News

February 28, 2010
Brea 8K Classic
SCA Road Running Grand Prix

Runners and walkers from throughout the Southland again will take to the streets Feb. 28, as Brea Mall presents the 19th annual Brea 8K Classic Race. The only USA Track and Field-certified 8K (about 5 miles) in this region, the race covers rolling hills and long straights, beginning and ending at Brea Mall. All registered participants enjoy prizes and awards, great food from Brea’s best restaurants at Orange County’s “finest finish line,” plus a sponsor expo and live music. In addition, USATF members receive a $5 discount when registering online!

Online registration: http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1800370

Late registration on race day will begin at 6:30 a.m. The 8K begins at 8 a.m. and the 1K fun run begins at 9:15, and awards are presented at 10:00 am.

For more information, visit the Brea 8K Web site at www.brea8k.com.

Brea 8K course certification map:
http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=CA05048RS

Newly Added! Special Youth Awards: The Southern California Association USATF is providing medals for youth runners in two divisions: runners ages 11 – 13, and runners 10 and younger. These awards will recognize the top five finishers, boys and girls.

The Brea 8K is part of the expanded 2010 Southern California Association USATF Road Running Grand Prix. This is the second race in the 9-race series. A minimum of four (5) races is required to be eligible for the year-end prize money and awards.

The Grand Prix provides a total of $2,000 in cash awards and championship medals to the top-5 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-5 scoring clubs. As with individual runners, clubs must also field teams for a minimum of five races.

USATF Southern California Road Racing Grand Prix Information

• For more information on the 2010 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 2010 Road Running Grand Prix series, we invite you to send an email to: [email protected]

More Information: SCA Road Running Championships & Grand Prix

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

All 2010 SCA High School Graduating Seniors:
Print Application (PDF)

The members of the scholarship committee, as well as all those involved in the Southern California Association of USATF, would like to say congratulations on a job well done for completing the mandatory requirements for high school set forth by the State of California and your upcoming graduations.

Each year, the Youth Committee of the association awards scholarships to as many as six (6) graduating student/athletes. You are receiving this package from your coach, a mentor, or someone who cares enough for your name to be in the selection process. However, you can only become a possible candidate for one of the awards given for the 2010 graduation year, if you respond and submit a complete scholarship application.

This scholarship application includes athletic participation and achievement in track & field/cross country as criteria for award and may conflict with NCAA Bylaw Article 15, Financial Aid, Section 15.01.3. Potential applicants who anticipate receiving scholarships, awards or other financial aid should check with their college’s financial aid/NCAA compliance officer to determine if they are eligible to receive this scholarship before applying.

Requirements for scholarship consideration:

A. ATHLETES MUST HAVE STARTED COMPETING IN USATF ATHLETICS IN/OR BEFORE THE YOUTH DIVISION to be eligible for this scholarship.

B. ATHLETES MUST PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE WITH THE FOLLOWING:
1. Completed application.
2. Letter of acceptance to a junior college or four year college or university,
3. Copy of your transcript through first semester senior year (7 semesters),
4. Copy of your SAT I scores and,
5. An essay, five hundred word (minimum), which includes your academic interests, career aspirations, the benefits you received while participating in youth athletics and your plans for giving back to youth athletics in the future.

Please return your package to the address below.
DEADLINE: June 1, 2010.

Scholarship recipients will be announced at the SCA -Youth Association Championships to be held June 11-13, 2010, at Cerritos College.

YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
Denise and Barbara Terrazas
719 Oakcrest Ave
Brea, CA 92821
Phone: (714) 529-5976
Fax: (714) 529-1648
[email protected]

Saturday, January 16, 2010
Elected Board Members

• President: Thom Confer
• Executive Vice President: Paul Mahoney
• Secretary: Cheryl Mack
• Treasurer: Lance Jensen
• Vice President Masters: Mark Cleary
• Vice President Open: Eric Barron
• Vice President Youth: Mo Haneef
• Athletes Advisory: Kelly Flathers

Sunday, January 17. 2010
Rose Bowl, Pasadena

SCA Race Walking

• https://www.scausatf.org/racewalking/
• 2010 SCA Race Walking Schedule
• Race Walk Planet Radio
• Race Walk Planet Television

Redondo Beach Super Bowl Sunday 10K
February 7, 2010

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. – The expanded Southern California Association USATF 2010 Road Running Grand Prix and Road Championships series kicks off with the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau’s 32nd Annual Super Bowl Sunday 10K, on February 7, 2010.

The scenic course runs parallel to the Pacific Ocean, past the Redondo Beach Historic Pier, the Marina in King Harbor, and Wyland’s whale mural, with runners, walkers, and baby buggies among 10,000-plus race enthusiasts vying for recognition and prizes.

In person pre-registration begins Saturday, February 6, also the opening day of the Fitness Expo. In addition to the 10K, other categories include the 5K Fun Walk, Baby Buggy 10K, and costume contest, a big hit every year. In years past, wacky costumes have ranged from spoofs of politicians, to Superman and Dolly Madison.

Race day registration opens Sunday, February 7 at 6:00 am. The Costume Contest Judging begins at 7:00 am, followed by the 5K Run/Walk at 7:30 am, the Baby Buggy 10K at 8:15 am, and the 2010 Southern California Association 10K Championship run at 8:30 am. Entry for all run and walk categories is $30.

Online Registration
http://www.active.com/framed/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1792751

The top three male and female finishers in 13 age group categories will receive USATF Association Championship medals, and Championship plaques will be awarded to the top overall male and female finishers, in both the Open and Masters divisions.

The Asahi Beer Garden, a sponsor of the 10K/5K since 2006, will be the pulse of the post race party at the Seaside Lagoon, 7:00 am to 11:00 am, where both the 2010 10K Championship prizes, and the overall awards for the exciting 2009 Road Running Grand Prix will be presented as well, including individual and club competition categories. Asahi has been the beer garden sponsor since 2006, and it will donate 400 cases, or 9,600 beers.

This year’s Health & Fitness Expo will feature a variety of booths and exhibits, including sporting equipment, products, and services geared toward fitness, health, travel, nutrition, and sports. The Expo is free to the public, and offers race enthusiasts, their families, and friends the opportunity to see all the great running and fitness accessories, now available.

The Expo is open Saturday, Feb. 6, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, and Sunday, Feb. 7, 6:00 am – Noon.

More Information
http://www.redondo10k.com/

USATF Sanction and USATF Course Map
The Redondo Beach Super Bowl 10K is a USATF certified and sanctioned event. The course map of the 10K certification is online:

http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=CA95002RS

The Super Bowl Sunday 10K is the first race in the 2010 Road Running Grand Prix Series. While the 2009 series comprised seven races, the 2010 series now includes nine events, in distances of the mile, 5K, 8K, 10K, 15K, half and full marathon.

To be eligible for end-of-year cash prized and awards, runners need to compete in a minimum of five races. If runners participate in more than five races, the five best scores will be used for final scoring.

Contact for Additional Information:
Wayne Joness
Chair, Open Athletics Long Distance Running Committee
Southern California Association/ USA Track & Field
Cell (310) 600-5332
Email: [email protected]
https://www.scausatf.org/events/roadrunning.htm

2009 Southern California Ultra Runners Grand Prix Series

Series Director Gary Hilliard reports that as of December 2009, the Southern California Ultra Runners Grand Prix Series Membership is at 67 participants, with 15 runners registered as USATF members. The Southern California MUT chairs continue to promote USATF membership and look forward to being able to once again offer prize money to Series overall and age-group winners, who are USATF members at the Southern California Association 50K and 50-mile Championships.

Final Series statistics for 2009 show 17 runners ran more than 6 ultra events in 2009. Series runners ran 10,685 Series race miles in 2009. Rafael Covarrubias, of Long Beach, ran a total of 671 series miles and captured both the Men’s Overall Points and Men’s Mileage Championships. Michelle Barton, of Laguna Niguel, captured the Women’s Overall Championship, and USATF Representative Lorraine Gersitz, of Fullerton, won the Women’s Mileage Championship with 421 Series Miles. Tracy Moore, of El Cajon, and Lorraine Gersitz were the top USATF Male and Female Series Finishers in the Series points standings.

The Southern California Grand Prix Ultra Running Series Banquet/Picnic will be held at Mt. Wilson Trail Park in Sierra Madre. The “pot-luck” event is open to the public with all runners and anyone else interested welcome to attend. SCA Board members are invited! The traditional morning trail run will begin at 9:00 a.m. at approximately 5 – 7 miles in distance. The cooking begins at 11:00 a.m. with the lunch and awards beginning at 11:30 a.m. USATF and Series applications will be available and can be filled in by anyone interested in joining either or both for 2010.

Two Ultra Series races have taken place since the October 2009 MUT report:

Santa Barbara 9 Trails 35 Mile Endurance Run
(Due to fires, event held at)
Santa Barbara – RED ROCK 40 MILE TRAIL RUN
Los Padres National Forest Santa Barbara District
11/28/09

The Santa Barbara – RED ROCK 40 MILE TRAIL RUN is the replacement event for the Santa Barbara 9 Trails 35 Mile Endurance Run which has been moved because of fire damage and closed trails in the Santa Barbara area front country. This new Red Rock 40 includes much of the original 9 Trails course, all of the Cold Springs Trail and 12 miles of challenging back country trail and dirt road.

The run started at 6:10 a.m. on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at the Red Rock Day Use Area in the Santa Barbara Los Padres National Forest Back Country. The estimated distance was 40.68 miles and the total elevation gain was 11,729 feet. Fifty-eight runners started and fifty-three finished. The crisp, cool, autumn weather was ideal for running. Bright yellow Sycamore Trees and dark blue skies set the tone for the day.

Mike Swan of Santa Barbara was the first place finisher. His time was 6 hours and 55 minutes. Four minutes behind Mike was 27 year old, Eric Wickland of Canoga Park California. First female and forth over all finisher was 45 year old, Suzanna Bon of Sonoma California. Suzanna’s time was 7 hours and 45 minutes. Behind Suzanna was the female team of Kathy Higgins and Shatzi Sovich who finished together in a time of 9 hours and 19 minutes. The youngest finisher was Topher Norling, 18, of Santa Maria. The oldest finisher was Patricia Landis of Santa Barbara who is 68 years old.

Top three men and women:
40 Mile
MEN
1 Mike Swan, 6:55
2 Eric Wickland, 6:59
3 Dean Dobberteen, 7:22
WOMEN
1 Suzanna Bon, 7:45
2 Kathy Higgins, 9:19
3 Shatzi Sovich, 9:19

For complete results:
http://www.allwedoisrun.com/rr_results.htm

2009 OTHTC High Desert 50K Ultra and 30K
SCA 50K Trail Championship
Ridgecrest, CA
12/06/09

The OTHTC High Desert 50k ultra and 30k were run under cold and very windy conditions, but most of the runners still said they had a good time. Mountain views are plentiful—the southern Sierra Nevada range is obvious to the west, but everyone may also see a snowy Telescope Peak to the Northeast. Rattlesnakes are hiding for the winter, and temperatures are generally cool. Mother Nature always shows up to provide the runners with an added challenge!

231 runners started the ultra with 226 successfully completing the course. 121 ran the 30k with all runners going the full distance. Brad Seng from Boulder, CO was the winner of the 50k in a time of 3:27:37, and Carey Edge from Mission Viejo, CA was the female winner in a new age group record time of 4:03:33. Carey, who is 50 years old, was on the Irish Women’s Olympic Marathon Team in LA 1984 – the first ever Women’s Olympic Marathon! With a 2:28 marathon PR, it’s no wonder she set a course record! OTHTC was Carey’s first ultra but it won’t be her last. Donald Ball of Claremont, CA was the 30k winner in 2:22:10 with Beverly Buss of Camarillo, CA capturing the female crown in 2:38:19.

Top three men and women:
30K
MEN
1 Donald Ball, 39, 2:22:10
2 Mark Ford, 47, 2:29:47
3 Victor Carillo, 46, 2:32:05
WOMEN
1 Beverly Buss, 49, 2:38:19
2 Lucina Lara, 38, 2:41:28
3 Kelly Custer, 49, 2:42:49
50K
MEN
1 Brad Seng, 40, 3:27:37
2 Kris Brown, 20, 3:31:10
3 Brad Gillis, 21, 3:34:34
WOMEN
1 Carey Edge, 50, 4:03:33
2 Kate Pallardy, 24, 4:18:38
3 Sada Crawford, 43, 4:21:01

For complete results:
http://www.othtc.com/index.htm

2010 Upcoming Series Race
01/16/10 – Avalon Benefit 50 Mile: http://www.avalon50.com
01/17/10 – 50k Calico Trail Run: http://www.calicotrailrun.org/
02/20/10 – Orange Curtain 100k/50k: http://www.oc100k.com
03/06/10 – San Juan Trail 50k: http://www.bigbaztrailraces.com/
03/27/10 – Old Goats 50 Mile: http://www.oldgoatrunners.com

Gary Hilliard
SCA Open MUT Chair
[email protected]

Lorraine Gersitz
SCA Masters MUT Chair
[email protected]

SCA MUT: https://www.scausatf.org/mut/index.htm

www.scagrandprix.org

The 2010 Road Running Grand Prix kicks off with the Redondo Beach Super Bowl 10K race, on February 7, 2010, in Redondo Beach. An awards ceremony will be held after the 10K race to present medals and trophies to the Grand Prix winners. Medals are also awarded to all runners who competed in at least four Grand Prix races in 2009.

The Southern California Association USATF has announced the 2010 Road Running Grand Prix and Championships series. The 2010 series builds on the success of the inaugural 2009 series by adding more races, including a new USATF Road Mile. The 2010 series includes some of the most popular races Southern California, with around 45,000 runners in total participating in the races.

• 02/07/10: Super Bowl 10K
• 02/28/10: Brea 8K Classic
• 03/21/10: Los Angeles Marathon
• 05/16/10: Santa Monica Classic 5K
• 07/04/10: Semana Nautica 15K
• August 2010: SCA Road Mile
• 10/10/10: Santa Monica 5000
• 11/07/10: Santa Clarita Half Marathon
• 11/25/10: Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K

Redondo Beach 10K, February 7, Redondo Beach: The series kicks off with the 32nd annual Redondo Beach Super Bowl 10K. This race seems to sum up everything people love about road running in Southern California: a beautiful beachfront course, ocean breezes, and plenty of competition! The Super Bowl 10K is the 2010 Southern California Association 10K Championships race, with awards for both open and masters runners. After the run, it’s a big party, with free beer offered at the Asahi Beer Garden, while supplies last. In addition to race day awards, Championship awards and medals for the 2009 Grand Prix will also be presented at the USATF area, with a raffle and additional goodies for runners.

Brea 8K, February 28, Brea: There are plenty of reasons to participate in the 19th annual running of the Brea 8K. The 8K distance offers respite from the typical 5K and 10K races that dominate road running, and the course has some moderate hills to keep your training honest. But the best part is what comes after you cross the finish line: Orange County’s Finest Finish Line, with food provided by Brea’s best restaurants. Far beyond bagels and orange slices, there is freshly prepared food, and plenty of it! As a Grand Prix Scoring Only race, the Brea 8K also offers a $5 discount to USATF runners who register early online. Get out there, run your heart out, because three weeks later will come the most talked-about race in Los Angeles history, the new Los Angeles Marathon!

Los Angeles Marathon, March 21, Los Angeles: The 25th annual running of the Los Angeles Marathon promises to be the running event that forever changes marathon racing in Southern California. The “Stadium to the Sea” course starts at historic Dodger Stadium and finishes by the Pacific Ocean. The course winds through the icons of Los Angeles, heading towards the fresh air and cool ocean breezes of Santa Monica. In fact, there is a slight downhill grade to the overall course. As the 2010 Southern California Association Marathon Championships race the LA Marathon is reinvigorating long distance running among the elite members of the SCA.

Santa Monica Classic 5K, May 16, Santa Monica: After running the marathon of a lifetime, SCA members get a six-week break before picking up the speed again at the Santa Monica Classic. This fast 5K benefiting Heal the Bay is a great change for runners with legs tired from long training runs. In addition, the 5K has a special youth emphasis, with additional medals awarded to the younger runners. And top runners will again be eligible for awards as the Classic race is the 2010 Southern California Association 5K Championships race.

Semana Nautica 15K, July 4, Goleta: The road running Grand Prix again returns to the Santa Barbara area with this wonderful 15K race. This is one of two races repeated from the 2009 schedule. Why? It is just about impossible to beat the scenic course, run riverside, and along the tree-canopied streets of Goleta. The 15K distance also challenges runners’ pacing, finding a perfect spot that is slower than a 10K pace, but faster than the half marathon. And, as a Grand Prix Scoring Only race, the Semana Nautica 15K also offers a $5 discount to USATF runners who register early online. The race also offers a “no T-shirt” option, taking an additional $5 off, making this one of the best deals in running!

USATF Road Mile, August: If the new LA Marathon is generating the most buzz in the greater running community, the new USATF Road Mile certainly has members of the SCA talking. There has long been a need for a competitive, fast road mile event in the Southland, and the 2010 Southern California Association Road Mile Championships will answer the needs of runners wanting to challenge themselves to run their best mile. In addition to being a Championships race, SCA USATF members will also be eligible for a $10 discount at registration. The details of the Road Mile are still being finalized, so expect further updates in future issues of California Track and Running News.

Santa Monica 5000, October 10, Santa Monica: If speed is what you need, run this 5K! The Santa Monica 5000 lays claim to being the fastest 5K in Santa Monica, and they have the course record to prove it: Phillip Reid (M-22), 13:59.5 and Belainesh Gebre (F-20) 15:47.1, from 2008. And in 2009, six men finished under 15:00, and four women finished under 17:00. As with other Grand Prix Scoring Only races, USATF runners get a $5 discount when registering online.

Santa Clarita Half Marathon, November 7, Santa Clarita: After some revisions, Santa Clarita offers a newly USATF-certified course. While Santa Clarita has always been regarded as a scenic course, the full and half marathon now takes advantage of newly open trails along the San Francisquito Creek. We are proud to have the USATF certified and sanctioned half marathon event as our 2010 Southern California Association Road Half Marathon Championships.

Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K, November 25, Dana Point: For the third year in a row, the race calendar closes with the super-popular Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K. With a field limited to 4,000 runners, this race sold out in 2008 and 2009. USATF members can save $5 off registration with this Grand Prix Scoring Only race, but be sure to register early! This will be the final opportunity for runners to add to their 2010 Grand Prix scores.

More Information: SCA Road Running Grand Prix & Championships

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

www.scagrandprix.org

A total of 161 Southern California Association USATF runners participated in the inaugural 2009 Road Running Grand Prix, but leading in scoring was Lydia Salinas (F-49) with 3,363 points, and Perry Forrester (M-57) with 3,466 points. Both Salinas and Forrester win $200 in prize money, and a Championship trophy to be awarded on February 7, 2010.

In second place was Rosalva Bonilla (F-46) 3,354, and Eulogio Rodirguez (M-25) 3,360 points. Bonilla and Rodirguez each receive $100 in prize money. Third place winners are Vickie Ford (F-48) 2715 and John Araujo (M-51) 3318, each collecting $50 in prize money. Fourth place finishers are Tracy Cox (F-55) 2713 and Nicholas Lopez, 3266, receiving $30. And in fifth place is Phyllis Bradford (F-47) 2586 and Oliver Gallego, (M-47) 3239, receiving $20.

More Information: SCA Road Running Grand Prix & Championships

SCA-USATF 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
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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: [email protected].

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: [email protected]