USATF Southern California

News

Tribute to Al Minturn – USATF Official

by

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of one of the best officials and human beings that our sport has ever known.

Al Minturn died peacefully in his sleep during the last night of the USATF Annual Meeting in Reno, Nevada on December 7, 2008 doing one of the things he loved—working to enhance and expand the officiating that makes participation in our sport possible for hundreds of thousands of track & field athletes.

Visit our tribute page, and post your own tribute or comment: http://alminturntribute.blogspot.com

SCA Half Marathon Championships Results

by

Long Beach International City Bank Half Marathon
Sunday: October 12, 2008

LONG BEACH, CA – Runners from the Southern California Association of USA Track & Field dominated the Long Beach International City Bank Half Marathon, held in Long Beach, California, on Sunday, October 12, 2008. Selected as the 2008 Southern California USATF Half-Marathon Championship, the results once again supported the reputation of the Long Beach Half-Marathon as one of the most popular and fastest half-marathon races in the West. At the front of 4,439 finishers, the top-10 male finishers all ran under 1:13:00.

Christian Hesch (Photo by Wayne Joness)

In a thrilling finish to the men’s race, Los Angeles residents Christian Hesch and Brian Livingston battled for the 13.1 miles with Christian prevailing at the finish for a :02 second win with a course record time of 1:06:2. Last April, Christian also won the Southern California USATF 5K Road Championship at the Coaster Run 5K in Buena Park.


Mary Akor (Photo by Wayne Joness)

In contrast, the winner of the women’s race, Hawthorne’s Mary Akor, broke away from the field very early and crossed the finish line in 1:17:54—more than five minutes ahead of the next female finisher. Amazingly, just 7-days earlier Mary had run the Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis, MN—where she placed 4th with a time of 2:40:00! Last April, Mary also competed in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Boston.

The first Masters female finisher (over age-40) was Carlsbad’s Stacy Schafer. After the race, the ebullient Schafer could not stop smiling after running almost three minutes faster than her previous half marathon PR of 1:28:13. The first Masters male finisher was Brea’s Kevin Broady who finished 10th overall in 1:12:32.

In total, 24 Southern California runners won received gold, silver, or bronze USATF Association Championship medals for finishing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in their age-groups—including runners as young as 23 and as old as 73!

Next Southern California USATF Road Championship

For those runners who missed the excitement of the Long Beach International City Bank Half Marathon, the final race of the 2008 Southern California USATF Road Championship Series will be the Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K. The largest Thanksgiving Day race in America, more than 10,000 runners participated in the race in 2007! Once again, Southern California USATF members will be able to compete for USATF championship medals in 13 men’s and women’s 5-year age groups.

In addition to being a fast course, the scenic 10K course takes runners on a tour the beautiful beaches, majestic cliffs and coves of Dana Point. Participants will feel the pounding surf and cool ocean breezes as they wind through the Dana Point Marina and Doheny State Park. The 10K also features chip timing and the following prize money:

1st Place Male & Female $1,000
2nd Place Male & Female $ 500
3rd Place Male & Female $ 250

PLEASE NOTE !!I
After November 1, the 10K registration fee increases from $30.00 to $35.00.

For registration information visit http://www.turkeytrot.com/

SCA Cross Country Championships

by

SCA Cross Country Open
Saturday, November 1st
Kenneth Hahn Park

  • 9:00am – Open Men’s 8K Race
  • 9:45am – Open Women’s 6K Race
  • 10:30am – Masters 6K Race (Men & Women combined)
  • 11:15am – Open 4K Short Course Race (M&W combined/No team scoring)

SCA Masters & Open Cross Country Championships
Saturday, November 15th
Kenneth Hahn Park

  • 9:00am – Open Men’s 8K Race
  • 9:45am – Open Women’s 6K Race
  • 10:30am – Masters 6K Race (Men & Women combined)
  • 11:15am – Open 4K Short Course Race (M&W combined/No team scoring

SCA Masters & Open Cross Country Championships