USATF Southern California

News

SCA 10K Championships Results

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Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K
Thu: November 27, 2008

Trafeh and Berg Hydro-Plane Their Way to So Cal 10K Titles

DANA POINT, CA–The inaugural 2008 Southern California Road Championship Series concluded on November 27 with the 31st running of the Dana Point 10K Turkey Trot—America’s largest Thanksgiving Day road race. With rain threatening during the early morning hours, it was not until just after the 7:00am 10K start that that the skies unleashed a torrential downpour that turned the technically challenging course into a series of intertwining rivers. Within minutes, the driving rain had more than 3,200 runners in ankle-deep in water, barely able to see, as they negotiated the twists and turns that make the Dana Point course so unique.

Mohamed Trafeh (Photo: Brightroom)

Incredibly, front runners Mohamed Trafeh, (29:22), Ben Bruce, (29:23) and Brandon Bethke (29:27) came within seconds of setting a new course record despite the conditions. Trafeh had just returned from training in Morocco, but showed no signs of jet lag en route to winning the So Cal USATF 10K Road Crown.

Tove Berg (Photo: Alan Wickstrom)

Unlike the close finish in the men’s division, in the women’s division the winning time of 35:49 by Tove Berg was well over a minute faster than 2nd and 3rd place finishers Adrienne Schumm (37:06) and Emily Mitchell (37:17).

In the Masters age-groups, the most competitive men’s division was M50-54, lead by local runner John Loftus who won in 35:55. The field in the women’s master division was also deep, with Rosalva Bonilla winning in 40:21. 12-days earlier, Bonilla had won the Southern California USATF Masters Women’s 6K Cross Country title at Kenneth Hahn Park in West Los Angeles.

Overall, there was an enthusiastic turnout by USATF runners in all age-groups despite the forecast for rain, as more than forty Southern California Association members won USATF Championship Medals in age-groups ranging from 15-19 to 55-59. As predicted, the 10K race sold out this year and, in total, a record-breaking 10,000+ runners participated in the Dana Point 5K, 10K and kiddie run Turkey Trots.

For 2008, participation in the Southern California USATF Road Championship Series increased with every race, beginning with the 5K Road Championship at the Coaster Run in Buena Park. 2009 promises to be even more popular with the addition of the first SCA Marathon Championship at the Orange County Marathon on May 3, 2009.

The 2009 Road Championship Series kicks-off on March 15 with the Southern California 5K Championship at the flat-and-fast Coaster 5K in Buena Park, CA.

Videos


Interview – Mohamed Trafeh – Winner Male Overall
(Video: Wayne Joness)


Interview – Tove Berg – Winner Female Overall
(Video: Wayne Joness)

Tribute to Al Minturn – USATF Official

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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

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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/