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NEWPORT BEACH, CA—The Southern California Association of USA Track & Field has announced that the 5th annual 2009 Avia Orange County Marathon to be held on Sunday, May 3 in Newport Beach, will be its first Marathon championship in more than 20-years. Produced by International City Racing (ICR), this year’s race features a later date and a course redesigned to be as scenic and fast as possible—ideal for both novice and elite runners.

Start to finish, the course elevation is actually a net loss (i.e. downhill). This, and an early 6:30 am start to guarantee cool running conditions, will give USATF members a great opportunity to achieve personal bests for the sport’s most historic and challenging racing distance. As the course traverses Pacific Coast Highway, Corona Del Mar, Newport Bay and Back Bay, the South Coast Performing Arts Center, South Coast Plaza and Orange County Fair and Events Center, runners will also enjoy some of the most breath-taking coastal scenery in Orange County.

To help runners train for the 26.2 mile challenge, a new Beach Runners Marathon and Half Marathon Training Program is also available from ICR. The Beach Runners program is 21-weeks of training specifically tailored for the Avia Orange County Marathon. The program is led by head coach and USATF member, Jason Bruton. Jason is also the coach for the USATF-affiliated ICR Running Club.

Registration for the 2009 Avia Orange County Marathon is $80 until January 16—after which the fee increases to $90. Free commemorative technical training jackets are still available for the first 1,000 registrants.

TO REGISTER ON-LINE VISIT:
http://www.ocmarathon.com

The deadline for personalizing your bib number with a name (11 character maximum) is January 15. The first 1000 Marathon registrants will receive free commemorative custom technical jackets!

You must enter by this deadline (3/31/09) to be guaranteed a technical shirt (marathon and 1/2 marathon only) and to be guaranteed a t-shirt size.

USATF Contact:
Wayne Joness
Chair, Open Athletics Long Distance Running Committee
Southern California Association/ USA Track & Field
Cell (310) 600-5332 Email: [email protected]

Check out the highlights for Open Athletics in 2008 – it was a great year for SCA open cross country, MUT, race walking, road running, and track & field!
2008 Open Athletics Year in Review (PDF)

Visit the SCA Open page:
https://www.scausatf.org/open/index.htm

BUENA PARK, CA—Southern California USATF is pleased to announce its 2009 Road Running Championship Series will kick-off with The Coaster Run 5K on Sunday, March 15, in Buena Park.

The popular 5K also hosted the first Southern California USATF Road Championship in more than 20-years last April, which attracted some of the area’s top runners. The 2008 winner of the Elite Women’s 5K race was Midori Sperandeo, who also ran in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Boston, MA. The 2008 Elite Men’s 5K winner was Christian Hesch, a versatile runner who also took top honors at the 2008 Southern California Half-Marathon Championships held in conjunction with the Long Beach International City Bank Half Marathon in October.

For 2009, the Coaster 5K race date has been moved one month earlier to Sunday, March 15, promising ideal, cool racing conditions. The flat USATF-certified 5K course is perfect for runners striving to run personal bests. Produced by Renegade Racing, the race is a fund-raiser for the Speech & Language Development Center and also includes a 10K (which is not a USATF Championship) and a 1K Kids Walk/Run.

Race day registration, the start & finish, and post-race Expo are all located at Buena Park’s famous Knott’s Berry Farm at 8039 Beach Boulevard. Entry standards are 17:00 for men and 20:00 for women for the Elite 5K Race, which features cash prizes for the top-5 male and female finishers.

PRIZE MONEY: 2009 coaster run elite 5K: (Men and Women)
1st Place $400, 2nd $250, 3rd $150, 4th $100, 5th $50, USATF Championship Medals to places 1-10

In the Open 5K race, the top-3 USATF member finishers in the traditional men’s and women’s 5-year age groups will receive gold-silver-bronze USATF Championship Medals. What’s more, all 5K/10K participants will receive 1/2 price entry to Knotts Berry Farm. Those raising $100 or more in donations for the Speech & Language Development Center will earn free entry to the park.

SCHEDULE OF RACES
7:30 am Elite 5K Race
7:45 am Open 5K Run/Charity Walk
8:00 am Open 10K Race
9:00 am Camp Snoopy Kids Run/Walk
9:30 am Awards Ceremony

The Coaster Run 5K Information and Registration:
http://www.coasterrun.com/

5K Elite Race Contact:
Wayne Joness
Chair, Open Athletics Long Distance Running Committee
Southern California Association/ USA Track & Field
Cell (310) 600-5332 Email: [email protected]
SCA Road Running Championships