CCS Finals Preview

https://ca.milesplit.com/articles/314899/preview-central-coast-section-final-meet

Thanks to Gunn assistant coach Jordan Cheng.

What is the most anticipated event? Most competitive event? Who are the athletes competing this Saturday that will have an opportunity to podium at the state meet?

NorCal Track and Field Results

Central Coast Section Semifinals Results

NCS Tri-Valley Results
NCS Redwood Empire Results
NCS Bayshore Results
NCS Class A Results
Boys: https://redwoodempirerunning.com/2022-boys-ncs-1a-finals/
Girls: https://redwoodempirerunning.com/2022-girls-ncs-1a-finals/

NCS MOC Meet Program: https://diablotiming.com/results/2022-05-20/

Northern Section Division I final Results
Northern Section Division 2 final Results
Northern Section Division 3 final Results
Northern Section Division 4 final Results

Sac Joaquin Section Division 4/5 final Results
Sac Joaquin Section Division 3 final Results

San Francisco All-City Trials Results

CCS Track Preview by Jordan Cheng

https://ca.milesplit.com/articles/314429/ccs-track-preview-by-coach-jordan-cheng

What will be the most competitive events to make the final? Who are the biggest favorites? Who are the teams contending for the section team titles? 

NorCal Section Competitions

Central Coast Section Semifinals at Gilroy HS
Track: https://d2o2figo6ddd0g.cloudfront.net/d/7/sghcifxms09qz1/CCS_Track_-_Field_Performance_-Track_2022.pdf
Field: https://d2o2figo6ddd0g.cloudfront.net/c/d/4blqiqhizkp0oh/CCS_Track_-_Field_Performance_-_Field_2022.pdf

North Coast Section
Bayshore Live Results: https://live.adkinstrakwest.com/meets/16375/events/565237/entries
Redwood Empire Live Results: https://live.adkinstrakwest.com/meets/16375/events/565237/entries
http://milesplit.live/meets/483295
Tri-Valley Live Results: https://diablotiming.com/results/2022-05-14/
Class A Meet Live Results: https://live.athletic.net/meets/16120

Sac-Joaquin Section
Division I live results: https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2022/sjsd1/
Division IV/V live results: https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2022/sjsd45/

San Francisco Section
Meet Program: http://www.cifsf.org/uploads/3/2/0/9/32099267/trials_meet_program_2022.pdf

This angle of Rich Strike winning the KentuckyDerby is nuts

This is an incredible view of yesterday's Kentucky Derby and the route that Rich Strike took to win as the longest shot.  He was also an alternate that was able to race because of a late scratch.

This is exactly what happened in 2012 in CCS. The winner of the boys' 1600 was MA runner George Baier who was able to race in the CCS Final because of a late scratch. Check out this link which has my interview with him as well as a video of the race itself.

http://www.crosscountryexpress.com/2012/05/catching-up-with-menlo-atherton-runner.html

NorCal League Final results

WBAL: https://www.rtspt.com/events/cif/2022Meets/wbal/compiled.htm
SCVAL: http://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2022/qual_res.htm

NBL Boys: https://redwoodempirerunning.com/2022-boys-nbl-track-field-finals/
NBL Girls: https://redwoodempirerunning.com/2022-girls-nbl-track-field-finals/

Lots of results here:
https://ca.milesplit.com/results

Also, you can check out all the results posted at www.lynbrooksports.com
http://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2022/2022.htm

If you have links to other league results, post the link in the comment section below.

NorCal Cross Country and Track and Field College Commitments

Jeremy Kain Scotts Valley (CCS) Duke University
Riley Chamberlain Del Oro (SJS) BYU
Braden King Jesuit (SJS) Yale University
Alex Mader Lick-Wilmerding (NCS) Yale University

Daniel Winter St. Mary's Stockton (SJS) Wake Forest

Caden Carney Tamalpais (NCS) UC Berkeley

Madison Chavez California (NCS) University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Jacob Donohue Maria Carrillo (NCS) Cal Poly SLO

Noe Vieyra Maria Carrillo (NCS) CSU Long Beach

Kayla Rutz Oak Ridge (SJS) UC Davis

Cate Joaquin St. Francis, Sacramento (SJS) Georgetown

Ava Maier Oak Ridge (SJS) UC Santa Barbara

Jadyn Marshall St. Mary's Stockton (SJS) UCLA

Bella Peretti Pioneer (CCS) San Diego State

Tanish Chettiar Bellarmine (CCS) Yale University

Grace McGuckin Granite Bay (SJS) Lipscomb University

Sophia Nordenholz Albany (NCS) University of Washington

Kate Riley Miramonte (NCS) American University

Allison Sahaida Oak Ridge (SJS) University of California

Tommy Rogers Serra (CCS) Santa Clara University

Zachary Ayers Davis (SJS) United States Air Force Academy

Sofia Tavella San Ramon Valley (NCS) Boston College

Jack Stein Piedmont (NCS) Pomona College
Kassidy Schroth Santa Rosa (NCS) Sacramento State

Harrison Dance Saratoga (CCS) UCLA

Nathan Kent Rocklin (SJS) US Naval Academy at Annapolis

Riley Capuano Los Altos (CCS) Claremont McKenna College
James Miller Palo Alto (CCS) Occidental College
John (JT) Bard Palo Alto (CCS) Pomona-Pitzer
Kenji Tella Palo Alto (CCS) Carnegie Mellon
John Miller Palo Alto (CCS) Grinnell College
Kinsey Pogue Monte Vista (NCS) Villanova
Oscar Gomes De La Salle (NCS) Cal Poly SLO
Emily Castle Davis (SJS) NYU
Dom Depeiro Heritage (NCS) Humboldt University
James Woolery Heritage (NCS) Humboldt University
Kylee Denver Freedom (NCS) Coast Carolina University
Andy Taylor Hillsdale (CCS) NYU

Mateo Fessimeier Palo Alto (CCS) Santa Clara University
Ryan Dube California (NCS) Humboldt University
Tyler Eakin Monte Vista (NCS) Whitworth University
Jack Loughery Monte Vista (NCS) RPI
Yutaka Roberts El Camino (CCS) University of Portland

Jonah Grubbs Archie Williams (NCS) Humboldt Univerity
Julian Vargas St. Francis Salesian College Prep (CCS) Xavier University

Jack Loughery Monte Vista (NCS) RPI

Ryan Dube California (NCS) Humboldt University

If you know of others, leave a comment below and I will add them to the list.

RIP to former Hillsdale and Menlo Atherton coach, Plato Yanicks

Longtime Hillsdale and Menlo Atherton coach Plato Yanicks passed away last night. He was inducted into the San Mateo County Hall of Fame in 2004 and you can check out some of his accolades at the following link. I also know that he was one of the coaches responsible for the California State XC meet that finally came to fruition in 1987. I was able to chat with him at the CCS XC meet this past fall as he came around to check out the section competition one last time. I will update any funeral or memorial information once I hear more.
https://historysmc.pastperfectonline.com/byperson?keyword=Yanicks%2C+Plato

Here are a few more articles about Coach Yanicks:

https://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/morgue/sports/1994_Jun_15.YANICKS.html

https://www.almanacnews.com/morgue/2004/2004_06_23.yanicks.shtml

From MA Principal Karl Losekoot

Greetings M-A,

I regret to announce that Plato Yanicks, one of M-A's legendary teachers and coaches, has passed away.   Plato was 89.  Plato was a PE teacher at M-A and also our Cross Country and Track and Field Coach from 1965 to 1994.   For the past several years, Plato has been working with a small group of M-A staff members and alumni as a member of our Athletic Hall of Fame committee.  Many of our staff knew Plato and still are in communication with his family.  He will be missed!

Here is a comprehensive write up of his athletic accomplishments, which was put together when he was inducted into M-A's Athletic Hall of Fame:

Northern California Results

Sacramento Meet of Champions
https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/459196-sacramento-meet-of-champions-2022/results#.YmbLQ_PMKEs

NorCal FS Championship at Dublin HS
https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/469124-northern-california-froshsoph-championships-2022/results#.YmbOrPPMKEs

Granada Throw Down
https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/478734-granada-throw-down-2022/results#.YmbPiPPMKEs

HDN All Comers Meet
https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/478907-hdn-all-comers-meet-2022/results#.YmbPx_PMKEs

Boys Viking Classic
https://redwoodempirerunning.com/2022-boys-viking-classic/

Girls Viking Classic
https://redwoodempirerunning.com/2022-girls-viking-classic/

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mclucid/albums/72177720298356768

CCS Top 8 Meet results

Some awesome performances last night including several meet records. You can check out the results at this link:
http://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2022/t8_res.htm
Meet Photos: Coming soon.

Feel free to comment on the most impressive performances from last night in the comment section below.

2022 CCS Cross Country Divisions now posted

https://d2o2figo6ddd0g.cloudfront.net/f/e/rlmsrwttv3e5oh/2022_XC_Division_Placement.pdf

CCS Top 8 Meet this Friday at Los Gatos HS

The best sectional Track and Field preview of any section in California will take place this Friday at Los Gatos HS with field events starting at 2pm and running events starting at 5pm.

You can find all the individuals and teams that qualified here:

http://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2022/t8_pgm.htm

Here is the new time schedule for the running events:
http://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2022/t8_tme.pdf

If you have any races and/or events that you are looking forward to watching, please let us know in the comment section below. Most competitive races of the day?

NorCal Track and Field results

CCS Last Chance meet
https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/468791-ccs-last-chance-tandf-meet-2022/results#.YlxXBG7MIUo

Granada Distance and Sprint Festival
https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/452915-granada-distance-and-sprint-festival-2022/results#.YlxW1m7MIUo

Soquel Invitational
https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/450629/results/all

Alisal Invitational
https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/468779-alisal-invitational-2022/results#.YlxXem7MIUo

52nd Annual Bob Warren/Charlie Eaton Relays
https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/468764-52-annual-bob-warren-charlie-eaton-relays-2022/results#.YlxXr27MIUo

Monte Vista coach Bryan Jensen RIP

MESSAGE FROM DR. AHERN

April 13, 2022

Dear MVHS Families and Community,

I am deeply saddened to share that Bryan Jensen, Monte Vista's beloved science teacher, passed away this afternoon after battling an aggressive form of cancer over the past few months. He was home and comfortable and surrounded by his family and loved ones when he passed.

Mr. Jensen spent the past 6 years at Monte Vista teaching Biology and Physics as well as coaching Cross Country. His amazing teaching and ability to build great connections with people inspired many of his current and former students to forge their own paths in science. He truly cared about the Monte Vista Community and will be sorely missed by his students and his colleagues.

We have requested additional counseling support at MV tomorrow to ensure our students and staff will receive emotional support if needed. If you want to ask that we check in with your student directly, please let me know at kahern@srvusd.net or email your students alpha counselor.

For grief and crisis support, some available resources include:

The Contra Costa County Crisis Center: 211, 800-833-2900, text 'HOPE' to 20221. www.crisis-center.org/

The District CareLine link, available on our website homepage

I want to encourage our parents/caregivers to take the time to talk with their students about their feelings and emotions. SRVUSD has some suggestions that may prove helpful. You can find this information HERE. As our school community grieves, there are things we can do to continue to comfort one another. The family has asked for their privacy at this time, but if you would like to write a card to express your sympathy, please drop it off at the school office and we will be sure it gets to them. At this time we do not have information regarding any planned memorial services to honor Mr. Jensen, or if there is something we can do to further assist the family as a MVHS community, but we will share this information as it becomes available.

Please keep Mr. Jensen's family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers as they experience this difficult loss.

Take care.

Dr. Kevin Ahern

Principal, Monte Vista High School

Backyard Benefit featuring Sara Hall presented by Peninsula Distance Club

Arcadia Invitational Results

https://www.rtspt.com/events/arcadia/2022/compiled.htm

Biggest highlights from NorCal individuals or teams?

Just to start the list.

Bellarmine boys winning 4 x 800 in 7:45.79.
Michael Julian York 9:05.17 3200
Grant Morganfeld Palo Alto 9:08.39 3200
Roland Ruckman-Barnes 9:11.03 3200
Katie Kopec Whitney 10:30.72 3200
Kaiya Brooks Crystal Springs Uplands School 10:32.59 3200
Bella Peretti Pioneer 10:36.27
Monte Vista boys winning seeded 4 x 1600m in 17:54.57
St. Francis Mt. View girls 5th in Invitational 4 x 1600 in 21:13.67
Monte Vista girls 6th in Invitational 4 x 1600 in 21:13.78
Palo Alto boys 5th in Invitational 4 x 1600 in 17:40.39
Dublin boys 7th in Invitational 4 x 1600 in 17:48.28
Andrew Fu Harker 2nd in Rising Stars LJ in 22'8.5"
Julia Roberson Whitney 2nd in Rising Starts TJ 36'5.5"

Please post highlights of Day 2 in the comment section below. A few have already been listed.

Stanford Invitational meet preview now posted

https://ca.milesplit.com/articles/311677/2022-stanford-track-field-invitational-meet-preview (including St. Mary's Stockton's Jadyn Marshall who has the fastest 110m hurdle times in the nation at 13.35).

NorCal Results

WBAL 1A Results
https://rt.trackscoreboard.com/meets/3302233/events 

BCL 2 Results
https://rt.trackscoreboard.com/meets/33022/events

2022 CCS XC Divisions now posted (major change)

From the CCS office

Beginning next fall, division placement will now be done as follows:

• Division V will be set at 600 and below. The remaining schools shall be allocated into Divisions in the following manner:

Division I: top 15%

Division II: next 25%

Division III: next 25%

Division IV: remaining 35%

 

• When determining the divisions, the CCS staff will utilize a list of enrollments that is gender agnostic (boys and girls teams from the same school will be in the same division)

You can check out all the divisions at this LINK.

Northern California Track and Field Invitationals

Firebird Relays Results
Bay Area Relays Results
Avis Kelley Invitational Results
Castro Valley/Peter Brewer Relays Results
Eagle Classic Results
Bella Vista Bronco Distance and Pole Vault Carnival Results
Eagle Classic Relays Results
TKA Distance Carnival Results

APU Meet of Champions Results

Any other meets that should be added here? Most impressive results?

2022 Stanford Track and Field Invitational

The entries will be posted today by 5pm. And here they are:

https://www.rtspt.com/events/stanford/invite22/hs_accepted.htm

I will have a preview of the high school portion of the meet up by Thursday, March 31st. In the meantime, feel free to comment below on the most anticipated events at this meet which will take one week ahead of Arcadia. 

For now, you can check out the meet records for the Stanford Invite through the 2019 season thanks to Hank Lawson at this LINK.

RECAP Chamberlain, Thomsen Rewrite Records at Dublin

https://ca.milesplit.com/articles/311453/recap-chamberlain-thomsen-rewrite-records-at-dublin

Northern California Track and Field results

Dublin Distance Fiesta Results
https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/441280/results/all

St. Francis Invitational Results
http://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2022/sfi_res.pdf

Fighting Zebra Invitational Results
https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/460023-fighting-zebra-invitational-2022/results#.YjfSAxDMLPY

Husky Invite Results
https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/466823-husky-invite-2022/results#.YjfSMhDMLPY

San Leandro Invitational Results
https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/460032-san-leandro-invitational-2022/results#.YjfSiBDMLPY

Garlic Classic Results
http://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2022/gil_res.pdf

One more dedication to Peter Brewer by Dublin coach, Chris Williams

You can check it out at this link. Well done Coach Williams!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11BXILIG5NqJxsypwUQqPsiNmsHR63nltKPXLirs2VWU/edit

Dublin Distance Fiesta Meet Preview

https://ca.milesplit.com/articles/311121/meets-on-tap-dublin-distance-fiesta-preview

I tried to include as many athletes and teams as possible. If I missed anybody that deserves to be mentioned, please let me know in the comments below.

Best of luck to all 149 teams competing on Friday/Saturday.

Dublin Distance Fiesta Heats and Schedule posted

You can check them out at this link:
http://www.dublindistancefiesta.com

This looks like the biggest Dublin Distance Fiesta to date with over 160 schools participating. I will have a preview of the sombrero heats posted on Thursday.

In the meantime, feel free to comment below about what race you think will be the race of the day? Any predictions on who will win the sombrero heats? What meet records will fall? Who are the underrated runners going into this meet that are ready for big-time races on Saturday?

NorCal Results

K-Bell Invitational Live Results
https://fasttimes.me/meets/22-03-12/
https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/444937/results

TKA Invitational Live Results
https://rt.trackscoreboard.com/meets/31222/events

Wolf Pack Relays Live Results
https://diablotiming.com/results/2022-03-12/

EBAL Center Meet Live Results
http://atwresults.com/atwupload/20220310D/

Halden Invitational Results
https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/441448/results

Hillsdale Knights Relays
http://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2022/hill_res.pdf

Martinez/Tim Bruder Relays Results
https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/455638-martineztim-bruder-relays-2022/results#.Yi4YMxDMLJ8

Mirisoli - White Invitational Results
https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/456301-morisoli-white-invitational-2022/results#.Yi4YehDMLJ8

Sturgeon Invitational Results
https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/465270-sturgeon-invite-2022/results/790759#.Yi4Z0RDMLJ8

Wildcat Relays Results
http://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2022/wc_res.htm

Skyline Co-Ed Twilight Meet Results
https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/444339/results

If you have other links that you want to share, email me those links to albertjcaruana@gmail.com.

Peter Brewer's virtual memorial today at 2pm

Please email me at albertjcaruana@gmail.com and I will share the Zoom link with you.

If you would like to donate, here is a note from his son.

If people want to make a donation in my Dad's name, here is a foundation he was on the advisory committee of that was very important to him.

Please make out donations via check to:

CIF Foundation

4658 Duckhorn Drive

Sacramento, CA 95834

In the memo, mention "In memoriam of Peter Brewer for CIF Cross Country/earmark for Cross Country."

Thank you,

Peter Jr. 

A tribute to Peter Brewer by Amador Valley HS coach, Jason "Ozzie" Oswalt

https://ca.milesplit.com/articles/310972/a-tribute-to-coach-peter-brewer

https://www.berkeleyfriendschurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Peter-Christian-Brewer-Memorial-Meeting-edit.pdf

Benefield: Track named after Courtemarche, a coaching ‘unicorn’

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/benefield-track-named-after-courtemarche-a-coaching-unicorn/

Here is my interview with Doug from November 19, 2015.
http://www.crosscountryexpress.com/2015/11/catching-up-with-santa-rosa-coach-doug.html

NorCal Invitational Results

Dan Gabor Invitational
https://diablotiming.com/results/2022-03-05/

Clayton Valley Ugly Eagles Invitational
https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/455606-clayton-valley-ugly-eagles-invitational-2022/results#.YiSzwBPMLvU

Rustbuster Invitational
http://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2022/rb_res.htm

Ruptier Invitational
https://prepcaltrack.com/2022/03/05/frigid-temps-35-degrees-hinder-ron-ruptier-invitl-sj-0-pct-elite-marks/

Big Cat Invitational
https://redwoodempirerunning.com/

https://redwoodempirerunning.com/2022-boys-big-cat/

https://redwoodempirerunning.com/2022-girls-big-cat/

Sunset Invitational
http://www.rtspt.com/events/cif/2022Meets/sunset/compiled.htm

Upcoming NorCal Invitationals

Dan Gabor Invitational: Meet Info https://diablotiming.com/results/2022-03-05/

Rustbuster Invitational: Lane Assignments http://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2022/rb_pgm.htm

Willow Glen TF Invitational: Meet Info http://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2022/wg_info.pdf

Ruptier Invitational: Live Results link https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2022/ruptier/

Big Cat Preview: https://redwoodempirerunning.com/big-cat-preview/?fbclid=IwAR0PxcKU4mc5yPYfAtTCGTBa_i4pUjKkTLewnOSLkeic9QYyX7PgIen6soc

Remembering Peter Brewer this Sunday

1. An informal Peter Brewer memorial run is happening this Sunday at noon at Canyon Middle School in Castro Valley.  Sounds like the plan is to run on the cross-country course. If the gate to the school is locked, people will park in the neighborhood nearby and hike in.

2. A get-together is happening on Sunday at 2pm at Calicraft in Walnut Creek to honor Peter with ceremonial drinking of beer by coach colleagues and former athletes.

Jack Shepard's HS All-Time Track and Field booklet

My annual reminder that if you want to purchase Jack Shepard's booklet for $15, it is available and you can have it in your hands within one week. Inside the booklet, you will find all the top indoor and outdoor marks from the 2021 season as well as the all-time national marks for indoor and outdoor Track and Field. If you love stats, get this ASAP (sample below for all-time mile list). Well worth the price.

High School Track 2022 (covering the 2021 season) is available.  The price is $15.00.  Make a check or money order payable to Jack Shepard, 14551 Southfield Dr., Westminster, CA  92683

Jack was inducted in the National HS Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2019. This is the introduction video for his induction.

Peter Brewer, Castro Valley HS Hall of Famer

Bumping this to the top. This article was posted on February 14, 2018.

You can also check out my interview with Peter Brewer in 2008 at this link:
http://www.crosscountryexpress.com/2008/11/catching-up-with-castro-valley-coach.html

NorCal results

Gilroy Distance Scrimmage
https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/441308/results/all

Cal All-Comers #2 Results
http://www.rtspt.com/events/cal/21922/results/

Former Castro Valley, Northgate and Alhambra coach Peter Brewer passed away this morning

Some very sad news to pass along. I will share more later. In the meantime, if you have any fond memories of coach Brewer, please share them in the comment section below. RIP Peter.

Here is my interview with Peter from 2008...

http://www.crosscountryexpress.com/2008/11/catching-up-with-castro-valley-coach.html

Free Coaching Webinar - Damon Martin - Adams State

On Thursday (2/17), Head Coach Damon Martin of Adams State will be presenting a free webinar on Practical Tips, Tools & Concepts for Distance Running.  The session will be at 10am Pacific Time.  See the link below to sign up:

https://www.bsnsports.com/ib/cctfweb

17 Inches

I promised myself years ago, every time I saw this I would re-post. Rings true EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.... Here goes!!!

Most people won't take the time to read this all the way to the end. I hope that you will. 17 INCHES" - you will not regret reading this an excellent article to read from beginning to end. Twenty years ago, in Nashville, Tennessee, during the first week of January, 1996, more than 4,000 baseball coaches descended upon the Opryland Hotel for the 52nd annual ABCA's convention. While I waited in line to register with the hotel staff, I heard other more veteran coaches rumbling about the lineup of speakers scheduled to present during the weekend. One name kept resurfacing, always with the same sentiment — “John Scolinos is here? Oh, man, worth every penny of my airfare.” Who is John Scolinos, I wondered. No matter; I was just happy to be there. In 1996, Coach Scolinos was 78 years old and five years retired from a college coaching career that began in 1948. He shuffled to the stage to an impressive standing ovation, wearing dark polyester pants, a light blue shirt, and a string around his neck from which home plate hung — a full-sized, stark-white home plate. Seriously, I wondered, who is this guy? After speaking for twenty-five minutes, not once mentioning the prop hanging around his neck, Coach Scolinos appeared to notice the snickering among some of the coaches. Even those who knew Coach Scolinos had to wonder exactly where he was going with this, or if he had simply forgotten about home plate since he’d gotten on stage. Then, finally … “You’re probably all wondering why I’m wearing home plate around my neck,” he said, his voice growing irascible. I laughed along with the others, acknowledging the possibility. “I may be old, but I’m not crazy. The reason I stand before you today is to share with you baseball people what I’ve learned in my life, what I’ve learned about home plate in my 78 years.” Several hands went up when Scolinos asked how many Little League coaches were in the room. “Do you know how wide home plate is in Little League?” After a pause, someone offered, “Seventeen inches?”, more of a question than answer. “That’s right,” he said. “How about in Babe Ruth’s day? Any Babe Ruth coaches in the house?” Another long pause. “Seventeen inches?” a guess from another reluctant coach. “That’s right,” said Scolinos. “Now, how many high school coaches do we have in the room?” Hundreds of hands shot up, as the pattern began to appear. “How wide is home plate in high school baseball?” “Seventeen inches,” they said, sounding more confident. “You’re right!” Scolinos barked. “And you college coaches, how wide is home plate in college?” “Seventeen inches!” we said, in unison. “Any Minor League coaches here? How wide is home plate in pro ball?”............“Seventeen inches!” “RIGHT! And in the Major Leagues, how wide home plate is in the Major Leagues? “Seventeen inches!” “SEV-EN-TEEN INCHES!” he confirmed, his voice bellowing off the walls. “And what do they do with a Big League pitcher who can’t throw the ball over seventeen inches?” Pause. “They send him to Pocatello !” he hollered, drawing raucous laughter. “What they don’t do is this: they don’t say, ‘Ah, that’s okay, Jimmy. If you can’t hit a seventeen-inch target? We’ll make it eighteen inches or nineteen inches. We’ll make it twenty inches so you have a better chance of hitting it. If you can’t hit that, let us know so we can make it wider still, say twenty-five inches.'” Pause. “Coaches… what do we do when your best player shows up late to practice? or when our team rules forbid facial hair and a guy shows up unshaven? What if he gets caught drinking? Do we hold him accountable? Or do we change the rules to fit him? Do we widen home plate? " The chuckles gradually faded as four thousand coaches grew quiet, the fog lifting as the old coach’s message began to unfold. He turned the plate toward himself and, using a Sharpie, began to draw something. When he turned it toward the crowd, point up, a house was revealed, complete with a freshly drawn door and two windows. “This is the problem in our homes today. With our marriages, with the way we parent our kids. With our discipline. We don’t teach accountability to our kids, and there is no consequence for failing to meet standards. We just widen the plate!” Pause. Then, to the point at the top of the house he added a small American flag. “This is the problem in our schools today. The quality of our education is going downhill fast and teachers have been stripped of the tools they need to be successful, and to educate and discipline our young people. We are allowing others to widen home plate! Where is that getting us?” Silence. He replaced the flag with a Cross. “And this is the problem in the Church, where powerful people in positions of authority have taken advantage of young children, only to have such an atrocity swept under the rug for years. Our church leaders are widening home plate for themselves! And we allow it.” “And the same is true with our government. Our so-called representatives make rules for us that don’t apply to themselves. They take bribes from lobbyists and foreign countries. They no longer serve us. And we allow them to widen home plate! We see our country falling into a dark abyss while we just watch.” I was amazed. At a baseball convention where I expected to learn something about curve balls and bunting and how to run better practices, I had learned something far more valuable. From an old man with home plate strung around his neck, I had learned something about life, about myself, about my own weaknesses and about my responsibilities as a leader. I had to hold myself and others accountable to that which I knew to be right, lest our families, our faith, and our society continue down an undesirable path. “If I am lucky,” Coach Scolinos concluded, “you will remember one thing from this old coach today. It is this: "If we fail to hold ourselves to a higher standard, a standard of what we know to be right; if we fail to hold our spouses and our children to the same standards, if we are unwilling or unable to provide a consequence when they do not meet the standard; and if our schools & churches & our government fail to hold themselves accountable to those they serve, there is but one thing to look forward to …” With that, he held home plate in front of his chest, turned it around, and revealed its dark black backside, “…We have dark days ahead!.” Note: Coach Scolinos died in 2009 at the age of 91, but not before touching the lives of hundreds of players and coaches, including mine. Meeting him at my first ABCA convention kept me returning year after year, looking for similar wisdom and inspiration from other coaches. He is the best clinic speaker the ABCA has ever known because he was so much more than a baseball coach. His message was clear: “Coaches, keep your players—no matter how good they are—your own children, your churches, your government, and most of all, keep yourself at seventeen inches." And this my friends is what our country has become and what is wrong with it today, and now go out there and fix it! "Don't widen the plate."

Former University HS (SF) runner wins gold medal at the Olympics in Freestyle Skiing

https://sports.yahoo.com/raised-in-the-us-skiing-for-china-eileen-gu-is-beijing-2022-s-most-fascinating-athlete-074010013.html

Great Running Vlog (Check it out!)

If you are interested in learning more about the sports of Cross Country and Track and Field, check out the Running Vlog linked below. It's run by Lance Retz who is an 8th grader in Illinois. His dad is a highly successful coach at St. Joseph Ogden HS which was featured in the book, "Consistency is Key" by Jay Johnson. At the following link, you will find many interviews that I am positive will be enjoyed by athletes and coaches alike. They include interviews with Olympian Andrew Wheating, Coach Jay Johnson, former Stanford runner Chris Derrick, Coach John O'Malley, and many more. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC105p2NHFEy0de3zu-fBw1Q/videos

Here is the latest video with Plainfield North Coaches Andy Derks and Tony Holler. Holler is famous for his "Feed the Cats" program.

Wildwood Running this weekend at University HS (Sign up now)

Wildwood Running is hosting a clinic this weekend on February 5th & 6th in the Bay Area. Wildwood Running was created by two longtime runners and now coaches (Marie Davis Markham and Robyn McGillis) in Portland, Oregon to support, teach, empower and connect young female distance runners. This clinic will support coaches and athletes to understand how to support female runners during middle school and high school, an important time in their life. 

Wildwood Running has hosted multiple clinics and camps, some virtual and some in person. This is the first time they are taking a clinic on the road. With co-host Carin Marrs of SF University HS, they have created a lineup focused on topics that will honor each female runner's individual journey touching on their unique differences to males as well as their changing bodies.

Winter is the perfect time to regroup and add skills to your toolkit and walk away motivated. Wildwood will bring experts in mental health, nutrition, positive mindset, female physiology, and more together for a one-day coaches clinic followed by a one-day athlete clinic.  

February 5, 2022 - COACH CLINIC: 9am - 4pm

Kara Bazzi - Relationship to Food

Chuck Woolridge - Coaching girls vs boys

Deborah Munch - Mindset Skills

Emily Kraus - Periods, Puberty, RED-S

Carin Marrs - Team Culture

February 6, 2022 - ATHLETE CLINIC:  9am - 4pm

Kara Bazzi - Relationship to Food

Deborah Munch - Mindset Skills

Emily Kraus/Abby McIntyre - Periods, Puberty, RED-S

Robyn McGillis/Julia Green - Team Culture/Leadership

Marie Davis Markham - Girls Talk

Dena Evans - Expert Coach

Location: San Francisco University HS: 3065 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Tickets: Coaches: $85 for first 20 tickets sold ($95 after) // Athletes: $80

Scholarships are available upon request. We have three full-price scholarships available for athletes. Send an email to marie@wildwoodrunning.com as to why you or your athlete should be considered for the scholarship. We can also support partial scholarships. Just reach out to us.

Registration and more information are available at wildwoodrunning.com. 

Weekend results

Cal All-Comers Meet: 
http://www.rtspt.com/events/cal/12922/compiled.pdf

California Winter Championships:
https://prepcaltrack.com/2022/01/29/jserra-girls-scorch-the-4x800-relay-to-highlight-the-california-winter-championships/

NorCal Best at every event for upcoming Track and Field season

Just to be clear, I used last year's performances as a starting point. Some events have clear favorites (both boy's hurdles for example) and some have not so clear favorites. In those instances, I picked the more consistent performer. It's tough to just pick out one athlete in some events but that was my task. Feel free to continue the discussion in the comment section below.

BOYS

100m-Nathan Kent Rocklin (SJS)

200m-Nathan Kent Rocklin (SJS)

400m-Nathan Kent Rocklin (SJS)

800m-Yutaka Roberts El Camino (CCS)

1600m-Jeremy Kain Scotts Valley (CCS)

3200m-Alex Mader Lick-Wilmerding (NCS)

110m Hurdles-Jadyn Marshall Lincoln, Stockton (SJS)

300m Hurdles-Jadyn Marshall Lincoln, Stockton (SJS)

Long Jump-Andrew Fu Harker (CCS)

Triple Jump-Sean Huckleberry University (NCS)

High Jump-Ray Oldham Davis (SJS)

Pole Vault-Ian Strode Turlock (SJS)

Shot Put-Jacob Kiesman Valley Christian SJ (CCS)

Discus-Matteo Mitchell Clayton Valley Charter (NCS)

GIRLS

100m-Kylee Redman Turlock (SJS)

200m-Nairobi Smith International (NCS)

400m-Cate Peters Monte Vista (NCS)

800m-Samira Kennedy Castilleja (CCS)

1600m-Riley Chamberlain Del Oro (SJS)

3200m-Sophia Nordenholz Albany (NCS)

100m Hurdles-Y'Vette Harris Lincoln, Stockton (SJS)

300m Hurdles-Alison Tjoe Lynbrook (CCS)

Long Jump-Julia Alexander St. Mary's, Berkeley (NCS)

Triple Jump-Anela Thomas St. Mary's, Berkeley (NCS)

High Jump-Mara Lampsas California (NCS)

Pole Vault-Lily Mulligan Maria Carrillo (NCS)

Shot Put-Galadriel Mellion Weston Ranch (SJS)

Discus-Galadriel Mellion Weston Ranch (SJS)

2022 Preliminary Track and Field Schedule

All Sanctioned CCS meets are posted HERE.
ca.milesplit.com Calendar is posted HERE.

February 18: Gilroy Distance Scrimmage at Gilroy HS
February 25: 12th Winter Time Trials at Watsonville HS
February 26: Super 7 Invitational at Diablo Valley College

March 4: LeFebvre Relays at Placer HS
March 4: Sunset Invitational at Kezar Stadium
March 5: Big Cat Invitational at Santa Rosa HS
March 5: Rustbuster Invitational at Monta Vista HS
March 5: Dan Gabor Invitational at Amador Valley HS
March 5: Santa Cruz Coast Relays at Aptos HS
March 5: Time Trials at North Salinas HS
March 5: Willow Glen HS Track Invitational at Willow Glen HS
March 5: Clayton Valley Ugly Eagles Relays at Clayton Valley HS
March 5: Sacramento State Classic at Cal State Sacramento
March 5: Welton/Moore Relays at Grant HS
March 12: KBell Invitational at Westmont HS
March 12: Fighting Knight Relays at Hillsdale HS
March 12: 49th Wildcat Relays at Watsonville HS
March 12: Wolfpack Relays at Merrill West HS
March 12: Freshman Focus at Everett
March 19: Dublin Distance Fiesta at Dublin HS
March 19: Saint Francis Track & Field Invitational at St. Francis HS
March 19: Garlic Classic at Christopher HS
March 19: San Leandro Invitational at San Leandro HS
March 19: TKA Track and Field Invitational at The King's Academy
March 25: PCS Invitational hosted by Pacific Collegiate School
March 25: TKA Distance Carnival at The King's Academy
March 26: Avis Kelley Invitational at Gilroy HS
March 26: Firebird Relays at Fremont, Sunnyvale HS
March 26: Eagle Classic at Everett

April 1-2: Stanford Invitational at Stanford University
April 2: Pacific Grove Rotary Invitational hosted by Pacific Grove
April 2: Quicksilver Invitational at Leland HS
April 8: O'Condon Invitational at North Monterey County HS
April 8-9: Arcadia Invitational at Arcadia HS
April 9: De Anza/Cupertino Invitational at De Anza College
April 9: Bill Kearney Invitational hosted by Salinas HS
April 16: Knights Invite at Soquel HS
April 16: Last Chance Meet at Los Altos HS
April 22: CCS Top 8 meet at Los Gatos HS
April 23: Northern California Frosh/Soph Championships at Dublin HS

May 14: NCS Tri-Valley at TBA
May 21: Central Coast Section Final at TBA
May 21: North Coast Section MOC at Dublin HS
May 27/28: California State Meet at Buchanan HS

More will be posted in a moment...

After one year as a pro, a breakthrough for Fiona O’Keeffe

http://www.fast-women.org/2022/01/24/after-one-year-as-a-pro-a-breakthrough-for-fiona-okeeffe/

It doesn't cost anything to be nice

At a Touchdown Club meeting many years ago, Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant told the following story:

I had just been named the new head coach at Alabama and was off in my old car down in South Alabama recruiting a prospect who was supposed to have been a pretty good player, and I was having trouble finding the place.

Getting hungry, I spied an old cinderblock building with a small sign out front that simply said "Restaurant." I pull up, go in, and every head in the place turns to stare at me. Seems I'm the only white fella in the place. But the food smelled good, so I skip a table and go up to a cement bar and sit. A big ole man in a tee shirt and cap comes over and says, "What do you need?"

I told him I needed lunch and what did they have today?

He says, "You probably won't like it here. Today we're having chitlins, collard greens and black-eyed peas with cornbread. I'll bet you don't even know what chitlins are, do you?"(small intestines of hogs prepared as food in the deep South)

I looked him square in the eye and said, "I'm from Arkansas , and I've probably eaten a mile of them. Sounds like I'm in the right place."

They all smiled as he left to serve me up a big plate. When he comes back he says, "You ain't from around here then?"

I explain I'm the new football coach up in Tuscaloosa at the University and I'm here to find whatever that boy's name was, and he says, "Yeah I've heard of him, he's supposed to be pretty good." And he gives me directions to the school so I can meet him and his coach. As I'm paying up to leave, I remember my manners and leave a tip, not too big to be flashy, but a good one, and he told me lunch was on him, but I told him for a lunch that good, I felt I should pay. The big man asked me if I had a photograph or something he could hang up to show I'd been there. I was so new that I didn't have any yet. It really wasn't that big a thing back then to be asked for, but I took a napkin and wrote his name and address on it and told him I'd get him one.

I met the kid I was looking for later that afternoon and I don't remember his name, but do remember I didn't think much of him when I met him.

I had wasted a day, or so I thought. When I got back to Tuscaloosa late that night, I took that napkin from my shirt pocket and put it under my keys so I wouldn't forget it. Back then I was excited that anybody would want a picture of me. The next day we found a picture and I wrote on it, "Thanks for the best lunch I've ever had."

Now let's go a whole buncha years down the road. Now we have black players at Alabama and I'm back down in that part of the country scouting an offensive lineman we sure needed. Y'all remember, (and I forget the name, but it's not important to the story), well anyway, he's got two friends going to Auburn and he tells me he's got his heart set on Auburn too, so I leave empty handed and go on to see some others while I'm down there.

Two days later, I'm in my office in Tuscaloosa and the phone rings and it's this kid who just turned me down, and he says, "Coach, do you still want me at Alabama ?"

And I said, "Yes I sure do." And he says OK, he'll come.

And I say, "Well son, what changed your mind?"

And he said, "When my grandpa found out that I had a chance to play for you and said no, he pitched a fit and told me I wasn't going nowhere but Alabama, and wasn't playing for nobody but you. He thinks a lot of you and has ever since y'all met."

Well, I didn't know his granddad from Adam's housecat so I asked him who his granddaddy was and he said, "You probably don't remember him, but you ate in his restaurant your first year at Alabama and you sent him a picture that he's had hung in that place ever since. That picture's his pride and joy and he still tells everybody about the day that Bear Bryant came in and had chitlins with him..."

"My grandpa said that when you left there, he never expected you to remember him or to send him that picture, but you kept your word to him and to Grandpa, that's everything. He said you could teach me more than football and I had to play for a man like you, so I guess I'm going to."

I was floored. But I learned that the lessons my mama taught me were always right. It don't cost nuthin' to be nice. It don't cost nuthin' to do the right thing most of the time, and it costs a lot to lose your good name by breaking your word to someone.

When I went back to sign that boy, I looked up his Grandpa and he's still running that place, but it looks a lot better now. And he didn't have chitlins that day, but he had some ribs that would make Dreamland proud. I made sure I posed for a lot of pictures; and don't think I didn't leave some new ones for him, too, along with a signed football.

I made it clear to all my assistants to keep this story and these lessons in mind when they're out on the road. If you remember anything else from me, remember this. It really doesn't cost anything to be nice, and the rewards can be unimaginable.

Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant