USATF Southern California

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USATF Emerging Elite Coaches Camp

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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: [email protected]

• 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.

SCA Road Running GP – Brentwood 10K Results

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Brentwood 10K
Sunday, June 7, 2009

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: [email protected]

Jason Bruton Leads International City Racing Track Club to Victory!

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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 [email protected] 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!

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

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: [email protected]

SCA Jim Bush Track & Field Championships

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

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

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OC Marathon
Sunday – May 3, 2009

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

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.