Eugene, OR: Truly Tracktown USA

Written by former Evergreen HS runner Kevin Liao


Eugene had long been a place that was a fragment of my imagination. I saw bits and pieces of the town in Without Limits and heard the stories of those who attended the '08 Olympic Trials of regularly bumping into elite athletes while on a morning stroll on Pre's Trail.
For years I've drooled over the Hayward Field track meets I've witnessed on TV and admired the phenominal enthusiasm of the crowd. 

Last weekend, Eugene became a reality as I made by first visit to Tracktown USA for the Prefontaine Classic. And from the moment we drove across the Coburg Road bridge, just like Pre did to enter town, it definitely lived up to my expectations. Unlike any other town, Eugene is invested in running. Its multitude of wood-chipped trails are the best I've seen in a city. Just on my one run on Amazon and Pre's trails, I bumped into Vin Lananna in his car, 5k Olympian and current OTC athlete Ian Dobson walking his dog, and the essentric Gabe Jennings taking a barefoot stroll near Amazon Park, plus talking to coach Brad Hudson in the snack aisle at Safeway.

The meet atmosphere at Hayward was unlike anything I've seen before, even having attended track and field events at the Beijing Olympics. The massive Bird Nest Stadium was superior in size, but could not make up for the tremendous knowledge of the Eugene crowd. Seemingly every one of the high school athletes particpating in the Nike Track Nationals event on the eve of the big meet expressed their awe and excitment for competing at such a historic location. 

The Pre Classic the next day exemplified everything I expected of Oregon track and field. The 12,834 in attendence, which was the meet's 15th consecutive sellout, cheered loud and hard for every athlete, especially for those with Oregon ties. The crowd roared when AJ Acosta made his massive surge to place second in the International Mile and when double NCAA champ Andrew Wheating was announced to the Hayward fans for the final time in a Duck jersey. The signature rhythmic clap was present in all the distance races and helped spur such great performances as Takiru Bekele's first sub-13 minute 5k on U.S. soil and Phoebe Wright's breakthrough race that resulted in a massive PR in the women's 800. Additionally, the fans were awed by Walter Dix's upset of Tyson Gay in the 200 and David Oliver's blazing 110 hurdles race that tied the American Record of 12.90.

The weekend made me realize that the passion of the people of Eugene is truly what makes it Tracktown USA. America is a place where it is common to find football or baseball fans on the street, but not track fans. Speaking with a gentleman at the NTN meet, I found that he was one of many individuals who not only went to the meets, but actually were track fans and knew and followed the sport just like I did. This was a welcome suprise to someone accustomed to having to explain to the ordinary person how the steeplechase works or to guess how many javelin-related deaths have ever taken place. 

This exordinary experience has left me wanting more. I hope I will have the opportunity to return in two years for the 2012 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon: Tracktown USA.

Coaching Opportunity

Crystal Springs Uplands School (CCS) - is seeking an assistant cross country coach for the upcoming 2010 season.  Applicant needs to be available during the season from late August through the state meet on November, 27th.  Full coaching stipend is available.  CSUS is located on the border of the city of San Mateo in Hillsborough.  Season schedule and team website can be found at www.eteamz.com/csuxc.  If interested, please contact athletic director Michael Flynn at mflynn@csus.org or call (650) 375-5424.  


Feel free to contact me personally at albertjcaruana@gmail.com if you have any questions.

CCS Top 10 Individuals (Boys and Girls)

Boys 
10)  Ethan Scardina Carlmont          Senior
9)  Aubrey Myjer    Mountain View Junior
8)  Kyle Feuerhelm Woodside         Senior
7)  Tony Ferrari      Bellarmine         Senior
6)  Richard Ho        Leland              Sophomore
5)  Max Bell            Salinas              Senior
4)  Kyle Rae           Bellarmine         Senior
3)  Kevin Bishop     Monta Vista      Junior
2)  Will Geiken        Los Gatos         Senior
1)  Parker Schuh     Mountain View  Senior

Girls
10)  Katie Castro      Los Gatos          Senior
10)  Megan Shearer  Carlmont            Junior
9)  Corin Soelberg    Carlmont            Sophomore
8)  Danielle Katz      Los Gatos           Sophomore
7)  Rachel Hinds      St. Ignatius          Senior
6)  Athena Alarcon  Gilroy                  Junior
5)  Lauren Croshaw Aragon               Junior
4)  Erin Robinson     Gunn                  Senior
3)  Nina Anderson   Notre Dame S    Junior
2)  Allison Sturges   Mountain View   Junior
1)  Jessie Petersen   Carlmont            Senior

Feel free to comment on above list.  Did I miss anybody?  Should anybody be dropped/raised?  If you would like to post your own list...go for it.

10 questions with Aptos' Marissa Ferrante

From the Santa Cruz Sentinel:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/sports/ci_15442097

Marissa Ferrante

Aptos

Cross country, water polo, swimming, track, triathlon

It seems there is nothing Marissa Ferrante can't do. The Aptos High phenom gives a new meaning to multi-sport athlete.

During her high school career, Ferrante won 15 individual league championships, ranging from cross country to track to swimming. She also won the individual and team Central Coast Section titles in Division III cross country this season and reached the state cross country meet three times [placing as high as fourth] and the state track meet twice. Ferrante may have been able to add a few more track medals to her letterman's jacket her junior year had she not contracted norovirus while competing in the Pan America Championship triathlon shortly before the CCS meet.

Speaking of which ... The soon-to-be Stanford runner started the Mariners' triathlon club her junior year and hopes to compete professionally one day. She competed on the United States Junior National team in Australia in September and was ranked No. 4 in the USA Triathlon National Cup Series in 2009.

Ferrante's grades don't suffer from all her adventures. The model student-athlete, she carries a 4.23 grade point average and is ranked No. 7 in a class of 319.

10 Questions for Marissa Ferrante

To what or whom do you feel you owe your successes?

"A lot of it, the academics, I think a lot can be attributed to sports. They go hand in hand. You work hard at one and work hard at the other. For sports, I grew up with them my whole life. I have three older brothers, so I grew up pretty active. And look where we live --" it's hard not to be active here."

To read the rest of the article, go to the following link:

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/sports/ci_15442097

Photo of the Week

The four sub-4 minute high school milers.

From left:  Alan Webb (3:53.43), Marty Liquori (3:59.8), Tim Danielson (3:59.4), Jim Ryun (3:55.3)

Happy 4th of July to all...

More Newspaper links to finish off Track and Field season...

http://www.mantecabulletin.com/news/article/15702/ (Vincent Herrera of Manteca HS)

http://www.insidebayarea.com/high-school-sports/ci_15413353 (All-East Bay boys track and field capsules)

http://www.insidebayarea.com/high-school-sports/ci_15413920 (East Bay Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year:  Maurice Spikes, St. Mary's

http://www.insidebayarea.com/high-school-sports/ci_15413687 (East Bay Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year:  Tim Stevens, San Ramon Valley)

http://www.insidebayarea.com/high-school-sports/ci_15413610 (All-East Bay girls track and field capsules)

http://www.insidebayarea.com/high-school-sports/ci_15404248 (East Bay Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year:  Ashton Purvis, St. Elizabeth)

http://www.insidebayarea.com/high-school-sports/ci_15413651 (East Bay Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year:  Bernard Stephens, Deer Valley)

CCS Time Comparisons (pre-season)

Thanks to Wilcox HS coach Walt Van Zant, here is the first version of the CCS Time Comparisons.

http://www.dyestatcal.com/ATHLETICS/XC/2010/comparsn.htm

New NFHS jewelry rule... trust me, you'll like it

From Gunn HS coach, Ernie Lee...

Folks,

Check out this from the NFHS:  http://www.ihigh.com/IN/article_30026.html

The upshot:  jewelry is still illegal, but the first infraction results in a team warning.  Only subsequent infractions will lead to disqualification.  Also, hair clips are OK (and pretty much all forms of hair control as well).

Now, if only the uniform rule could have the same consequences....

-ernie.

Top 20 Countdown of CCS Girls' XC teams...

First, it's actually 23 teams with the addition of three "Teams to Watch".  Second, this is not my list but thank you to the contributor of this list.  Lastly, if anybody out there would like to contribute pre-season rankings for any sections in Northern CA to this blog, feel free to email me your lists to albertjcaruana@gmail.com.

Teams to Watch:
(or better known as “why they heck are they not in the top 20” list)

Notre Dame Salinas (8) – A great team last year that finished 8th in the final ranking in 2010, they return 3 of their top 5.  But besides that their 4 & 5 runners were in the 24’s for Toro Park last season.  They surprised us last year, and could do it again but at this point they have to get bumped.

Palo Alto (19) – 19th last season they lose their #1 but the next 6 runners return, 5 of whom were under 21 min at Crystal last year.  Watch out!

Woodside Priory (23) – Priory was the D5 Champion this year and Kat Gregory really separated herself as one of the top runners in the section last year. This team finished 23rd last year and return 5 of 7.  They are going to need some help if they want to get into that 10-15 spot but with a talent like Gregory leading the way anything can happen.

20)  Leigh (15) 15th last season they lose their #1 but just like Palo Alto the next 6 runners return.  Another team to watch out for this year!

19)  Aragon (25) Did anyone notice this team returns their top 6 runners (who were all freshman and sophomores last year) three of whom are absolutely outstanding?  Led by Lauren Croshaw and Nikki Stokman this team is making some waves and are on the move.  Don’t let their 25th over-all finish from last season fool you, with some development of their 4 and 5 runners (or another lucky freshman or two) this team is in the top 10!

18)  Evergreen Valley (18) This team finished 18th last year over-all and return Samantha Garcia who proved to be one of the best cross country runners in the section last season.  They return 4 runners who have run sub 21 at Crystal last year but needs that number 5 runner to take the next step


17)  San Benito (16) Last year finished 16th in the final rankings and return 5 runners all under 21 at Crystal last year but they lose a really good #1 runner, Rachel Shimabukuro who ran 18:51 at last year’s CCS championship.  San Benito is a big school and they get a big turn out every year.  They are deep and could sneak into the top 15 this year.

16) Sacred Heart Cathedral (27) Maybe it is the luck of the Irish, but more likely that Coach Andy Chan is one heck of a coach.  They had a tough run at CCS last year but this team is definitely a dark horse this season.  Led by standout Sophia Cannata-Brown who won the WCAL Championship at 3200 meters and made the CCS final this team returns their top 7 runners and could be dangerous this year. With 6 runners who ran sub 21 last year at Crystal they are going to be a lot better.

15)  Valley Christian SJ (12)  A talented group of runners return with Morgan Lira, Isabel Garcia, and Emily Blaha leading the charge.  That trio had a solid track season as they all ran sub 5:15 for 1600 meters and 11:40 for 3200 meters.  The Warriors return 4 of their top 5.

They lose Kendra Higgins to graduation and Amy Bergman who moved to Texas. The Warriors top three have yet to convert their track ability to the trails but still are very competitive up front.  The key to this team’s success, like everyone else, is how fast will the 4 & 5 runner be?  They return some solid 21 min runners but that is not going to get it done against Aptos, SI, Santa Cruz and Sacred Heart.  The Warriors have to step it up if they want to return to the State meet, right now they are on the outside looking in.

14)  Scotts Valley (10)  Last year Scotts Valley finished 10th in the final CCS rankings and will be very good once again in 2010. Four talented runners return, led by standout Vanessa Fraser.  But the story here is that Scotts Valley also had a very talented JV girls’ team and will be able to field a very strong team from top to bottom this season.

The team graduates the Germany twins who were essential to their great run last year and they are going to be hard to replace.  This is a bubble team and with one or two runners step up they will once again be top 10.

13)  Lynbrook (17) Led by CCS track finalists Cindy Huang and Shaelyn Silverman Lynbrook returns 5 of their top 7. This team was solid all year last year and will be once again.  They have had some amazing success in the 800 on the track this past season posting one of the top times in the section in the 4 x 800 relay.

They lose their number 3 runner Michelle Yee but returning 5 runners who ran under 21 last year is a good place to start.  They have a new coaching staff once again and you might think that constantly adjusting to a new program might be difficult, but I think they will thrive under the new leadership.  The toughest challenging facing this team is to climb the ladder in the tough D2 standings.

12)  Mitty (20) You might not have noticed but this team started the season by quietly winning the first WCAL meet in 2009 and closed out the season 2nd at the WCAL Championship.  This is a good team led by Mary Kriege, who was a CCS finalist this year at 3200 meters.  Olivia Rentera had a good season with the 800 as all of their top 5 runners return from last season.

The only bad is out of their control: they are in the brutally tough D2.  But what can you say, returning their entire top 5 they will be very, very good.  They know how to step up for the big race, just look at how they ran at WCAL.  If someone steps up or they get an outstanding freshman this team will be dangerous in 2010.

11) St. Ignatius (11) The defending WCAL Champions get it done, even in rebuilding years.  Led by standout Rachel Hinds, one of the top runners in CCS, this team has the depth to be a contender year after year.

SI loses their #3 runner, Abby Otto who ran 19:47 at CCS last year but this team has a ton of quality runners on JV and Frosh-Soph who step up year after year.

This team seems to battle Aptos every year for a CCS title.  Now they will have to also fend off Santa Cruz, Valley Christian and an emerging Sacred Heart team. With Hinds leading the charge and a favorite for the individual title this team is tough!

10)  Half Moon Bay 5 of their top 7 return this year and will be led by Chondra Anderson who was very good as a freshman last year and was the Cougars top finisher at CCS.

Sammy Hamilton is the big departure.  Her tenacity and gutsy running was special to watch.  My bet is it rubbed off on the returning members and will still be dang good.  They also lose their #3 runner who ran 19:39 at CCS last year.

Five very good runners return.  Led by Anderson this team still has potential to do damage and get it done and worthy of a top 10 ranking.

9) Presentation (14) This team’s power comes in the pack, and they are strong from top to bottom.  They are decent up front and are probably the early favorite to win the WCAL due to the strength of their 3, 4, 5 runners.  They return all 7 runners led by Laura Vasquez, Angie Korpusik, and Tori Tsolis.

They don’t lose a single runner this year but they do lose a very talented head coach.  The new energy might just be the thing that gets them going this year.  On paper they’re great, they just need to put it together on race day.

I think this team has a ton of talent and just needs that breakthrough win.  They have been so close, they just need to put it together.

8) Gilroy (4) Gilroy surprised time and again last year ending the season ranked #4 in the section.  Despite a brilliant performance at CCS they finished 3rd behind Gunn and Carlmont and due to only 2 team spots in D1 the Mustangs did not get to go to the big dance as a team. They return three very talented runners: Athena Alarcon, Maritza Ruelas, Savannah Silacci who all could be in the 18’s.

Patricia Hernandez (19:06) and Brandie Rodriguez (20:01) graduate which is a big dent to this year’s team.    Last year there wasn’t much depth beyond the number 5 as their 6 and 7 runners were in the 22’s at Crystal.  Those are good times, just not good enough to justify a top 5 ranking.

This team is a tough call.  With 1-2 good freshman who can run in the 20’s they could once again be a contender and top 5 team.  At this point not knowing who will show up that first practice I have to drop them down.  There is a good Junior High program in South Bay but with the opening of Christopher High taking half of incoming freshman you have to wonder what will happen with the split in enrollment.  While most teams would not likely finish in the top 10 with two 22 min runners I think the 4, 5 runners will step up and the powerhouse threesome they have up front will certainly carry them to a top 10 finish.

7)  Santa Cruz (9) I’m probably being a little biased toward my alma matter but coach Greg Brock got his girls rolling at the end of last season as they took down a very powerful Notre Dame – Salinas and Scotts Valley to finish 2nd in the section and qualify for State.  And it doesn’t hurt to have Maggie Vesse as a role model, watching her workouts there on the band new Santa Cruz track before practice.  To top it off 6 of 7 return.

The Cardinals lose a great runner in Elle Sanders who was one of their top runners all season.  She will be hard to replace but SCCAL schools always do somehow.

I have to be honest here, when I heard Santa Cruz would be moving up to D3 this year it was an “oh crap” moment for my team.  They have a traditional slow start but my guess is they will be peaking at the right time to challenge for one of those State spots.

6)  St. Francis MV (13) This is a big time program that is primed for a big timejump and should be respected.  Morgan Healy returns after leading the team last year and will be challenged by Madeline Roemer who had an amazing tack season. They return 6 of their top 7 and should be much better than last year.

The Lancers lose a #4 who was very consistent but their frosh-soph and JV was stacked last season.  They will be an early player and a very solid team throughout 2010.  They have two very strong front runners who are probably going to be running in the 18’s and a very strong supporting cast.  This team is deep and with another good incoming freshman this is the team to watch out for.

5)  Aptos (6) Nikki Hiltz had one killer track season and made a name for herself as the next great Aptos runner.  If you took a glance at the Junior High results from Santa Cruz you will find another great freshman in the works for Aptos.  And if you can count on one thing it is that Danny will get his team ready to roll come CCS finals as they always do!

Marissa Ferrante (CCS Champion, D3) and Kim McMullen (3rd in CCS, D3) were key components to the team that placed 3 runners in the top 5 at CCS last year. 

On paper this team is not going to be as good as year’s past but if you have watched Aptos over the years that’s the way it is there… Great runners graduate and are replaced by fresh new talent.  In the end this is an opportunity for the younger runners to step up, and they always do.  They may not be ranked #1 like last year but they will be a good team and in contention for another team title. 

4)  Los Gatos (5)  Katie Castro, Danielle Katz, Kayla Knapp return after a breakthrough track season.  This team has gotten stronger and stronger over the years and is ready for a big breakthrough as they return 6 of their top 7.  This team defeated Gunn at the SCVAL Championship last year and has the character to get it done when you need it most.

Their only loss is their #5 runner who was solid running 19:52 at CCS last year. 

This team is going to be good!  If you think back to the pre- Mountain View days Los Gatos topped the CCS as the #1 team back in 2006 and this team looks very similar and it wouldn’t surprise me the least if they end up #1 when the Toro Park dust has settled at the end of the day.  If history is any indication of what is in store my guess is a freshman will come in and step into that top 5 role nicely.  I have them at #4 but with a few lucky freshman could be #1, they are that good.

3)  Gunn (2)  In 2009 Gunn finished just 4 points from the #1 ranking thanks to the efforts of Erin Robinson and Kieran Gallagher.  These two dominated the 2010 track season as Robinson won CCS at 3200 meters and Gallagher finished the season with the fastest 800 time in the section. 

Gunn loses some heavy hitters in Claire O'Connell and Rachel Wittenaur, their powerful 3 and 4 runners that really carried the team last year.  While their 6 and 7 runners would be big time contributors most teams in the CCS, they will be hard pressed to replace the talent that is graduating, but you never know.  Not much help from Frosh-Soph or JV but like all girls teams they are just 1-2 freshman away from running away with the top ranking.

This team knows how to compete.  I almost put them #2 and then #1, but we settled here…for now.  It will be hard to get freshman or a new recruit to step up and fill the rolls vacated by O’Connell and Whittenaur but Gunn will still be dang good.  The only reason I have them #3 is the lack of depth after their #5 runner which showed in the SCVAL and State championships last season.  You still need to watch out for them as they make another run for the top spot and defend their Division 1 title.

2)  Carlmont (3)  Jessie Petersen returns to high school running (or is supposed to anyways)!  The two time CCS Champion at 3200 meters was the only runner from the CCS last year to break 18 at Crystal last year (17:28).  Corin Soelberg (18:24) and Megan Shearer (18:31) combine to make one of the most competitive trios in the section for 2010.  The good news for Calmont is 4 of their top 5 return.

Carlmont loses a big #3 runner with the graduation of Abby Barker (18:36).  Not very deep in the F/S or JV and  they will need to rely on incoming freshman or recruits for that essential 5, 6, 7 runner.

The question remains: will the Carlmont runners all return to a coaching staff they rejected this past spring?  I guess we will soon see…  Despite the team drama (fueled by the San Mateo paper) this team got it done last year, and probably will once again.  Kids are resilient and despite it all coming to a head this track season it sounds like everyone will go back to doing what they do best up there: running and winning.  On paper this is by far the top returning team in CCS and could pull through in the end to upend the Mountain View dominance we have all become so accustomed to.

1)  Mountain View (1)  Last year I ranked Mountain View #1 and used the words, “machine” to describe what Mountain View has going over there.  Well here we go again: Allison Sturges is the defending D2 cross country champion and is coming off of her CCS win in the 1600 meters. She has come into her own showing unbelievable toughness making the State final.  Another highlight is Sarah Wells who finished the season with a respectable 11:50 for 3200 meters.  The real story is that this powerhouse team returns 5 of their top 7. 

This team loses two heavy hitters, Martina de Geus (18:22) and Zoe Pappas (18:40).

If you look on paper this team should probably be ranked 3 or 4.  But how do you bet against them? There is something to be said about being able to compete and run with guts, and that is exactly what this team does time and again.  Last year I wasn’t sure if they were going to pull off being the top team in CCS as Gunn looked unbelievably strong.  Well they did, and they are back to once again defend their #1 ranking.  Even though they lose two great runners don’t count this team out, they return 5 of their top runners and will make a run for the CCS top spot once again.                              

 So there you have it folks.  Thanks to Josh Small for putting the above list together.  Now that you can see all the teams, what are your thoughts?  Who are going to be the top individuals?  Any teams not ranked above that you think will be there at the end?