Project Gold Running Camp

This year, Project Gold Running Camp is launching a new program called Project Golden (ticket), an NIL style partnership designed to support the next generation of endurance athletes. Your team is invited to join the PG 2026 opportunity while slots are still open.

Here are the benefits of signing up before slots are filled:

-$150 off each registration when 15+ runners sign up,

-$100 off each registration when 10-14 runners sign up.

-$50 off each registration when 5-9 runners sign up.

Further benefits include:

-year-round mentorship from high-level collegiate counselors-runners.

-exclusive discounts from selected brand partners, and

-up to 25% off on nutrition products & lab analysis to identify individual needs.

-a welcome package with exclusive gifts throughout the year, and

-a connection to a supportive (high-performance) running community.

*Be sure to book your team for Project Gold 2026 for July 11-17th before the slots are filled.

PG 2026 is held in a runner's haven (Flagstaff, Arizona, @ the Northern Arizona University campus).

Campers will stay in the NAU dorms overlooking the very same track where many Olympians train.

*Note, most years will see Olympians training on the NAU track, and wood chip trails or roads, where the campers will train.

For questions, contact the PG 2026 Camp Director

Megan Ping @ 507-313-4414 (cell).

https://www.projectgoldrunning.com/

Tom "Tinman" Schwartz will be the head coach and will be teaching and training athletes. Any coaches that want to come along with their team, will learn from him as well.

Archie Williams seeking jumps coach for spring Track and Field season

Archie Williams needs a jumps coach this spring and has a stipend available. If you are interested, please contact Head Track and Field coach, Josiah Russell at josiah.russell@yahoo.com.

NorCal Cross Country and Track and Field College Commitments

Kyle Jakary, Jesuit (SJS) Cal Poly SLO
Ani Stieg, Archie Williams (NCS) Cal Poly SLO

Jane Landon, Whitney (SJS) CBU
Ava Decleve, Scotts Valley (CCS) UCLA

Anna Salter, Crystal Springs Uplands School (CCS) Columbia University

Brenna Mannion, Vista del Lago (SJS) Cal Poly SLO

Addison Ewers, Whitney (SJS) Cal Poly SLO

Nina Souto, Whitney (SJS) Cal Poly SLO

Sydney Middleton, Redwood (NCS) Cal Poly SLO
Stephen Sziebert, Bellarmine (CCS) Columbia University
Ben Penzel, Bellarmine (CCS) Santa Clara University

Chloe Leduc, Oakland Tech (OAK) Cal Berkeley
Drake Hoferer, Jesuit (SJS) UCLA
Gretchen Yakaitis, Carondelet (NCS) UC Berkeley
Logan Letulle, Miramonte (NCS) Williams 
Brooke Lee, Archie Williams (NCS) UC Berkeley
Zoe Corder, Bella Vista (SJS) Washington State
Sophie Hutchinson, Whitney (SJS) Washington State
Lena Llamas, Buhach Colony (SJS) Wingate University
Andres Lomeli, Kimball (SJS) Cal Poly SLO
Amaya Bhardawaj, Palo Alto (CCS) Princeton University
Aidan Sharp, Menlo Atherton (CCS) University of Chicago
Micah Redding, Placer (SJS) University of Idaho 
Owen Dawson, Analy (NCS) University of Chicago
Cooper Barr, Placer (SJS) Stanford University

Adriana Ingargiola, Oak Ridge (SJS), UC Berkeley

Ella Mogannam, Lick-Wilmerding (NCS) Vanderbilt University

Lily Simon, St. Francis, MV (CCS) University of Michigan

Payton Wagner, St. Francis, MV (CCS) Loyola Marymount University

Avery Carlson, Pitman (SJS) UC San Diego

Natalie Arriaza, Patterson (SJS) Stanislaus State
Lauren Draper, St. Francis, MV (CCS) University of Chicago

Tyler Huo, St. Francis, MV (CCS) Bowdoin College

Brady Bliesner, Aptos (CCS) Chico State 

Maya Schiro, Aptos (CCS) Chico State 

Peter Kendall, Twelve Bridges (SJS) Chico State
Allie Harman, Rocklin (SJS) UC Irvine 
Avery Wolk, Davis (SJS) Brown University
Isaac Abbott, Jesuit (SJS) Duke University
Giselle Fernandez, Riverbank (SJS) Northern Arizona University
Makayla Galvan, Vacaville (SJS) Biola University
Grady Morris, Ponderosa (SJS) Chico State
Sophie Benham, Hughson (SJS) Stanislaus State
Ellie McCuskey-Hay, St. Ignatius (CCS) University of Oregon
Fernando Herrera, Alisal (CCS) Stanislaus State
Cy Lugo, Elk Grove (SJS) Montana State
Ace Rozales, Kimball (SJS) St. Mary's College
Claire Palmer, Archie Williams (NCS) Tuft University
Carina, Nottingham, Berkeley (NCS) Dartmouth University
Riley Anderson, Placer (SJS) Chico State
Maya Yatsko, Los Altos (CCS) Occidental College
Samantha Witteles, Los Altos (CCS) Dartmouth University

Xavier Surgeon, Windsor (NCS) Rhodes College
Kira Dye, Crystal Springs Uplands School (CCS) Johns Hopkins
Jessica Carvalho, Pinole Valley (NCS) Dominican University (NEW)
Eila Sawhney, Woodside Priory (CCS) Claremont - Mudd Scripps (NEW)
Kaitlyn Lam, Sacred Heart Cathedral (CCS) Occidental College (NEW)

If you know of other runners who have already committed and shared their information publicly, please add them to the list in the comment section below.

Wildcat Mile at Woodside HS on Saturday, Jan 24th

Looks like a great turnout so far. Still lots of room for more competitors. 

If you haven't heard already, Woodside HS is hosting the Wildcat Mile on Saturday, January 24th from 2pm to 6pm. The event is a fundraiser for the Woodside Athletic booster program. This is an open, all-comers meet that can motivate your runners to continue training during the winter and assess their readiness for the upcoming Track and Field season. 

Here is their registration page: https://www.movemint.cc/events/the-wildcat-mile-2026

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to meet director Nate Bowen at apolloteach@gmail.com.

Please help spread the word!

71st "Plato Yanicks" All NorCal XC team

You can find this year's team at the following link on Hank Lawson's website. This is the 71st version of this team. Congratulations to all the athletes who were included for their accomplishments this past season.
https://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/XC/2025/allnorca.htm

Files and results from Peter Brewer

If anybody is interested, Hank Lawson has posted past files and results from Peter Brewer, formerly a coach at Castro Valley, Northgate, and Alhambra, at the following links.
https://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/BREWER/file_report.html
https://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/XC/BREWER/file_report.html

Los Gatos All-Comer results

https://milesplit.live/meets/719816

Harker senior Brady Tse ran 47.61 in the 400 for one of the fastest times in the nation, indoors and outdoors. 

2025 All-CCS XC Team

You can find the All-CCS team at the link below on Hank Lawson's website.  
https://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/XC/2025/all_ccs.htm

The "Plato Yanicks" All-NorCal XC team will be posted sometime in late December. If you are a coach who would like to vote on that team, please email me at albertjcaruana@gmail.com, and I will send you the voting instructions.

Previous all-NorCal teams can be found at this link:
https://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/XC/alnorcal.htm

Former SLV coach Rob Collins RIP

Sorry to share the news that former San Lorenzo Valley coach Rob Collins passed away. Rob was a super successful coach at SLV with multiple state cross country championships as well as some of the top track and field runners in state history. His 2010 girls DMR team set the national record of 11:41.28 at the Penn Relays. Rob was recently inducted into the SLV Hall of Fame.

You can check out my interview with Coach Collins at this LINK from 2010.

RIP Rob.

2026 CCS Cross Country Divisions now posted

You can find all the divisions for next fall at this LINK.

From a quick glance, here are the teams that will be in a new division next year.

Division I-Mt. View (from Division 2)

Division 2-Silver Creek (from Division 1)
Division 2-Valley Christian (from Division 3)
Division 2-Christopher (from Division 3)

Division 3-Westmoor (from Division 4)

Division 4-North Monterey County (from Division 3)
Division 4-Menlo School (from Division 5)

Division 5-Scotts Valley (from Division 4)
Division 5-San Lorenzo Valley (from Division 4)