Newspaper articles covering the first day of competition at the CA state meet...

Pinewood's Gradiska has top mark in 100 (mercurynews.com)

Del Oro's Landry qualifies for state pole vault finals (sacbee.com)

Pressure no problem for De La Salle's Wheeler (contracostatimes.com)

Live Blog: CIF State Track and Field Championships (contracostatimes.com)

Purvis false starts in 100 but wins 200 heat (contracostatimes.com)

Defending champ Purvis DQ'd in 100 qualifying heat (SF Chronicle)

State Track and Field Championships: Sanders off to good start, earns Santa Cruz High's first finals appearance in 40 years. (Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Pinewood's Gradiska advances in state track (Palo Alto online)

Live Results from CA State Meet...

http://www.sml1.com/recordtiming/cif2009

Who are the Northern California athletes with the best shot of winning a state meet title(s)?

What I did was include athletes whose marks are in the top 3 on the performance list of the trials events. One athlete whose section mark did not make the top 3 in her event but is included in the poll is Justine Fedronic who currently has the fastest time in the state. Feel free to add any athletes who you feel belong in the conversation in the comment box below. (It's been confirmed that Justine Fedronic will not be racing this weekend as she has been diagnosed with a stress fracture)

You may vote for more than one athlete.

You can explain why you voted for a certain athlete and why you feel they have a great shot to win in the comment box below.

Who is a lock to win? Is there such a thing from Northern California? Are there athletes who are locks to win from anywhere in the state?

Can anybody identify what year the picture above was taken and who is the winning athlete?

Thank you in advance for taking part in the poll.

Pre State Track and Field Meet Newspaper Articles...

As we head towards the state meet this Friday and Saturday, here are a few newspaper articles detailing some of the competitors in one of the top track meets in the United States. I will post more as I find them.

Sprinting for an enduring legacy (SF Chronicle article about Ashton Purvis)

Sean Combs has designs on state medals (insidebayarea.com)

Local girls get it done at CCS meet (Los Altos Town Crier)

High school track’s biggest stage calls 13 local athletes (granitebaypt.com)

Metro area track and field leaders (SF Chronicle-top area times before state meet)

Northern Section track champs decided (willows-journal.com)

High schools: Memorable moments at sectionals (SF Chronicle)

Tracy Sports Notebook: A member of state's discus elite (insidebayarea.com)

Catching up with Burlingame HS runner, Rogan Meza...

Today's interview is with recently graduated Burlingame HS runner, Rogan Meza, who just recently finished in 4th place in the 1600m. at the CCS finals (Rogan is 3rd from the left in the adjoining picture). As disappointing as 4th place can be to any CCS track and field athletes, Rogan's 4th place finish was anything but disappointing as he completed a senior season with many accolades and achievements. If CCS gave out a most improved award for any of it's athletes, Rogan would have been one of the leading candidates as you will see below.

1) How did you get started in the sport of running (xc and track and field)?
Freshman year I didn't run cross country, only track. My family gave me the push to run.

2) What other sports did you participate in besides those two?
Freshman year I tried out for football and soccer but got cut from both. In sophomore I played basketball.

3) When do you feel like you made the decision to crank up your training and succeed in both sports?
The summer going into senior year.

4) Looking back at your senior season in cross country, what do you feel was your best race of the season?
I am going to say the state meet because I ran my personal best pace wise which was 5:27 pace. I ran that smarter than most other runners by going out slower and not going out with the leaders. My teammate, Max, went out in 5:00 and I went out in 5:10 but i came back in 16:54 and he came back in 17:16.

5) Before the summers before your junior season and senior seasons, what were the biggest differences training wise between the two?
I ran more consistently over the summer in senior than junior year. Not a lot of miles but a good base which really helped.

6) What were your PRs on the track following your junior season in the 800, 1600 and 3200? What are your PRs for those races now?
Junior year in the 800 I ran 2:13, 1600 was 4:46, and the 3200 was 10:28. Now in the 800 I run a 2:02, 1600 is 4:21, and the 3200 is 9:39.

7) You qualified for the state meet in cross country. Following that season, did you feel like you had a shot at the state meet in track and if so, what event?
I never felt like I had a chance to make state in track until league finals in the 1600. But in January and February I thought the 3200 was going to be my best event and be able to CCS finals.

8) What race during this past season really gave you the confidence that the state meet was a real possibility?
My league finals (PALs) 1600 meter victory over Daniel Filipcik. I ran a 4:24 while leading most of laps 1, 2, and 4. I never led lap 3. To see Obbie's (Rogan's coach) face of how proud of me was amazing and gave me confidence.

9) What were some of the workouts that you did on the track this past season that you feel helped you achieve your success in league and CCS?
I did a lot of 400's. I would do anywhere from 12 to 20 of them at a time. Mostly by myself. I had teammates who would run their lasts one with me but I would keep going by running usually 75's or faster and then getting in the low 60's in the last few.

10) What was your game plan going into the CCS 1600m. final and how did the race unfold for you?
I had no plan but to just try and get third. First lap, I went out in a 65 or a 66 while everyone went out in a 62, 63, 64. I was relaxed. i was back in 10th place after lap 1. In lap 2, I surged up to about 5th or 6th and just relaxed running a 2:11, 2:12 for the 800. Lap 3 was just the same, I was relaxed I let some people pass me but not enough where i couldn't catch them, running a 3:19, 3:20. Lap 4 all hell broke loose. I was in 4th or 5th starting the lap and was about to go. Then about 3 to 5 guys crashed in and almost knocked me out of bounds. I got really scared and started to run in lanes 2 and 3. Greg Innes from S.I. passed me with 300 meters to go and I went with him knowing that we were the two competing for that number 3 spot. We passed about 4 to 6 guys on the last lap. With a 100 meters to go he swung out to lap 2 and I swung out to lap 3. We were sprinting down the straight away knowing that one of us was going to go get that third spot. I missed state by .6 of second but did get a PR. I am happy with what happened during my senior year of track. Going to state would have been icing on the cake.

11) Tell us a little about your coach and how he has helped you develop into the runner you are today.
Obbie. Wow, one of the greatest persons I have ever met in my entire life. He works hard for those who work hard for him. He treated me like a son and I have no problem calling him second father. He has helped me become the runner I am today by motivation and confidence. There are not enough words to describe this man. The one that comes to my mind first is amazing. I could write an essay on how this man changed my life.

12) What are your running goals for the future?
I don't have to many goals right now. I will be running for Chico State next year. I plan on competing in the 5k, 10k, and 3k steeplechase. No times are set yet I always do those the season before it happens.

13) Anything else you would like to add.
Missing graduation to run CCS finals was one of the best choices I have ever done. I live to run.

To follow up on Rogan's last statement, here is a link talking about that situation and the wonderful act of the Burlingame principal:
http://www.dyestatcal.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2009/bhs_grad.htm

Thank you very much Rogan. AJC

Catching up with Gunn HS coach Ernie Lee...

Today's interview is with the head coach of Gunn HS, Ernie Lee. Gunn finished in 2nd place as a team in the girl's competition just behind CCS Champions Leland HS. Besides his balanced girls' team that scored points in multiple events (running and field), Gunn also qualified boys in the 100/200, 3200 and high jump in the CCS Finals. Ernie has also coached several individual and team CCS champions in cross country. Ernie can be seen pictured to the left, closely trailing a teammate, competing during his high school years for the same team he now coaches.

1) How did you get started in the sports of track and field and cross country? What other sports did you do during your youth?
I started running track and cross country in middle school, but started out as a sprinter and a jumper. As I got older, I stopped getting faster so I just kept moving up in distance. I didn't do any other sports seriously, just a few years of Little League baseball.

2) When did you first realize that you might want to get into coaching?
By the end of high school, I thought that it would be fun to come back and coach, but I didn't consider it seriously until after college. Every year, Gunn has an Alumni cross country race and when I came back and ran in it my first year of grad school, Coach Hal Daner asked if I wanted to help out with the cross country team. It sounded like fun so I agreed to do it.

3) How long have you been at Gunn HS as an assistant and head coach?
I began as a volunteer assistant in the fall of 1994. I took over as head coach in 2001.

4) Hal Daner was the longtime head coach at Gunn HS and is currently the weight coach for your team. Tell us a little about his influence on the Gunn Hs track and cross country teams.
Hal Daner has been a tremendous influence on me both as a coach and as a person. He was the one who established the tone and the philosophy of the team, and I have just continued it. Simply put, everything we do is focused on providing a positive experience for every kid on the team.

5) Besides Hal, what other coaches have had an influence on your coaching and that you considered as role models?
Hank Lawson (the current Lynbrook coach) was my distance coach in high school and, for better or worse, his personality has definitely influenced mine. My college coach, Larry Ellis, showed me how running can teach life lessons and also how a coach should treat his athletes.

In terms of training, we basically follow a Jack Daniels-style approach (lots of pace work and tempos with almost everything based on current race paces). I also borrow a lot from Joe Rubio of the Asics Aggies, especially in terms of ramping up training after a break (returning from injury, for example).

I'm also a pretty big leech of ideas from other current coaches. I try to attend as many clinics as I can. I pick the brains and "talk shop" with everyone I can. I've gotten great advice from Paul Jones over at Paly in terms of managing over-committed Palo Alto overachievers. Willie Harmatz has been very generous in sharing workout ideas geared towards 800 runners. Discussions with Evan Smith from Mountain View have helped me plan out team-oriented goals. I've blatantly copied Aptos' Dan Gruber's approach to off-season training.

6) Describe some of your accomplishments as a cross country and track coach as well as some of your most memorable highlights.
I'm most proud of the fact that for many of my former athletes, running has remained a part of their lives. Although we haven't had a lot of kids competing in college, there have been a large number who have completed marathons or who continue to participate in road races. On our track staff this season, four of our coaches are Gunn alums and two were athletes that I had coached. Several other former athletes are coaching or have coached at other schools.

7) Gunn HS had over 200 track members this past season. What do you think are key reasons that attracted so many students to the track and field team?
Well, freshmen and sophomores can get out of PE by doing a sport and track is a non-cut sport. That said, we do focus on a "family" style social team that appeals to a lot of kids.

8) From your beginning as a new coach to now, in what areas do you feel like you have changed as a coach?
Over the years, I've pushed more and more responsibility onto the kids. They handle completely things like team t-shirts and pasta feeds. Invitational meets are all optional and they have to tell me if they want to compete in them. I've also stopped bringing extra uniforms to meets. So if a kid forgets their uniform, then they have to borrow one one their own or they don't compete. So basically, I've just gotten lazy in my old age.

9) You had numerous distance runners in the CCS finals. What do you think are the key reasons for the success of those athletes?
Far and away, the key reason for the success is the kids themselves. We are very lucky to have a large group of motivated and compassionate runners. The leaders on the team, particularly seniors Allegra Mayer and Tara Saxena, have created an atmosphere where the kids not only enjoy being on the team and hanging out together, but also want to push themselves and each other to be the best runners they can. During most hard workouts, many kids ask to run more and are disappointed when we cut them off.

Also important is the influence of our distance coach, Matt Tompkins. He devised all the workouts for the 1600-3200 runners and is particularly good at planning race strategy. He also relates very well to the kids (he's the young, crazy, emotional coach while I'm the old, serious, calm one).

10) Tell us a little about your involvement at the state level in both sports.
For several years, I was on the State Advisory Committee for cross country and track and field. That gave me an appreciation for the hard work and effort folks like Hal Harkness put forth for the betterment of the sport. It also showed me what it takes to get things changed (like at-large qualifying to the state meet in track) and understanding why certain processes must be followed.

11) What would be your best pieces of advice for a new coach?
Don't be afraid to show your enthusiasm. Maybe not right away, but the kids will respond.

Thank you very much for your time Ernie!  AJC

Interview with Erik Olson courtesy of flotrack.org

Early Results from NCS Meet of Champions...

http://www.ibabuzz.com/prepcorner/2009/05/30/live-track-and-field-blog-ncs-meet-of-champions/

Catching up with San Mateo's Kendall Spencer...

I thought I would move up the interview I did with Kendall Spencer, this past January, following his three victories last night at the CCS meet in the 100, 200 and LJ. Spencer also led San Mateo HS to a 2nd place finish as a team with the 30 point he accumulated in his three victories.

Also, here are a couple of articles from today's papers covering his exploits from yesterday.

San Mateo's Spencer is 3-time winner (SF Chronicle)

Spencer takes three CCS events (San Mateo County Times)

Today we chat with San Mateo senior, Kendall Spencer who had quite a season last year. Largely unknown to most track fans before the season, Spencer won the 100m. and long jump and finished 2nd in the 200m. at the '08 CCS meet. His victory in the long jump was with a margin of victory of close to a foot over the 2nd. place finisher and an impressive 23'6.5" mark. With his state meet experience last year, Spencer is gunning for more this year as you will see by his goals for this season.

1) What sports have you played?
Wow that's a big one. I've competed in :Taekwondo, wrestling, football, track, hip=hop dance .

2) How did you decide to get involved in Track and Field?
Well track has always been on my mind. I ran in middle school and when I got to high school I just wrestled and played football up until my sophomore year. When my friend got injured and Coach Riley saw me practicing and asked if I had thought about the program.

3) What was the reason you decided to give up football?
Giving up football during my senior year was the hardest sacrifice I've ever made but a lot of my coaches, mentors and parents told me that I should go and perfect my gift. Despite how stubborn I was at first, I decided to roll with it and during that time I focused on things like academics, strength training etc.

4) When did you first realize that you could be pretty good in track?
Let's see the first...haha I'd say serra top 7 at the end of my sophomore year. I hadn't had any previous training on jumps and i popped up to 20ft and then in the100m I didn't use blocks because i didn't know how and I won the race which was a great experience.

5) Favorite event? Favorite meet? Favorite competitor? Favorite workout? Least favorite workout (although it's good for you anyway)?
My favorite event : Long Jump. Favorite meet: Serra Top7. Favorite Competitor: Jahvid Best. Favorite Workout: sled pulls. Least favorite worlout:300's (anyone that's ever worked with me will tell you how much I hate these things but they help so much ).

6) Tell us a little about your coach and what he has meant to you in your progression to the runner you are today.
We've got an awesome coaching staff. Coach Michon and Coach Anderson have both inspired me to be the best and at the same time make practice fun. My head coach Ed Riley has in a way played the role of a godparent almost when my parents aren't around or when I'm training he acts like a father to me whether it's checking consistently on my grades or making sure I'm on time. He's really looked out for me in that way and has ALWAYS made sure I had what I needed. He takes such a good care of his athletes and others as well even though i can't stand 300's and he loves them. I'm willing to do them because I trust him and I know he'd only do things that would help me out.

7) Tell us a little about your first state meet experience. How will it help you this season?
hhaah state was fun just like everywhere I go. I try and have fun and at the same time compete to the level demanded . State was a whole different ball game as I've never been surrounded by so many top athletes. I was able to befriend top athletes like Vashti Thomas, David Henderson, Nelson of El Camino who all helped me in such a way that I even picked up a few training methods while down there. It was a great experience. I went there and performed and because I'm still pretty new at this there's so much I'm going to improve on. That its what I'm training for so this year's going to be exciting .

8) What have you done different this year in preparation for this coming season?
I've done so many things different this year everything from strength traing to eliminating distractions from my training.One thing is I went to a few clinics and met with some coaches who are gonna point me in the right direction and this year I'm debating to train with a track club in san jose for an indoor track season its my last year and I'd like to go out the right way.

9) What are some of your goals for this coming season?
Goals this year are specific marks. I try not to focus on places because if you hit the marks you want then everything will take care of itself: Long jump- consistent 24ft-25ft,100m-10.5 and 200m 21.3.

10) Who have been your role models in the sport (could be on your team, other teams, professional athletes etc.)?
On my team there's even people that I look up to that work hard Jon Ocon, Louis Dressel. Other athletes like Jahvid Best and Bismark Navarro. Professionally I look at Walter Dix and Carl Lewis.

11) A student is undecided about doing track. What would your advice to him or her be? Why should they try out track?
To someone not sure, I'd tell them that I was in their same position at one point and track is alot more then the 300's or long hill runs. You meet an amazing amount of people and expose yourself to diversity like no other sport. Coming from someone whose done an immense amount of athletics, it's great to say that track is such a benefit health wise and for networking. I've become closer to people in the track arena and my team especially more then anywhere else and you can travel and see this amazing land we've been blessed with Go for it!(stay humble).

12) Anything else you would like to add.
Just to every athlete out there to just have fun with it and don't forget the reason why you train and compete. Don't let anyone look down on you because you're young, undersized or inexperienced but you can do anything you set your mind to and no one can tell you otherwise. Be humble and set an example for others.

Thank you very much Kendall! AJC

Real Time CCS Results link/Twitter link...

http://www.fionalawson.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2009/CCS/CCS_Finals.htm

I will also be at the meet and will some results on twitter at the following link:
www.twitter.com/CCExpress

Best of luck to all athletes tonight in Gilroy HS.