Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Toro Park Course Clean Up on Saturday, August 26th at 9am

Added today:
Coaches,
We have finalized plans for a local taqueria to provide large burritos and a drink for $7 each for our clean up day.  Please let us know by Wednesday (8/23) evening how many from your team we can expect for lunch.  Don't forget to have a waiver signed by all participating, the County will be collecting.
Thank you all in advance!
Barbara Chagnon
Salinas HS XC
====================================================
Toro Park will be the course for this year's Central Coast Section (CCS) meet. After the park was used as a staging area for the Soberanes fires, the park has areas that need to be cleaned up.

On Saturday, August 26th, local teams will be there to clean up the park but they will need our help. You can check out the link below for more info as well as a waiver that will need to be filled out to help.

Any questions should be directed to Salinas HS coach Roger Chagnon at chagnon@ultimanet.com

The link to the clean up day and the waiver can be found HERE.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

The grass start area is in need of a lot of work. Do the teams have a grader or small steam roller? Also, there are new utilities sticking up from the ground at the start line and near the first turn that will impact the start of races at Toro. I think CCS should be moved to Crystal this year, and likely permanently, until the start area issues at Toro can be worked out.

Albert Caruana said...

Steve Filios from the CCS office was able to walk the entire course with local coaches so they are very aware of the current issues that will hopefully be dealt with on the clean up day.

Anonymous said...

Getting the start area at Toro back into safe racing condition is a lost cause without MAJOR grading work done by the county. There are way too many holes and soft spots created by the fire teams for a bunch of XC teams to adequately repair. The first few races (EB and Chief) will tell the story. There will likely be a few twisted ankles and maybe some more extensive injuries that will cause the CCS to reevaluate the safety of running the section meet at Toro. Be prepared for CCS to move to Crystal again and plan your schedule accordingly.

Anonymous said...

I'm guessing are used a manicured golf courses for cross country? Start slower, be careful they'll be OK. It's cross country!
And you make it seem like Crystal Springs isn't dangerous. That insane down he'll start is the worst thing I've ever seen on a cross country course. I seen more injuries and kids fall on that and any other course I've ever run or coached.

Anonymous said...

I agree with the earlier comment. The issues at Toro will not be resolved this year. The holes, uneven ground, above ground utilities and some other hidden utility boxes in the ground make the start area hazardous. But regardless, it seems to me the choice between using Crystal every year and splitting the CCS finals with Toro should not even be a question. Crystal is made for XC and is nationally known. Toro is something we have to put up with every other year and only serves as a money maker for local teams running early season meets so teams will not be ambushed by the poor conditions and even weaker layout when state slots are on the line.

Joe D. said...

Toro Park is a major course used by half the section (yes, there are schools in CCS south of San Jose). It is used by HS & junior colleges. It holds three major HS invitationals (crystal has one). While crystal has a great history, the fact you are slamming other courses you don't like comes across as a bit rude.

If you feel there is a danger I recommend you do not participate in CCS. Schools and athletes have the opportunity to decline post season play. I might also suggest instead of complaining anonymously on a message board you go and participate in the clean up day. I'm sure they'd appreciate another body working on the starting area.

Anonymous said...

I dont agree with 7:58pm above regarding the use of Toro for CCS on a rotating basis. While it is an undeniable fact that Crystal is a superior course, sharing the meet between the north and south is the fair way to do it. What I do agree with is the fact that the start is in rough condition and has to be addressed by more than the coaches and teams. The turf should be stripped, the ground leveled and new grass should be planted and irrigated. They may be able to fill in the holes but they will not be able to adequately deal with the large grass clods and numerous soft spots throughout the start area. Frankly, the park should work with the group that wants to make that area into soccer fields. If done right, the fields would serve as a great start area free of all the hazards listed by me and others.

Anonymous said...

The reason for the one course argument is because you don't get to see great teams and individuals get to go for it and break time records. Bellarmine has no reason to go all out as a team until the CCS Finals. We will never get to see how fast Meika and Scales can go at Crystal and how fast a team time they can run (race to win WCAL, not go all out with CCS/State on the Horizon). Keep the meet at Crystal full-time or move it to Toro full-time, pick one or the other.
The move in the Southern Section to Riverside is ridiculous for all the teams/athletes who can make it on the All-Time Mt. Sac lists. Give up the travel complaints, you have teams in the Southern and San Diego sections that make 3+ hour trips every year to get to CIF Finals.

Anonymous said...

In that case, I vote for Crystal. Toro is a good league and invite course but the section finals should not be held there, especially if it would result in the full-time loss of Crystal as a venue.

Anonymous said...

@10:22 Cross Country is not about times. It's about place. Running different courses has its advantages for some runners and different for others. Most XC races in Europe are run through farm fields and ditches. XC is not a track meet. Some races favor strength, some speed, some the technical runner who can handle changes in rhythm and terrain. Toro is that course.

The only way you build history is to run on the course. Did you know CCS used to rotate to more than just two courses back in the day. This sport is about facing off any where, any time. Every race is different and that's what I love about it.

Anonymous said...

@10:22 - Bellarmine will face tougher competition from SF at WCAL than they will @ CCS. if they want to keep their league title streak alive they're going to have to run hard at WCAL finals, so a course record is definitely a possibility. I'm sure the Pompeii brothers would love to beat the bells so should be exciting to watch

Anonymous said...

I would not be so sure that SF is going to run the WCAL all out in a attempt to dethrone the Bells with Willow Glen looming at CCS. While Bell can afford to peak at league and still come back at Toro to win CCS against relatively easy competition, SF is not that lucky. They would have to peak both weeks to beat two very good teams. With state ambitions high for them this year, it will be interesting to see what their plan is for championship season.

Anonymous said...

I am interested in getting a report from the Toro crew regarding the course conditions, especially the start area. I have a lot of kids running in the Earlybird and want to make sure that everything is safe. Thanks.

Albert Caruana said...

I am sure there will be an update on the status of the course shortly.

pmccrystle said...

The course is in the best condition I have seen it. The starting field is fine, many holes were filled, a couple tons of plant material was removed to widen the course trail...all in all, the disastrous reports were from June, and the course is now ready to race!! Great job by Roger Chagnon organizing the work day...can't wait for Earlybird!

Albert Caruana said...

As promised. Thanks a lot Patrick!

Anonymous said...

Thanks to everyone who worked hard to get the course in condition for the start of the season. What are we doing about the new utilities that litter the start area? Split the start? Push everyone to the left at the first turn?

Coach Ibarra said...

Thanks to all who came and helped at Toro! Some teams such as Bellarmine, St. Ignatius, and St Francis traveled far! There were many teams and the course looks great! Enjoy the meets at the park!! Earlybird preview in the works and the field is LOADED! See you guys on the trails...

Coach Ibarra said...

Yes and yes... It won't hurt too much... Just gotta make sure you don't crash into the box on the first turn... We can widen that turn a tad and put something in front of it to protect the athletes... Should be fine...

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