Results from tonight's Payton Jordan Invitational...

http://www.sml1.com/recordtiming/stanford/pjc09/

Payton Jordan Invitational tonight...

If you have never attended this meet, it's worth the trip to watch a lineup full of fast, rabbit paced distance races. Nice touch by Stanford to name the meet after former coach who recently passed away.

Here are a couple of articles detailing some of tonight's action:
Payton Jordan a hair-raising experience? (SF Chronicle)

Track and field legend Payton Jordan won t be forgotten (SJ Mercury News)

Hasay set to battle nation's top collegiate, pro athletes

Runners look for fast times in Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational track meet at Stanford (Palo Alto Online)

Fernandez running at Stanford meet (Modesto Bee)

Sacramento Meet of Champions this Saturday at Hughes Stadium

For many schools up north, this will be the last major invitational of the season as teams prepare for their respective league finals. The meet will take place at Hughes Stadium starting at 11am with the invitational portion starting at 3pm (field events) and 5:00pm (running events). Most of the schools attending are from the San Joaquin Section although there will be teams attending from other sections as well.

You can see what athletes and schools will be attending at the following link:
http://www.sacramentomoc.com/2009%20SMOCFinalEntryList.htm

Here is an article about the meet in today's Sacramento Bee:
Strong field is set for Saturday

Interesting article also in the Sacramento Bee about the Simmons' twins from Rocklin HS who have both vaulted over 15 feet this season. They will both be competing at the Sacramento MOC:For Rocklin, it's in the vault

Couple of other meets of notes the next two days. The Warren/Eaton Relays will take place at Acalanes HS. Looks like a great field in the boys' 3200m. race with lots of runners that have broken 10 minutes this season.

On Saturday, Castlemont will host the Bay Area Frosh/soph Championship.
Meet website: http://www.castlemontathletics.com/teams/bayareafschampionships.html

North Salinas will host their own F/S highlighted meet also on Saturday.
Meet Information: http://www.dyestatcal.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2009/nsal_fs.doc

Metro Area track & field leaders

From today's SF Chronicle:
Metro Area track & field leaders

As noted on the bottom of the list, the area covered for the above times is as follows:
Lists based on marks reported to The Chronicle, dyestatcal.com, Bay Area newspapers and internet sources. c - converted from mile. Wind-legal marks only. No dual-meet results, relay splits or marks against non-high school competition are included. For corrections and updates, e-mail ddayton@sfchronicle.com or call (415) 777-7941. Leaders include athletes who attend schools within San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and parts of Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma counties, along with members of the West Catholic, Marin County and Santa Clara Valley athletic leagues.

Are there any athletes, times or marks that are missing and should be included?

Also from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Boy Athlete of the Week: Mike Tracy, Windsor, senior, track and field (6'9" high jumper)

And from the Hollister Freelance covering San Benito HS at the CCS Top 8 Meet:
Haybalers compete in one elite meet

from the Los Altos Town Crier covering Mtn. View going after perfect league record, Los Altos and Gunn HS track teams:
Closing in on perfection

Catching up with Carmel runner Hank Morrison...

Today we chat with Carmel 400/800 runner, Hank Morrison. At last Friday's CCS Top 8 Meet, Morrison was a double victor as he swept the 400 and 800 in 49.80 and 1:59.09 respectively (He is pictured to the left winning the 800 over Palo Alto's Philip MacQuitty). Considering the weather at the meet (cold and windy) and the relative closeness of the two races, it was an impressive double victory. He will be one of the favorites come CCS time to qualify for the state meet following his narrow miss last year as he finished in 5th place recording a 1:56.25.

1) How did you get started in Track and Field?
I started running track in 6th grade when I lived in Charlotte, North Carolina.

2) When did you first realize that you might have the talent to succeed in Track and Field?
I think I realized I could have some potential when I moved to Carmel in 8th grade. Then I met Coach Ables and he saw potential and I've been running ever since.

3) As you were first starting out in the sport, who were the runners that inspired you (from your own team or other teams)?
Of course runners like Steve Prefontaine have always been an inspiration, but I've always idolized runners like Alberto Juantorena and Sebastian Coe.

4) Tell us a little about your coach and how he has helped you develop as a runner.
Coach Ables is a pretty interesting guy. He's 72 years old, and a Monterey Peninsula native. He started off as a football coach, but when there was a falling out between he and the head coach, he decided to switch over to track. He's very old school, preferring not to be involved with parents, and he's often at odds with the school administration, but he loves the kids and the kids love him. I met him when I came out for cross country freshman year. He saw potential in me, and never let me off easy. I think the high expectations he has had for me, in combination with the great training he and the other coaches provide have been a major help in my success as a runner.

5) You finished in 5th place last year at the CCS running 1:56.25. How did the narrow miss to making the state meet, motivated you for this year?
Well, I really wanted to make it to state last year, but it didn't happen, so now this year is my last chance. I really want to make the most of the season, so I'm pretty motivated.

6) Some quick answers: your favorite event? favorite meet? favorite competitor(s)?
Favorite event: 800. favorite meet: I loved arcadia, but avis kelley and quicksilver are always good. Favorite competitors: I love running against the guys from Monterey (Jake Arveson, Joel Kemper). In Jake and my case we've sort of grown up as runners together, we ran track in middle school together and we've been able to run against each other all 4 years of high school. They're very talented, and they're nice guys too.

7) What workouts do you do that you feel help you the most in terms of your 800m. racing? What does a typical week look like for you?
I wouldn't say I enjoy them the most, but 600m intervals in combination with 300s and 200s are really good for me. Usually, Mondays and Tuesdays are pretty difficult, with Wednesdays being pre-meets, Thursdays league meets, and Fridays are pretty relaxed for invitationals on Saturdays.

8) What would you say has been your best race so far this season?
I'd have to say my 800 at top 8 has been my best race. It wasn't the fastest I've had this year, but I was really relaxed and had a strong kick, which was surprising because I ran a 400 40 minutes earlier haha.

9) Who do you feel will be the competitors in CCS for the three state meet spots in the 800m. this year?
That's a pretty tough question. The 800 is pretty stacked this year. Kevin Jani, Nathan Strum, Jake Arveson, me, and I've heard Philip MacQuitty ran a pretty fast time last week.

10) Have you decided where you are going to college next year and how much did running contribute to the decision you made?
I'm going to the University of Oregon next year. I'll be running track. It was a pretty big part of my choice because of Oregon Track's history and potential for the future.

11) What would be your best advice for young runners who want to succeed in Track and Field?
Have fun with it. Don't take it too seriously. It stops being fun when you can't remember why you're doing it.

Thank you very much Hank! AJC!

Becerra and Young win Coast Conference titles

Nice article in today's San Mateo Daily Journal covering two conference champion athletes from the College of San Mateo Track and Field team, Brandon Becerra (distance runner) and Kelly Young (thrower).

Becerra and Young win Coast Conference titles

For those of you that knew former Hillsdale coach, Randy Hurst, you can find his memorial website at the following link:
http://www.randylhurst.com/Home.html

Follow Cross Country Express on Twitter

You can now follow Cross Country Express on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ccexpress. For those of you that are not on twitter, it's free and easy to sign up. Go to their home page to get started.

I will update everybody with some of the exceptional marks that are taking place at local track and field meets. With other coaches joining, we will all be capable of keeping each other in the loop in real time.

Wanted to move this entry back to the top. I think twitter would be a great way to get instant results from meets. You can see my address at the top so that you can follow my updates. Anybody can do the same by signing up for twitter and entering great marks from meets you are attending.

CCS Top 8 Meet Results posted

http://www.dyestatcal.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2009/top8res.htm

Newspaper articles covering Top 8 Meet
Double duty brings pair of victories (SF Chronicle)

False start, fast finishes at Top 8 track meet (San Jose Mercury News)

Top 8 track and field: Harbor's Rivers leaps to title (mercurynews.com) Just added

Serra boys first at CCS Top 8 event (San Mateo Daily News) Just added

also article in today's SF Chronicle covering the James Logan Top 8 Meet
Newcomers look good on track

Penn Relays on TV today...

If you are not interested in what offensive lineman the 49ers are picking today then the Penn Relays are what you are looking for at 1pm. It will be on ESPN2. One of the legendary American Track and Field meets that will not disappoint.

On a side note, there was a Mike Singletary sighting at the CCS Top 8 meet yesterday as his daughter runs for Valley Christian San Jose. Not sure if Roger Craig was there as his son (Woodside's Alex Craig) finished in 2nd place in the 400m. behind Hank Morrison of Carmel.

Rowbury hopes to build strength through 5,000

Rowbury hopes to build strength through 5,000

Article about Shannon Rowbury (pictured to the left here) in today's SF Chronicle. She will be racing the 5000m. tonight at Berkeley to work on her "strength" once she returns to her best distance, the metric mile (1500m.).

Hopefully Flotrack.com will be there covering the races so we can catch it online for those of us that won't be able to attend.