leilani Rios (F32) from A Snail’s Pace Running Club running 29:50, and Nichole Slykhouse (F22) also of Cal Coast Track Club finishing in 30:00 flat.

USATF Southern California is home to some of the best masters athletes in the United States, so it was no surprise to see Cushing-Murray joined by fellow Cal Coast Track Club runners Ken Ernst (M50) 26:17 and Matt Ebiner (M50) 26:33, giving Cal Coast Track Club a sweep of the men’s masters. In a replay of the Redondo Beach 2012 10 km Championships results, Higley was followed across the finish line by Tania Fischer, 29:16, also of the Janes, with Higley’s teammate from Club Ed Running Alison Atkinson taking 3^rd place with 30:39.

In the youth competition, the Equalizers Track Club and the So Cal Roadrunners continue to use the Brea 8K to showcase some of the most promising runners in Southern California. While only 62 Equalizers competed in the large field of 3,000 runners, two thirds of the Equalizers finished in the top 10% of all runners. 

Local coverage of the Brea 8K, including USATF.

2012 USATF Southern California 10K Championships - Redondo Beach Superbowl Sunday 10K

February 5, 2012

Contributing Members of USATF Southern California

Unseasonably warm and sunny weather as well as majestic views of the Pacific Ocean greeted the nearly 3500 runners who came out to Redondo Beach for what was billed as “Southern California’s greatest Super Bowl Celebration!”  The 34^th annual Redondo Beach Super Bowl Sunday 10K, known as being one of the more challenging road courses in Southern California, rewards those who take a patient and strategic approach to the race.  It is also the 2012 USATF Southern California 10 km Championships race.

Fresh off the 2012 US Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston, Mary Akor (F35) took home the women’s Open 10K Championship with a time of 34:16. Placing 11^th overall, she dominated the women’s open field and beat her nearest competitor, Erika Aklufi (F35) 35:56, of The Janes Elite Racing, by more than 90 seconds. Akor has qualified for several Olympic Trials, and is now a member of the local addidas Legacy Run Racing team, which includes 2012 US Olympic Marathon Trials competitors Jimmy Grabow and Charlie Serrano. The bronze medal for women’s open was presented to Kim Ramirez (F29) running 38:34, joining The Janes Elite Racing team member Erika Aklufi for a podium finish.

Luis Ibarra (M31) of Nike Team Run LA, coming off an impressive win in LA King’s 5K, took the men’s Open 10K Championship. Ibarra notched his second consecutive Grand Prix victory in the men’s open division with a time of 30:59. Following Ibarra was Cal Coast Track Club standout runner Gabriel Hernandez (M32) running 32:10. Local hero Humberto Sanchez (M36) of Club Ed Running was the third place men’s open finisher in 34:41.

In the masters division, Redondo Beach resident Nathalie Higley (F42) and 2011 USATF Southern California Grand Prix Champion Tania Fischer (F45) contested the Masters 10K Championship to the finish line.  It was Higley who had a little extra at the end, edging Fischer by a second to cross the tape at 35:58, to Fischer’s 35:59. Higley is no stranger to the Grand Prix circuit, having won the 2010 Masters 10K Championship as well as the 2011 Masters Half Marathon Championship. With 9 races remaining in the 2012 Southern California Association Grand Prix, Fischer of The Janes Elite Racing and Higley of Club Ed Running can look forward to renewing their acquaintance soon.  Alison Atkinson (F45) took 3^rd place with a time of 37:53, also representing Club Ed Running.

Ken Ernst (M50) of the Compex Racing team improved on his second place finish in the LA King’s 5K to take the men’s Masters 10K Championship.  Ernst, who had hoped to give himself a 50^th birthday present by breaking 33 minutes in the 10K, realized early on that he would have trouble maintaining the rhythm necessary for such a time on the hilly course. Instead, he sat on a pack of runners which included 2011 Masters 10K Champion Nicholas Bowden (M40), 33:52. Making his move with a little over a mile to go, Ernst pulled away on the final uphill and cruised to his first masters win at a 2012 Grand Prix Championship race with a time of 33:24. Ernst, who is currently at the top of the Grand Prix standings, will look to further cement his position at the Brea 8K in late February. Jon Megeff (M48) finished 34:11 for third place, adding more points to the building Club Ed Running total.

In the team competition 2011 Southern California Grand Prix winner Club Ed Running, with 4302 age-graded points scored at Redondo Beach, decisively beat out The Janes Elite Racing, 4089 points, and Cal Coast Track Club, 4060 points. Club Ed have carried last year’s success over into 2012. The Southern California clubs will send their long distance specialists to the next 2012 Championships race, the Honda LA Marathon, in mid-March.