December 8 2017. Teams are tougher
to scope out because they are a collection of individuals. But here are my
thoughts on teams this year.
WOMEN
40+. Sonja Friend-Uhl and Janet McDevitt renew the rivalry in 40+
that saw Friend-Uhl finish first and McDevitt second last year, as their teams
finished 4th and first respectively. Club Northwest, led by McDevitt, are the defending
champions in the 40+ competition, and the favorites this year. Club Northwest
returns the same team this year, consisting of a strong 1-2 punch and a solid 3rd
place runner. But none of them can have an off day. Bull City Track Club finished 2nd last year with a solid
trio of runners finishing 6th, 8th and 9th.
They have added Brennan Liming who,
with an 18:00 5K and a 30:42 8K, gives them a new #1 who might be able to move
up a place or two and that might be enough. Like Club Northwest, they need
every runner to score well. Friend-Uhl’s Atlanta
Track Club should be in the mix as well. They have added Irma Betancourt who is running 5k’s in
the 18 to low 19 range and that should give them another solid runner to back
up Friend-Uhl. Impala also has looked to raise their game. Nancy Thomas finished 6th overll last year and they have
added Caroline Bucci and Kelly Couch. Both appear to be just a
bit faster than Alexandra Newman who
was their 2nd runner last year and this year is more likely to be
providing insurance. Both Atlanta and Impala have a 4th insurance
runner.
Club Northwest Atlanta Track Club Impala Racing
50+ The Jane’s Elite team from Southern Cal looks primed to repeat in the
50+ group with Club Northwest trying
to upset their apple cart. With Kirsten
Leetch joining Tania Fischer and Kathleen Cushing-Murray, they have a
very strong top 3.
60+ The Impala Racing team will have
their hands full trying to repel Team Red Lizard who took the60+ team title at
the USATF XC Championship in Bend. Impala is without Mo Bartley who gives them an extra runner toward the front of the
pack. Rowland will have to have a good day to make up some of that loss. All
three of the Team Red Lizard need to have on days as they have only 3 runners
on their team. Impala has more depth if needed. Atlanta and GVH could also make
a good push for the podium. Mary
Richards, Margaret Taylor, and Cynthia
Williams give them a solid three and Nonie
Hudnall gives them a 4th runner who is not far off from the
first three. If they run as a good pack, they could certainly edge Impala for 2nd.
GVH will not be far off either although
they still may not crack the podium.
MEN
40+ Last year it
was Greg Mitchell, John Gardiner,
and Neville Davey finishing in that
order as Mitchell led the Bowerman Track Club to the team victory with the
Boston Athletic Association and Davey’s West Valley Track Club in 2nd
and 3rd. Mitchell is coming back from a spring injury and at the Pacific
Association, it was John Howell
leading the way with Mitchell not far back. That is not necessarily bad as
Howell appears to be running stronger than in the past, giving them a solid 1-2
in whichever order they finish. Neville Davey’s West Valley Track Club will definitely push them though. Davey has
recently run a smoking fast 14:44 5K and is the Pacific Association XC
Champion. With the addition of Marathoner and Ultra specialist, Jorge Maravilla, Davey may go for the
individual win and the West Valley team look to upset the dominance of Bowerman
and the B.A.A. Last year it was Bowerman-the Boston Athletic Association and West
Valley 1-2-3. Bowerman is still very strong and deep as is the B.A.A., and it
is hard to see that changing much.
Bowerman
Track Club Boston Athletic
Association West ValleyTrack Club
50+ The Greater Springfield Harriers took the
50+ race by stor last year and they are just as strong this year. Cal Coast’s 50+ team is improved by the
addition of Christian Cushing-Murray but
weakened by the loss of Pete Magill
so they will be pressed to make up much ground. The same is true for Club
Northwest who will miss Mike Smith. Playmakers Elite have Dave Bussard returning but will miss Kerry Barnett. So even if Ruben Henderson’s return from a several
month absence due to injury is successful, it will be tough for them to move up
onto the podium. Prado Racingout of
San Diego did not contest Club XC last year but are here in force this year;
they will certainly make a push for the podium.
Greater
Springfield Harriers Cal Coast Track
Club Prado Racing
60+ The top two
teams from last year were GVH and Tamalpa. But Gary Radford is out for GVH and Mark Rybinski is probably not at the top of their game so they will
be pressed to repeat. Tamalpa, who finished 2nd is not back this
year. Club Northwest, with Joe Sheeran and Rick Becker 1-2, should take the title in a cakewalk. Steve Bertrand, Greg Beyerlein and Frederick Motteler are all solid
runners who can provide a reasonable third finisher for them. With the return
of Reno Stirrat along with Kevin Dollard and Scott Linnell who have both run strong this year, Shore AC could make a play for the
podium. Matthew Curran will give John Barbour good support at Greater Lowell but they may not get a
strong enough third finish to crack the podium. Atlanta shuld be in the mix for the podium. Ken Youngers provides a
strong, up front presence with Kirk
Larson just off that pace. This year Jerry
Learned has run almost like the
Learned of old and has kept the gap from Larson to learned small. And now Mike Anderson has turned 60 and has recovered
from his misadventures at the Boston Marathon.
Club
Northwest Atlanta Track Club Shore AC
70+ Last year the Tamalpa Runners took the team title and
there is no reason to think it shoud change this year. They bring the same
three strong runners, Don Porteous, Len
Goldman, and Gene French. Of course,
like all three-runner teams everyone has to have an on day. Two teams will give
them a run for their money. The Boulder
Road Runners have a new 70+ team. With Richard
Kutzner and Jan Frisby up front,
that gives them 2 of the three they need. But they have to have a third team
member finish right with them to have a chance as Porteous and Goldman should
both come in before Boulder’s first runner. Dave Dooley could be the man to do it. GVH will also try to take down Tamalpa. Tony Gingello could, potentially, run with Porteous and Goldman. If
he can do that, it is the start they need. If Jim May were healthy, that would give them a solid 2nd
runner right behind Gingello. But May has been banged up off and on ever since
a cross country skiing misadventure before the 10K championship at Dedham. That
leaves Atlanta Track Club’s Team A which will make a push for the podium with
their collection of solid runners.
Tamalpa
Runners Boulder Road Runners Genesee Valley Harriers
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