March 9, 2018

Dear USATF Southern California Members,

It has been over a month since I was elected as Interim President of USATF Southern California Association (SCA) by our Board of Directors. I am happy to report that the support and enthusiasm among our Board and members has created powerful momentum moving this Association forward.

I would like to start with a brief introduction of myself and my background. I come to Southern California Association as a USATF member for over 25 years and have been serving as your Treasurer since 2016. I bring both legal and business experience to my current role serving our Association in finance and operations. As a participant in our sport, I have over 35 years of athletic experience as a competitive athlete in high school, college, open elite and now at the Masters level. I was a mid distance collegiate athlete at the University of Texas at Austin and then Villanova University. Post collegiately, I represented Asics and then competed with Nike at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in the 800m/1500m. Locally, I have competed with two elite clubs – the former VS Athletics T.C. and now the Janes Elite Racing Team.

I have set an ambitious agenda for the future goals of this Association. In the next few months, I pledge to strive for success in all activities for our membership, clubs, committees, officials and our SCA Board. I will work to be inclusive and engage all members. My philosophy is to take a hands-on approach in our team-environment, promote communications, transparency and corroboration among our membership, and our Standing Sports and Administrative Committees. I will continue to support our Committee Chairs in executing their roles and duties, pursuant to our Bylaws. Most importantly, I will continue to listen and learn from our constituents in all disciplines of our sport – Cross County, Track & Field, Mountain Ultra Trail, Long Distance Running, Race Walking, and Officials.

I look forward to hearing from you throughout the year and encourage you to reach out to me via email at president@scausatf.org anytime. I am excited to meet some of you in person in the near future.

Warm Regards,
Christine Gentile, Interim President
USATF Southern California Association

Letter Signed (PDF)

Eddie Hart – Disqualified

Friday, March 9th at 7pm

Barnes & Noble, Burbank

Join us this Friday, March 9th at 7:00 pm to hear from Olympic Track & Field athlete, Mr. Eddie Hart! Mr. Hart is the author of “Disqualified”, a book that sheds entirely new light on what really happened at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. 1972 Olympic Gold medalist, Eddie Hart will be signing his recently published book, “Disqualified: Eddie Hart, Munich 1972, And The Voices of the Most Tragic Olympics.” (Kent State Press) at Barnes & Noble Store Bookstore in Burbank (731 N. San Fernando Blvd.) on Friday, March 9th at 7pm.

Eddie Hart was a strong favorite to win the 100-meter dash at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. Then the inexplicable happened: he was disqualified after arriving late for a quarterfinal heat. Ten years of training to become the Worlds’ Fastest Human,” the title attached to an Olympic 100-meter champion was lost in a heartbeat. But who was to blame?

An outdated schedule knocked him out of the 100 meters. He, his coach and two teammates had the wrong starting times for the quarterfinals. It was one of the great snafus in Olympic history witnessed by millions of television viewers across the globe.

Hart’s disappointment, though excruciating was just one of many subplots to the most tragic of Olympic Games, at which Palestinian terrorist shocked the world and killed eleven Israeli athletes and coaches.

“Disqualified” includes Eddie’s recollection of the 1972 Olympic Games and follows him on a return trip to the stadium which was the sight of one of his greatest disappointments and triumphs. Later in the games, Eddie earned a Gold Medal in the 400-meter relay, but his disqualification from the 100-meter individual race denied him his chance to win the Gold Medal against the world’s best and left him wondering “What if?”

Eddie’s running rival from the Soviet Union, Valery Borzov would go on to win the Gold Medal in the 100-meters.

“Disqualified” also includes interviews with Olympic Swim Champion Mark Spitz, other American Olympic athletes who competed in 1972 and conversations with two Israelis who escaped the terrorist attack.

As Dr. Cornell West relates regarding Eddie Hart’s story in the Foreword to “Disqualified,”

“His courageous response, not reaction – to his heartbreaking experience of disqualification is a life lesson to all of us as to how to be spiritually fortified and morally majestic.”

Eddie Hart earned his undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley in 1975 and masters from Cal State-Hayward before embarking on a career as a teacher and coach at the college level. He currently lives in the Bay Area.

WHEN:
March 9th, 7:00pm

WHERE:
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
731 N. San Fernando Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502
818-558-1383

CONTACT:
Yanique Johnson: Community Business Development Mgr.
crm2715@bn.com

John Chavez, Publicist
805-794-0322
johnchavez1@sbcglobal.net

The Claremont Classic will take place Sunday, April 8, 2018!

USATF Southern California Association 5K Race Walk Championships will be hosted by The Claremont Classic on Sunday, April 8, 2018 at Claremont High School.

Claremont High School
1601 N Indian Hill Blvd
Claremont CA 91711

Registration is open now: https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Claremont/ClaremontClassic

Registration closes April 1st.  Entry fees: $39 for one race, additional $10 for a second race.  Youth entry fees are $5 per race. Day-of Registration will be accepted on a limited basis, for an additional $10.

Races include:
5000m judged (2 heats)
800m non-judged (racewalk or powerwalk)
1500m judged

​Races will use a rolling start, beginning at 7:30 a.m.  Judged races will have five USATF official judges with fully automatic timing.

Awards:
5000m- USATF Championship Medals for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the following age groups:
Youth (9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18)
Open (19-29)
Masters (30& Up, 5 year age groups)

​1500m- Medals for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the following age groups:
Youth (9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18)
Open (19-29)
Masters (30& Up, 5 year age groups)

For more information regarding the Claremont Classic, email meet director Kay Held at kellenheld@gmail.com or Masters Race Walk Chair Duane Dyar at mastersrw@scausatf.org.