Oak Ridge coach awaits decision on suspension

Bob Wright, longtime coach at Oak Ridge HS is in the midst of a suspension following his involvement with the Clasico Mile last spring. You can read all about this at this LINK.

Benefield: Sonoma Academy's Andre Williams turning on the jets in cross country

It was not your normal pre-race prep.

The Sonoma Academy cross country team was scheduled to compete at the 35th annual Mariner Invitational in Hayward on Saturday. Normally, an out-of-town meet calls for demands of early bedtimes and proper hydration the night before.

Granted, the Mariner is not a huge race, but it can be hugely important for some runners at this point in the season because it’s on the same Hayward High School course that will be used for the North Coast Section race on Nov. 17.

But Saturday was also the day after Sonoma Academy’s homecoming dance.
And senior Andre Williams may run light and fluid, but apparently, he dances hard

To read the rest of this article, go to this LINK.

Look who’s back: Norwegian pole vault prodigy returns to Davis

Sondre Guttormsen just vaulted 18'0" at the Reno Pole Vault Summit held on January 11th to become the 2nd high schooler to vault over 18'0". He is attending Davis HS (SJS) after his family returned to the Sacramento area. He has also committed to UCLA once out of HS. According to the newspaper article at this LINK, his eligibility is under question but I have also read that he may be eligible as well. I will do a little more digging to find out if he will actually be able to compete or not. If someone out there is aware of the decision, please chime in below.

Update #1: According to his dad on Twitter, he is eligible to compete for Davis HS.

Update #2: It's been confirmed that he will be able to participate fully for Davis HS in the spring. You will need to surpass 18 feet this year if you want to win the Pole Vault at the CA state meet. Only one other state surpasses that standard. Any guesses?

Update #3: Here is an update from California MileSplit in regards to his eligibility found at this LINK.

Cross country coaches lean on each other in wildfires' wake

You can check out the article in yesterday's Press Democrat at this LINK.

Also, MileSplit reached out to several local coaches including Carrie Joseph at Santa Rosa and Gregg Fogg at Maria Carrillo. You can check out that article at this LINK.

Lastly, somebody posted the following comment in regards to donations for the fire victims:
"Please let your community know Fleet Feet Sports Santa Rosa is also taking donations of running clothes, shoes, sports bras etc. to distribute to fire victims."

Girl's SCCAL Track & Field: Aptos shuts down Zlatunich after leg injury

One of the top distance runners in the Central Coast Section is out for the season.

https://register-pajaronian.com/article/girls-sccal-track-field-aptos-shuts-down-zlatunich-after-leg-injury

Listen up, coaches: Watch out for hidden recording devices

As if coach's jobs are not difficult enough, here is a new wrinkle that you should be wary of when addressing your teams. 

http://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/varsity-times/la-sp-coach-recordings-sondheimer-20170427-story.html

Excellent Track and Field coverage by local newspapers

3 excellent articles below covering the sport of Track and Field. If you enjoy reading any or all of the articles, please reach out to them and thank them for their coverage. 

Run for ages: Bay Area high school star breaks longstanding records
St. Joseph Notre Dame’s Cooper Teare eclipses meet, NCS marks in 3,200 at Arcadia Invitational.
By Darren Sabedra

Track: Records fall at 50th annual Arcadia Invitational
Oldest mark, set in 1976, broken as top 25 times in boys 3,200 meters achieved in a single race
By Vytas Mazeka

Benefield: Rain brings out the best in Empire track athletes
By Kerry Benefield

Padecky: A quarter-century of smiles for Santa Rosa cross country coach Doug Courtemarche

A great article about longtime Santa Rosa High School coach, Doug Courtemarche can be found at this LINK.

You can also check out my interview with Doug at this LINK. Definitely one of the good guys in our profession and sports and worth taking the time to read about another coach who has invested so much in our two great sports.

Giving thanks: Drake High runners rally around coach Bill Taylor for next Arete trip

http://www.marinij.com/sports/20161123/giving-thanks-drake-high-runners-rally-around-coach-bill-taylor-for-next-arete-trip

Track and Field newspaper coverage

Track star Cooper Teare notches top national time
Armijo’s Grijalva sets new city 3,200 record (also includes Lance Invitational coverage at Cordova HS)

Trinity County teen aces ACT test

Along with recording a perfect score of 36 on the ACT exam, Ben Harper (Trinity HS in Northern Section) made the podium this past XC season by finishing in 10th place in Division V race at CA state meet. He also has PRs of 1:59.11, 4:23.47 and 9:28.28.

Newspaper article link HERE.

Joy of sports experienced by Alhambra High sophomore

http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_29237079/joy-sports-experienced-by-alhambra-high-sophomore

Section newspaper coverage

North Coast Section
St. Joseph Notre Dame's Cooper Teare sets goal for NCS cross country
Running Lions, Tigers set for NCS Cross-Country (El Molino)
Prep cross country season running toward a conclusion (Petaluma)
Leary leads 'wacky, competitive' Drake boys into North Coast Section

Central Coast Section
Literally seconds away: Cross Country Championships has heartbreak, joy all in one
Cougars win CCS cross-country championship (Half Moon Bay)
Milpitas: Cross country boys place 8th and girls 15th finals
Campbell: Prospect girls, Dons' Nunez finish strong at CCS meet, qualify for state
LA runner Jacob wins CCS title for a third time
San Jose: Willow Glen boys run to second at CCS, qualify for the state meet
CCS girls cross country: Meeks, Jacob, Marsheck win individual crowns
CCS boys cross country: Paly's Slaney sizzles in winning Division I title
Tie goes to the Crystal XC runners
Cupertino, Sunnyvale: Robison is the fastest finisher at CCS finals

Sac-Joaquin Section
BLACK FRIDAY DASH: Nine Placer winners qualify for the CIF Cross Country Championships
Cross-country: Kimball senior 13 seconds shy of state meet
End of the road for cross country (Oakdale)
Runners wrap up cross country seasons at section meet (Napa)
Cat runners Land, McIlroy win section (Sonora)
Local runners place at section championship (Tuolumne and Calaveras County)
Blue Devil girls cruise to cross country crown
Vernau wins individual title but Marauders edge Devils

Running for everything that is Middletown

By Brian Sumpter, Lake County Record-Bee

CALISTOGA >> If you had time to grab only one or two things from your house before fleeing in the face of a devastating firestorm, what would they be?

It’s not a hypothetical question if you are Diego Munoz of the Middletown High School cross country team. Munoz, who had to make exactly that decision on Saturday evening before evacuating his home in Hidden Valley Lake, one that may not be standing any longer, decided to take his cross country medals and a picture of him and his grandfather.

“That’s how much running means to him,” said Melanie Martinez of her son. “It (running) is one of the only things he has left. We don’t know if we still have a home.”

The Valley Fire, which devastated the communities of Hidden Valley Lake, Cobb and Middletown on Saturday night into Sunday, has scattered the Middletown High School sports community like leaves in a heavy wind. This coming Saturday, the cross country runners plan to do something about it. They will run in the Viking Invitational at Spring Lake in Santa Rosa. They won’t be running for personal or team glory. They will be running for each other, for their teammates now left homeless by a fire that has destroyed more than 600 homes, but most of all they will run for their communities, defying all the adversity, all the loss, all the suffering that has been piled on their young shoulders in less than a week’s time.

To read the rest of the article, go to this link:
http://www.record-bee.com/sports/20150917/running-for-everything-that-is-middletown

Also, preview article for the Viking Opener which will also have a donation booth for the victims of the recent fires.
Empire cross country season off and running with Viking Opener

Prep cross country: Redwood boys, Tam girls win Stinson Beach Relays

http://www.marinij.com/sports/20150909/prep-cross-country-redwood-boys-tam-girls-win-stinson-beach-relays

Check out my twitter account @CCExpress for other newspaper article links.

Sonoma County high school track athletes face graduation conflict

As we hit May, championship track season looms as well as proms and graduation conflicts. It happens every year when high school students have to choose between multiple events. It's not always an easy decision as students can be pulled in different directions by friends, family, coaches etc. I think schools can be more proactive about avoiding such conflicts but that is definitely not always the case. Have you had to make such a decision? What led you to your decision? What would you do if you had to choose between competing at the state meet and graduation? Section meet and the prom?

Here is an article from Friday's Santa Rosa Press Democrat that talks about choices that have had to be made by current and former Sonoma County athletes:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/home/3863757-181/sonoma-county-high-school-track

Track and field: Freshmen girls lead way at Big Cat Invitational by Jim Crowhurst

Santa Rosa freshman, Kirsten Carter to the left courtesy of Michael Lucid. She won the 100m. (12.31), long jump (18'11") and anchored winning 4 x 400m. relay team in 57.8 at the Big Cat Invitational.

Check out article in today's Press Democrat at this LINK which also details fellow freshman phenom, Rylee Bowen of Sonoma Academy.

Ex Cross Country Runner, Robin Williams (Posted 2/18/08) RIP

While most know him for his comedic work and movies, Robin Williams is also a former North Coast Section cross country runner at Redwood HS. I have also heard that he broke 2 minutes in the 800m. but I can't confirm that he actually ran that fast (can anybody verify this claim?). He has been an avid cyclist for years and attends many cycling events such as the recent Tour of California.

You can read more about Mr. Williams in this article in the Marin Independent Journal:
•Dave Albee: Robin Williams spices up Tour of California for Marin crowd

Also from Redwood Empire Running Blog:
http://running.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/14535/robin-williams-runner/

And ESPN.com:
http://espn.go.com/blog/endurance/post/_/id/2341/robin-williams-cross-country-runner-track-star#comments

Track and Field Post-Season Awards

Central Coast Section
Terra Nova's Jeremy Wright is Mercury News boys track athlete of year
Piedmont Hills' Reonna Collier is Mercury News girls track athlete of year
Menlo's Maddy Price saves best for last
Serra's Kyle Orloff sets high standard

North Coast Section
East Bay Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year: Mecca McGlaston, Dublin
East Bay Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year: Nate Moore, Castro Valley
East Bay Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year: Jeff Rogers, St. Mary's
East Bay Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year: Dooney Jones, Castro Valley
All-East Bay Boys Track and Field first team capsules
All-East Bay Girls Track and Field first-team capsules
Prep boys track athlete of the year: Fred Huxham
Prep girls track athlete of the year: Julia Maxwell

Sac-Joaquin Section
Golden Valley’s Pust, Buhach’s Coward are Sun-Star’s Track and Field Athletes of the Year

Central Section
Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year Mikaela Smith of Clovis North
Girls Track & Field Outstanding Track Athlete
Girls Track & Field Outstanding Field Athlete
Girls Track & Field First Team, Honorable Mentions
Girls Track & Field Coach of the Year
Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year Kevin Nutt of Edison
Boys Track & Field Outstanding Track Athlete
Boys Track & Field Outstanding Field Athlete
The Bee's Spring All-Stars: Boys Track & Field First Team
Boys Track & Field Honorable Mentions

James Logan student overcomes tragedies to reach state track meet

James Logan student overcomes tragedies to reach state track meet

Also by Phil Jenson
http://www.ibabuzz.com/prepcorner/2014/06/03/frank-kurtz-withdraws-from-state-meet-due-to-injury/