Recap of 2015 USATF Club Cross Country Masters Championships--Women's Race

December 14 2015. On Saturday December 12th many of the fastest women long distance runners in the country gathered in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park to contest the Club Cross Country Championships. Although the focus is on the Club Championships, individual champions are crowned as well.

Individual Races.

First across the Finish Line. Although there is no recognized 'Overall Winner' people are often interested in which runner crosses the finish line first, usually someone from the 40-44 or 45-49 groups, or occasionally a 50-54 runner pulls it off. [The only Overall Winner' that is recognized is the Age-Grading Champion-See below.]


A pack of three formed early in the race, defending champion, Chris Kimbrough (Team Red Lizard), Sonja Friend-Uhl (Atlanta Track Club), and Janet McDevitt (Club Northwest). Last year at Club Cross the same group finished in 1-2-3 order. When they first passed the viewing stands, it was Friend-Uhl and Grace Padilla (Southern Cal Road Runners) in front with McDevitt and Kimbrough a stride or two back. After getting onto the trails again, Friend-Uhl surged with McDevitt and Kimbrough close and with Betsy Russakoff (Impala Racing Team) moving into 4th. Shortly thereafter the 3 leaders opened a gap on Russakoff. On the way to the last major hill on the course McDevitt established a small gap on Friend-Uhl with Kimbrough another few strides back.At that point it was a complete reversal of last year's order. Would it hold? Whether or not, it was a gutsy move by McDevitt. By the time they hit the gravel track for the last time, Friend-Uhl had closed so she was right behind McDevitt; last year's champion, Kimbrough, was now 20 meters back. Friend-Uhl then made a decisive move and with superior speed was able to kick away from McDevitt, coming across the line in 21:59, 7 seconds ahead of McDevitt, with Kimbrough another 8 seconds back.
Friend-Uhl, McDevitt, Kimbrough.

Sonja Friend-Uhl breaking the tape at the 2015 USATF Club Cross Country Championships in San Francisco CA [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

 

Overall Age-Grading Winner. A cash prize was awarded to Kathryn (Kathy) Martin, 64, who ran 24:48 to age-grade 95.64%. Sabra Harvey, 66, age-graded at 92.63%, and Marisa Sutera Strange (Athena Track Club) had a 90.55%.

Kathy Martin, striding home with the Age-Grading Championship in her sight at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

Age Group Winners.
40-44  The first and 2nd places went to Friend-Uhl in 21:59,  and McDevitt in 22:06. (See above.) After moving into 4th overall, Russakoff held tough against all comers, including the fast closing Jennifer St Jean, to nail 3rd in the age division, 22:21 to St. Jean's 22:25. Holly Ortlund  ran most of the way neck and neck with St. Jean but couldn't quite match her closing kick, finishing in 22:28.
Friend-Uhl, McDevitt, Russakoff.

Janet McDevitt, powering her way to a 2nd place finish and leading her team to victory in the Women's 50+ Team Competition at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

45-49 First place went to Chris Kimbrough who was 3rd overall in  22:14 (See above.) Gwen Lapham was 40 meters back of Kimbrough at the midpoint and , despite her best efforts, could not really close the gap, finishing 2nd in 22:28. Tania Fischer and Jenny Newton were only a second apart at the mid-race split and Fischer still had only a few second lead at the top of the last hill. But Fischer's speed did not fail her as she surged away from Newton once they  hit the gravel track, claiming the 3rd spot in 23:13 to Newton's 23:28.
Kimbrough, Lapham, Fischer.  

Chris Kimbrough winning the Women's 45-49 title and finishing 3rd overall at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

50-54  Marisa Sutera Strange added another USATF title to her 2015 collection, never headed and winning comfortably in 22:37, 8th runner across the line and 3rd best age-grading score.

Marisa Sutera Strange drives to the finish line in taking her 4th National Masters LDR title this year at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

It was a real battle for 2nd though. Lisa Miller had a ten second lead on Noelle Greene at the midpoint. But then Greene started chipping away, eventually catching and passing Miller to take 2nd by a single second in 23:36--What a race! Strange, Greene, Miller

Noelle Green (1206) sprinting for the tape at full tilt, gathering in her 2nd place medal in the Women's 50-54 division and leading her team to victory in the Women's 50+ Team Competition at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

55-59 This one was closer than one might have thought. But Hall of Famer, Carmen Ayala-Troncoso, built a ten second lead by the mid race split and left no doubt as she pulled away from two Boulder runners to enjoy a victory in 24:04. Laura Bruess ran a solid race to claim 2nd in 24:18, followed by Delcia Litt in 24:30.

Masters Hall of Fame Runner, Carmen Ayala-Troncoso sprints to the finish line to finish f'irst in the Women's 55-59 division at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

60-64 Kathy Martin took the 60-64 age group title to add to her age-grading title. She had a 27 second lead at the mid-race split and built it to a full minute by the finish, winning in 24:48. Mo Bartley had no problems as she rolled to a 25:47 and 2nd place. It was a lot closer for 3rd place. In fact, Maria Briones had a 7 second lead over Jill Miller-Robinett at the midpoint split. That did not phase Miller-Robinett as she chipped away, eventually pulling even and then pulling away to establish her own 7 second lead by hitting the finishing tape in 27:43.

Mo Bartley (1294), racing to a second place finish in the Women's 60-64 Division and leading her team to victory in the Women's 60+ Team Competition at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

65-69 Sabra Harvey, who had the 2nd best age graded score in the race, enjoyed a big victory, winning in  26:18; Jo Anne Rowland took 2nd in 29:08, with Carolyn Smith-Hannah in 3rd another minute back.

Sabra Harvey, No. 1464, speeds to the finish line to win the Women's 65-69 Division and achieve the Second best Age-Grade score at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

70-74 it looked like Manya Hult would run away with this one as she enjoyed a 49 second lead at the mid-race split. But Laury Fisher, who was in 2nd, kept plugging away and eventually narrowed the gap to 15 seconds. She could get no closer though and Hult enjoyed a comfortable win in 35:30 to Fisher's 35:45. Edda Stickle took 3rd in 36:32.

Manya Hult captures first place int he Women's 70-74 Division at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

75-79 Eve Pell had this one all the way, over 2 minutes ahead at the mid-race split and the winner in 37:33. Katherine Singer took 2nd in 41:05, with Kathy Kusner third in 45:03. Madeline Bost was just off the podium in 46:04, that's how strong the field was!

Eve Pell zips to a first place finish in the Women's 75-79 Division at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

80+ Lynne Hurrell and Jeannie Kayser-Jones did themselves proud in the oldest age group.

Lynne Hurrell claims her title in the Women's 80-84 Division at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

Hurrell built up a ten second lead by mid-race but no one was letting up. In the end both came across well under 40 minutes with Hurrell taking the crown in 38:11 and Kayser-Jones second in 39:38.

Jeannie Kayser-Jones, 2nd place finisher in the Women's 80-84 division at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

Without further ado, let's get to the main event at Club Cross, the Team Competition. Like all USATF competitions for Masters Women, the team race is decided by adding up the finishing places of the first three women across the line for each team, with the lowest score winning.

40+: Twenty-three teams from coast-to-coast lined up to contest the event. Two of the top 3 teams from last year's event were there, looking for a repeat or an improvement. Last year Team Rogue came up from Texas to take it all. But in the interim, their lead runner, Chris Kimbrough, moved from Texas to Oregon and was on a new team. In fact, Team Rogue did not contest this year's event. But that gave hope to a number of clubs. Bull City Track Club out of North Carolina and the Atlanta Track Club had quite a battle for 2nd last year and they hoped that would be repeated as a battle for 1st! And two California teams, the Jane's and Impala Racing teams  figured to have something to say as well. And one never bets against the Genesee Valley Harriers making a race for the podium. Finally there were two unknowns. Kimbrough was on a new team, Team Red Lizard. Would they be a top contender? And what about Club Northwest? Last year they looked like a sure thing for the podium and maybe the win after their first two runners finished 3rd and 4th. But then their 3rd runner was not up to the competition, at least not on that day. All they need is one more pretty strong runner and maybe having the race on the West Coast makes it easier to find that runner who will commit to the race.

In the early going things looked good for Atlanta, Club Northwest, Team Red Lizard and Impala as they all had runners in the lead pack. Closer observation might have revealed that Atlanta and Club Northwest had two runners each, however, who were up close to the front of the pack. By the mid-race split, things were starting to look clearer in the race for team supremacy. Atlanta had Friend-Uuhl in the top 3 and Holly Ortlund in the next group. Club Northwest was in a similar position with mcDevitt in the top 3 and Gwen Lapham in the second group but with a few seconds on Ortlund. It looked like this would not be the day for Team Red Lizard; Kimbrough was up there but it was a long way back to a 2nd runner. Sonya Wilkerson and Jennifer Seibel were back in 30th and 32nd.

Sonja Friend-Uhl sets the pace as she leads her Atlanta Track Club Team to 2nd place at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

Club Northwest had a slight edge on Atlanta as their 3rd runner, Holly McIlvaine was 10th overall and had a gap of 8 seconds on Atlanta's 3rd runner, Irma Dennard. But there was a lot of race left to run. How were the other clubs doing? Bull City was not quite as strong as last year with their top two runners just out of the top twenty; they had a lot of ground to make up. Impala, on the other hand, was looking better. Their top runner, Russakoff was in the top 4 and they had three runners within a few seconds of each other in the 15-20 spots, Liz Gottlied, Elizabeth Goya, and Sasha Blum. Not only that, their 5th declared runner, Nancy Thomas was only a few seconds back in 23rd. With such a tight pack, they could do some real damage if they could move up over the 2nd half of the race. Genesee Valley was not out of it yet, with their lead runner, Heather Webster just out of the top ten and Melissa Senall a bit further back. But both would need to move up a bit over the 2nd half and hope at least one of their 3rd or 4th runners, Wakenda Tyler, and Erika Duthiers, in 38th and 39th place could surge.

Janet McDevitt (orange)  and Chris Kimbrough (red) trying to close the gap to Friend-Uhl at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

In the end, McIlvaine proved to be the real deal, giving McDevitt and Lapham a third runner in the top ten and the coveted victory!  Club Northwest had 2nd, 6th and 7th for 15 points. Ortlund stayed close to the front as well, nailing a 5th place to go with Friend-Uhl's first. Dennard could not close the gap to McIlvaine but delivered the goods by finishing 13th and closing the door on Impala's 2nd and 3rd runners.  Atlanta had 19 points and a solid 2nd place finish. Russakoff took 4th and the Impala runners had moved up, with Goya in 14th and Gottlieb a few seconds back in 17th. That gave Impala third place with 35 points. Team Red Lizard took 4th with 50 points and Genesee came in 5th with 56. It will be interesting to see if Team Red Lizard holds together and uses this as motivation to come back next year with a realistic shot at the podium. Club Northwest (15), Atlanta Track Club (19), Impala Racing (35).

Betsy Russakoff (blue singlet), passing Grace Padilla (pink compression socks) to move into 4th for her Impala Racing Team at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

50+:Nineteen teams from Southern California to Massachusetts vied for this title. The top teams from last year's contest in Bethlehem PA were: Athena Track Club (PA), Club Northwest (Alyssa Tower, Kelly Kruell, Karen Steen), Garmin Runners (NJ), Willow Street AC (NY), and Genesee Valley Harriers (Kathleen Hayden, Robin Lorenzo, Carol Bischoff) (NY). The switch in venue from east Coast to West Coast makes a difference; Garmin and Willow Street did not make the trip. And, of course, more West Coast and Mountain West clubs show up to contest the issue. Athena was back but lacking their strong number 2 runner, Doreen McCoubrie. That leaves Club Northwest looking for a 2nd age division team victory and Genesee with podium ambitions. But Athletics Boulder (Noelle Green, Laura Bruess, Delcia Litt), who took the crown at the USATF Cross Country meet in Boulder in February, sent the same team to 'Frisco. And the home team, the Impala racing team (Eileen Brennan-Erler, Lisbet Sunshine, Diana Fitzpatrick), and Southern California's Jane's Elite (Polly St Geme, Shannon Teslow, Kelle Taylor)would have something to say about the outcome.

Lisbet Sunshine (1321) helps her team to a 2nd place finish in the Women's 50+ Team Competition at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

At the mid-race split, Impala was looking good with Brennan-Erler leading the way, after Sutera Strange, and Sunshine and Fitzpatrick in the top 15. Atheltics Boulder looked even stronger at that point with Green right behind Brennan-Erler and Bruess 5th; their 3rd runner, Litt, was 13 seconds back of Bruess and ahead of the first Jane's runner, St. Geme. Club Northwest's Tower was in 8th but Steen and Kruell were 150 meters back. The Jane's St. Geme was in the top 15 and Taylor and Teslow ahead of the 2nd and 3rd runners for Club Northwest. Genesee had Hayden tucked in between Greene and Bruess, and Lorenzo within a half minute but it was another minute before Bischoff came through.

Eileen Brennan-Erler Leading a Chase Pack and Contributing to Impala's 2nd Place Finish in the Women's 50+ team Competition at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

Sutera Strange took first place for Athena but they were not a factor in the team race. Green led the way for Athletics Boulder with the 2nd place finish. Third went to Brennan-Elder of Impala but Bruess was just 5 seconds back in 4th, with Genesee's Hayden 5th with the same time. Litt ended the team race a dozen seconds later by coming in 7th, giving the victory to Athletics Boulder with 13 points. It took a while for the rest of the podium to be determined. Tower came in 11th for Club Northwest but right behind her was Impala's Sunshine in 12th. That gave Impala 15 points with two runners in. Which would be the 2nd club to get two runners in? The first Jane's runner, St. Geme, finished in 13th but their 2nd runner, Teslow was just 13 seconds back in 16th. If they could get their third runner, Taylor, in well before Impala's third runner, Fitzpatrick, they could claim 2nd. But it was not to be. Fitzpatrick sped across the line in 19th place to seal it for Impala--2nd place with 34 points. Ten seconds later Taylor closed the door on the rest of the teams. Her 20th place gave the Jane's Elite racing team 49 points and third place. The next 5 clubs were incredibly close to each other. Fourth through 8th were: Club Northwest 66 points, Genesee Valley Harriers 67 points, Golden Valley Harriers 69 points, Atlanta Track Club 69 points, and Lake Merritt Joggers and Striders 69 points. Amazingly close! Athletics Boulder (13), Impala (34), Jane's Elite (49)


60+: Last year it was the Genesee Valley Harriers (Sharon Moore, Belinda O'Brien, Cindy Ingalls, Carolyn Smith-Hanna), the Atlanta Track Club (Margaret Meek Taylor, Cynthia Lucking, Elizabeth Unislawski) and the Impala Racing team (Mo Bartley, Jill Miller-Robinett, Ruth Rainero, Jo Anne Rowland) in 1-2-3 order, and they were all back. But the Lake Merritt Joggers and Striders of Oakland (Maria Briones, Carmen Briones, Sharlet Gilbert)  and the San Diego Track Club (Marcelle Teran, Marian Schmidt, Deborah Shea) would try to throw a monkey wrench into their plans.

Sharon Moore (1297) stepping lively through the Golden Gate park course, helping her team to a 3rd place finish in the Women's 60+ Team race at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

Impala had the top two team runners at mid-race, with Bartley and Miller-Robinett. But it was 45 seconds back to their next two, Rowland and Rainero in 11th and 13th a few seconds apart. Lake Merritt was countering with the Briones sisters in 3rd and 4th, and their third runner, Gilbert, was in 9th. Genesee was struggling a bit with Moore in 5th, O'Brien in 8th, and Ingalls in 13th. Atlanta was trying to keep pace but having a difficult day; Taylor and Lucking were in 12th and 13th but it was another two minutes before their third runner, Unislawski, passed by. San Diego's challenge was looking a little bit better with Teran in 9th place, followed by Schmitt in 19th place. Shea was in 24th.

Sharlet Gilbert (1331), 64, striding along with a  contingent of 50's runners, a key cog in Lake Merritt Joggers and Striders taking 2nd place in the Women's 60+ Team Competition at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

It was tight all the way between Impala, with their front-runners, and Lake Merritt, with their tighter pack. Over the second half of the race, Rainero and Rowland were able to work together with Rainero finishing 10th and Rowland in 12th with the same time. With Bartley and Miller-Robinett up front, that gave Impala 13 points and the win. Lake Merritt had a solid team effort as Maria and Carmen Briones finished 3rd and 4th with Gilbert taking 8th to nail down 2nd place with 15 points. In the end Genesee was able to claim the final spot on the podium with Moore and O'Brien in 6th and 7th; Ingalls came home in 11th to seal their podium finish at 24 points. Just off the podium was the San Diego Track Club with 40 points and the Atlanta Track Club with 51.Impala (13), Lake Merritt (15), Genesee Valley (24)

70+: Three West Coast clubs contested this division, Northern Cal vs. So Cal--Tamalpa Runners from the Bay Area (Edda Stickle, Eve Pell, Katherine Singer), San Diego Track Club (Manya Hult, Kathy Loper, Patricia Bentz), and Cal Coast Track Club (Kathy Kusner, Renate Dolin, Vickie Walker).  At midpoint it was almost all Tamalpa as Stickle, Pell, and Singer came through 2-3-4. Hult led them all for San Diego but Loper and Bentz were separated from her by the Tamalpa trio. The pattern of the first half was repeated in the second as Impala took the crown with Hult taking first for San Diego but Stickle, Pell and Singer going 2-3-4 for 9 points and the win. San Diego got 2nd with Loper 5th and Bentz 7th, giving San Diego 13 points. Cal Coast took 3rd with 23 points. Tamalpa (9), San Diego (13), Cal Coast (23).

Edda Stickle (1422) helps her Tamalpa team to first place in the Women's 70+ Division as Lynne Hurrell strides to individual victory in the Women's 80-84 division at the 2015 USATF Masters Club Cross Championships in San Francisco [photo: Michael Scott/Facebook]

So the hometown team, the Impala Racing team took a 3rd, a 2nd and a first on the day, the outstanding overall team performance. 

And a tip of the hat to the team with the tightest pack (in terms of time): 50+ Empire Running Club of Sonoma County--23 seconds between 1st runner  and 3rd runner; 50+ Lake Merritt Joggers and Striders --28 seconds between the top 3 runners; and two 40+ clubs, Club Northwest and Tamalpa Runners both had only 33 seconds between their first and 3rd runners.

Finally the Mythical Age-Grading team Championship goes to:

1. Athetics Boulder [26]--Delcia Litt, 57 [6th], Laura Bruess, 55 [8th], Noelle Green, 51, 12th.

2. Impala Racing [32]--Mo Bartley, 60 [7th], Eileen Brennan-Erler, 54 [9th], Diana Fitzpatrick, 57 [16th]

 3.  Atlanta Track Club [57] --Sonja Friend-Uhl, 44 [13th], Mary Sweeney 55 [14th], Holly Ortlund, 42 [30th].

Congratulations to all for an Outstanding Club Cross Country Championship Event!

Preview of USATF Masters Club Cross Country Championships in San Francisco December 12 2015

December 10 2015. Nearly 1000 Masters runners are entered in the USATF Masters Club Cross Country Championships to be held in San Francisco this Saturday, December 12^th along with the Open Championship. The race is hosted by the USATF-Pacific Association with the course located in Golden Gate Park where many national cross country championships have been held. 

[photo: http://www.pausatf.org/cross-country/2015-usatf-national-club-cross-country-championships/]

 Because of the large number of runners entered, there are three separate races for Masters Runners. The Women go off first at 9:00 AM over a 6 kilometer race course, followed by the 60 and over Masters Men who start at 9:45 on an 8 K course. Finally the 40-59 Masters Men race at 10:45 over 10K. Rain is forecast for Thursday evening and overnight into Friday, sometimes heavy. But it is forecast to clear up for Friday during the day and remain dry until Saturday afternoon. Conditions should be very good, apart from the risk of a soft course which might lead to muddy sections. Temperatures are forecast to be in the mid-50’s with little wind.

Golden Gate Park Course through Pine and Eucalyptus trees [photo: http://www.pausatf.org/cross-country/2015-usatf-national-club-cross-country-championships/]

 

Men’s 40+ Teams. Four of the best teams come from the Northeast, the Pacific Northwest, Southern California, and the South. The BAA is led by veterans Chris Magill and Pete Hammer; defending champion, Greg Mitchell and the Baumann brothers headline the Bowerman Track Club entry; Jerome Vermeulen and John Gardiner who finished a close 2^nd and 3^rd to Mitchell at the USATF Masters Mile competition in August will try to hang tight in the pack up front for the Cal Coast Track Club; Kristian Blaich, 3-time Masters road champion this year, will join Chad Newton and Alan Black for the Atlanta Track Club. And no one should count out the home team, the Asics Aggies. Clint Wells, the winner of the USATF Masters Marathon this year will spearhead the Boulder Track Club’s effort. Bowerman Track Club, Atlanta Track Club, Cal Coast Track Club.

Men’s 50+ Teams. Five of the best are the Cal Coast Track Club, Club Northwest, the Genesee Valley Harriers (GVH), the Greater Springfield Harriers, and the Playmakers Elite/New Balance. Cal Coast wishes that Pete Magill’s rehab year was already over but Rob Arsenault has just aged up into the 50+ group and will try to lead their strong group to victory. Club Northwest is the defending champion and they bring their team back intact, led by Joe Sheeran. Last year the GVH team and the Playmakers Elite had the same average time and were separated in the scoring by a single point, with Playmakers making the podium and Genesee just off. You know how much Genesee wants to reverse that. Since last year Playmakers Elite has added Dave Bussard who has taken M55 wins at the 1 Mile, 5K, 12K and 15K road championships. But Mike Nier aged up into the 50+ division since last year so it should still be a barn burner of a race between those two teams. I will give the edge to Playmakers as I think they will have a slightly tighter pack which makes more of a difference in big races. And the Greater Springfield Harriers will be more competitive this year. Francis Burdett is rounding into shape again after a terrific start to the year and then a bit of a lull. Nat Larson, a new team member, has been running strong all fall with M50 road wins at the 5K and 15K. Club Northwest, Cal Coast, Playmakers Elite.

Note. USATF decided to end a 2-year experiment this year and returned to the former rules for M60+ and above teams. Scoring is the sum of the finishing places of the first 3 runners. In 2013-2014 they used the top 5 runners on each team for all age groups on the Men’s side.

 

[photo: http://www.pausatf.org/cross-country/2015-usatf-national-club-cross-country-championships/]

Men’s 60+ Teams. Last year this was one of the closest races with only 7 seconds separating the average team time of the first four teams. But things have changed; last year’s second place team, Ann Arbor Track Club is so banged up they will not compete. Last year’s winning team, the Atlanta Track Club, has been weakened by the departure of their top runner, Kirk Larson, who is now running unattached. That should mean the clubs who finished 3^rd through 5^th, the Cal Coast Track Club, the Shore Athletic Club (Shore AC), and the Genesee Valley Harriers, should be slugging it out on the course. But the favorite is actually the Boulder Road Runners who did not compete last year, but took titles earlier this year at the USA Cross Country Championships and swept the team titles on the roads at the 5K, 15K, and 12K this fall. If John Victoria, Doug Bell, and Devin Croft are fit and healthy, they should take the title. Cal Coast brings back the same team except they have added Dale Campbell who can typically be counted on for a podium finish, improving their odds. Shore AC is always tough and their lead runner, Reno Stirrat has been running very well of late. Two other clubs might be in the hunt, in large part because of including a top runner on their team. Club Northwest, led by Rick Becker, could be a factor. He took the M60 title at the .US National Road Race. The second place finisher at that race, and winner at the 1 Mile, 5K and 15K road races this fall was Tom Bernhard. With only 3 scores counting, Becker and Bernhard could make a big difference for their teams. Boulder Road Runners, Club Northwest, Cal Coast.

Men’s 70+ Teams. In years past one could confidently pencil in the Ann Arbor Track Club at the top. But newly minted Hall of Fame Runner, Doug Goodhue, is banged up and taking time for rest and rehab. Last year he got injured during the race and Shore AC followed Przemyslaw Nowicki’s lead to take the title. But this year it appears Nowicki will run with the 60+ team and Shore is not even entered in the 70+ race. The Atlanta Track Club, led in 2014 by Ed Bligh and Ron Mastin will try to elevate their game and change their 2014 silver trophy to gold. At the .US National race last month, two of their new runners, Frank White and Morris Williams, finished ahead of Bligh so their team is stronger. They finished a close 2^nd to Shore AC in that race but will not have them to worry about here. But they will have a local team to worry about. The Tamalpa Runners have two very strong runners up front. If they are healthy and fit, Tamalpa should be favored. Until Jan Frisby came down to California from the Rockies last year and broke the M70 10K record. Frisby is not running this year but the fellow whose record Frisby broke is. Hans Schmid leads the way for Tamalpa, aided by the consistently hard-running Len Goldman. The Pamakids and the West Valley Joggers should fight it out for the bronze medal. Tamalpa Runners, Atlanta Track Club, West Valley Joggers.

Women’s 40+ Teams. Last year, Team Rogue’s Chris Kimbrough led her team to victory. But Kimbrough has moved on from Austin to Portland and leads Team Red Lizard this year. She had a strong supporting cast last year in Chris Henkiel, age group winner at the USATF 8K Road Championship earlier this year and Hall of Fame runner, Carmen Ayala-Troncoso. Although there are plenty of good runners on her team it does not appear that they rise to the level of Henkiel and Ayala-Troncoso. The 2^nd and 3^rd place teams are back intact. Bull City Track Club is led by Alexandra Bigelow who finished 7^th last year. But equally important was their talented duo, Alison Klaitman and Nancy Kaiser who finished within a second of each other in 17^th and 18^th. The Atlanta Track Club, 3^rd place finisher in 2014, is back with their team largely intact. Last year their two lead runners, Sonja Friend-Uhl and Holly Ortlund finished 2^nd and 6^th, but then there was a large gap. That may be their Achilles Heel again this year; there are so many talented runners who show up for this race, it is very tough to crack the top twenty. Another Club with a similar outcome last year is Club Northwest, led by Janet McDevitt and Gwen Lapham. McDevitt and Lapham finished 3^rd and 4^th but had a long wait for their next teammate. They have a different supporting cast this time so that may make the difference. The addition of Holly McIlvaine, who focuses on trail runs and longer road races, and Dyan Simon who finished 7^th overall in this race when it was in Seattle,   in 2011 should certainly help their cause. It looks like Club Northwest, Bull City, and Atlanta Track Club for the podium.

Women’s 50+ Teams. Last year it was Athena Track Club, Club Northwest and Garmin Runners on the podium. Garmin did not make the west coast trip but the other two teams are here. Marisa Sutera Strange has been running stronger than ever this year but the 2^nd runner from Athena, Doreen McCoubrie, who finished 2^nd overall to Sterange last year, is not. McCoubrie has seen her training time diminish this year due to work and volunteer commitments. Julie Hankin, a strong runner in her own right, moves up from 3^rd to 2^nd runner for Athena. Still Athena is unlikely to claim the crown and may be pressed for 2^nd place. Competition is that tight. Club Northwest looks to be the favorite. Alyssa Tower who finished 4^th last year, is back, as are her two teammates, Kelly Kruell and Gail Hall, who finished 5 seconds apart in 11^th and 12^th. Can anyone else dislodge Athena? Athletics Boulder may be up to the task; they did not compete in Club Cross last year but they did run in their backyard at the USA Cross Country Championships. They took first there but did not run against any of the coastal teams, east or west. Noelle Green and Laura Bruess give them a chance for 2^nd but it may come down, in the end to the team’s 3^rd runners, Betsy Stewart for Athena and Delcia Litt for Athletics Boulder. The only other question is whether one of the other west coast teams is coming in under the radar. Does the Empire Runners Club, the Golden Valley Harriers, or the San Diego Track Club have what it takes to get on the podium? And what about the better known teams, the Jane’s Elite or the Impala Racing team? We will find out on Saturday. Club Northwest, Athletics Boulder, Athena Track Club.

[photo: http://www.pausatf.org/cross-country/2015-usatf-national-club-cross-country-championships/]

Women’s 60+ Teams. Last year the Genesee Valley Harriers, the Atlanta Track Club, and the Impala Racing teams finished 1-2-3. Genesee and Impala are returning largely intact but Atlanta has a whole new team. That’s unusual. Sharon Moore, Cindy Ingalls, and Carolyn Smith-Hanna finished 1^st, 4^th and 8^th last year and should perform similarly this year. Jill Miller-Robinett and Jo Anne Rowland finished 3^rd and 5^th last year for Impala and both are back. Their 3^rd runner is not but it looks like Mo Bartley, new to the age group will be a very able replacement and perhaps help them to move up. What about Atlanta? Last year they got 3^rd by taking 2^nd, 9^th, and 12^th. Do they have anyone this year to take the place of Mary Richards, their top runner from last year? Margaret Taylor is a strong runner but it does not appear anyone on the team this year is as strong as Richards. Taylor may be able to lead them to a 3^rd place finish but there are West Coast contenders. The Briones sisters, Carmen and Maria, will provide some firepower towards the front for the Lake Merritt Joggers & Striders, but I am not sure if they have a strong enough 3^rd runner to compete for the last podium spot. The San Diego Track Club team looks a little more balanced. Genesee Valley Harriers, Impala racing Team, San Diego Track Club.

Women’s 70+ Teams. The strong Playmakers Elite/New Balance team out of Lansing Michigan did not make the trip this year. Three West Coast clubs will battle for the championship. It is a tough one to handicap. Each team has exactly three runners so the third runner can often determine the outcome. Tamalpa Runners, San Diego Track Club, Cal Coast Track Club.

Note: All places noted above refer to the finishing place in the Team Race, not necessarily the age group competition (which can include unattached runners and runners from incomplete teams).

Age-Grade. The race recognizes an overall age-grade champion on the men’s and women’s side.

Men. Last year, Joe Sheeran took the age grade on the men’s side with Peter Hammer and Pete Magill in hot pursuit. With Pete Magill not entered, I look for Tom Bernhard to move up; he has won a few age grade competitions this fall, reliably cresting 92%. Kristian Blaich could also be in the hunt; he has run strong all fall and seems poised for a great run. Being in the thick of the M40+ team battle will give him a little extra incentive.

Women. Hall of Fame runner, Kathy Martin, ran away with this last year and should do the same this year. She topped 100% at the .US National Road Race a month ago. Marisa Sutera Strange has run well all year and regularly age grades above 90%. She should be on the podium as well. Chris Kimbrough would have to kick her game up a little higher to improve enough on her 7^th place age-grade finish last year.

Age Groups. The race is too big and my time budget too small to do justice to the age group races. Nonetheless I have listed the main contenders for each race. I will inevitably miss some who will place. The occasional surprise adds to the fun!

MEN

M40. Gregory Mitchell took this group handily last year; after a gap there was a very tight race for 2^nd through 4^th between Alan Jackson, Alan Black, and Dave Slavinski. Slavinski is missing this year but Jacques Sallberg will join the fray. At the USA Cross Country Championships in February in Boulder CO, Sallberg surprised and upset the defending champion, Mitchell. The former Olympic Trials steeplechaser pulled away in the last loop to win by 15 seconds. A few weeks later Mitchell got even at the 8K Championship in Brea CA. But this is their first meeting on the cross country course since that time. Who will come out on top this time? Mitchell, Sallberg, Jackson. 

[Note: There is almost surely someone new to the Masters ranks who will show up and upset the applecart but the field is too large this time to discover such runners.]

M45. Chad Newton, Peter Hammer, and Kristian Blaich were at the top of this group last year and they are all back. But Jaime Heilpern, who finished in 8^th last year in the M40 group, and is running on his home course, has moved up to this age group. Newton, Heilpern, Blake.

M50. The only two runners back from last year’s top 6 are Eric Williams, 2^nd, and Mike Nier, 6^th.  Mike McManus, who finished 8^th last year in the M45 group, and Francis Burdett who finished 12^th, have both moved up. Williams and McManus should battle for the top spot with Nier and Burdett having just as tight a battle for the 3^rd podium position. McManus, Williams, Burdett.

M55. Three of the top four from last year are back, Joe Sheeran, Michael Smith, and Ken Youngers. Youngers has had some injury problems this year that have slowed him down so he is a long shot for the podium. Dave Bussard has run very strong this fall, taking M55 wins at the 1 Mile, 5K, 15K and 12K road championships. He will give Smith and Sheeran a run for their money. And we should not count Jeffery Dundas out. Health problems kept him out of racing for a while but he showed at the .US National 12K that he has them licked or at least well under control. He finished 2^nd to Bussard in Alexandria, a bit ahead of Youngers. Sheeran, Bussard, Smith.

**Hot tip from a respected West Coast contact--Watch out for Dan King [Athletics Boulder] in the M55 to take it all.

M60. Of the top 7 from last year, Chris Webber, first, and 4^th through 6^th, Paul Bazanchuck, Terry Permar, and John Tarkowski are all out. But Reno Stirrat, 2^nd, and John Barbour, 7^th  return. Joining them is Mark Rybinski who finished 24^th in M55 last year. More significantly they will be joined by Rick Becker and Tom Bernhard who did not make the trek east to compete in this event last year. Becker showed at the .US national 12K that a healthy Tom McCormack is still the only M60 runner who can beat him. Bernhard has had a superb fall of running but even he could not keep up with Becker. Becker, Bernhard, Stirrat.

M65. Four of the top five from last year are entered but Lloyd Hansen will not run. That leaves it up to returners Doc Rappole, Jerry Learned, and Dixon Cook to battle for the podium positions. But it’s never that easy. Two top runners, Hall of Fame runner, Doug Bell and 2015 M65 Runner of the Year, William (Bill) Dixon, are also entered. Bell just moved up to the M65 age group this past month and looks to dominate. Dixon will have something to say about that; it should be a great race. Dixon rarely ventures this far away from his home base of New England so it is a rare treat.  At the USATF 5K in October,  Dixon came in 7 seconds ahead of Bell (in different age groups) so they are closely matched. Dixon, Bell, Rappole.

M70. With newly minted Hall of Fame runner, Doug Goodhue out on rehab, Przemyslaw Nowicki and Len Goldman should battle for the title. Nowicki has been dominant in late fall, winning the USATF 15K and 12K titles by 4 seconds and 8 seconds respectively over Paul Carlin. But Carlin is staying in the Midwest so it is up to Goldman to give Nowicki a battle. At the beginning of the year Goldman was running really well and Nowicki was a little banged up. Goldman beat Nowicki handily in the Brea 8K. But Nowicki has come on strong this fall while Goldman’s times appear to have softened a bit. Nonetheless Goldman is on his home turf and has a team title to run for as well. It looks like the third spot could go to Frank White, Jr. who has had a strong autumn season of running, finishing 5^th at the USATF 5K Championships in Syracuse and the .US National 12K. Goldman, Nowicki, White.

M75. None of the top finishers from last year are back. Hans Schmid appears to be the favorite. The former American record holder of the M70 10K record, Schmid should be able to handle all comers on his home turf. Ron Mastin, the strong veteran runner out of Atlanta, should take 2^nd. His 23:07 at the USATF 5K in Syracuse is impressive. Of course he also ran a half marathon on Thanksgiving. I hope there is no residual fatigue in his legs. Bob Lord should be able to get 3^rd based on a 24:59 5K and 51:31 10K earlier this year. Schmid, Mastin, Lord.

M80. The runners in this group last year were all East Coast runners who, not surprisingly, did not make the trip. So it is wide open for the four West Coast athletes who are entered. Bill Dodson has run a 26 minute 5K and a 1:05:07 12K so he gets the nod as favorite. But he will have a battle on his hands from Ralph Garfield who generally runs his 5K’s in 26 to 27 minutes but does have one just under 26. John Brennand will be keeping the pressure on as he is not far back with his 5K’s in around 27 minutes. Dodson, Garfield, Brennand.

WOMEN

W40. All of the top 6 save one is back to do battle again and there is probably a newcomer who will be in the thick of things as well. Of those coming back, 2014 saw Sonja Friend-Uhl, Janet McDevitt, Jennifer St. Jean, Holly Ortlund, and Alexandra Bigelow finish in that order. Friend-Uhl took McDevitt’s measure by 10 seconds; most of the rest had 5-10 seconds between them but Ortlund and Bigelow finished 1 second apart. Friend-Uhl has continued to run well this year with a sub-17 minute 5K in her resume this year and a recent Masters win at a regional 10K in 36:10. She finished 2^nd overall in the Masters race at the .US National 12K. McDevitt is also running strong, adding the USATF Masters 5K Cross Country title to her collection last month. St. Jean finished 4^th in that same contest but was only 13 seconds back so no reason to count her out. The three of them should be going nip and tuck up front and should establish a gap on the others. Ortlund has run well this year with her 5K’s a little over or under 18 minutes. Bigelow ran a good 9.39 miles at the rerouted Cherry Blossom 10 mile run. But neither seems likely to crack the top 3. Friend-Uhl, McDevitt, St. Jean.

W45. Chris Kimbrough is the heavy favorite to defend her title from 2014. Tania Fischer and Kirsten Leetch, teammates on the Jane’s Elite, who finished 2^nd and 4^th last year are back to try and chase Kimbrough down. That’s a tall order if Kimbrough is fit. As Kimbrough runs mostly on the trails or cross country it is hard to gauge current fitness. But she was the first masters athlete in at the recent USATF NW Region Cross Country Championships. Fischer is running well and took 3^rd in the Southern California Cross Country Championships, with Leetch a bit further back than one might expect. It could have just been an off day or it could mean third is contestable. Kimbrough, Fischer, Leetch.

W50. The defending champion, Marisa Sutera Strange, should certainly add this to her large and growing collection of national titles. She won by more than a minute last year and the 2^nd and 3^rd place winners are not in the race this year. And she has had an even better year on the roads in 2015 than 2014. Alyssa Tower, 4^th last year, is back to contend for the podium but none of the other top runners are. Noelle Green, who finished third at the USA Cross Country Championships in Boulder CO is a contender. Strange, Tower, Green.

W55. The top three runners from 2014 are back-Carmen Ayala-Troncoso, Kelly Kruell, and Gail Hall. Hall of Famer, Ayala-Troncoso, should have little trouble defending her title. She won by nearly two minutes last year. In October she took the USATF 5K road title at Syracuse in 19:14. Kruell and Hall, teammates on Club Northwest, finished 5 seconds apart in 2^nd and 3^rd respectively. Delcia Litt, who won this age group at the USA Cross Country Championships at Boulder in February, may give Kruell and Hall a run for their money. Ayala-Troncoso, Litt, Kruell.

W60. Kathy Martin won this race last year by 2 and a half minutes. As long as she is injury-free there is no reason to bet against a similar margin this year. At the recent .US National 12K, martin age-graded over 100% in taking the age group title by more than 3 minutes. Hall of Famer, Martin, added another Runner of the Year accolade to her total this year. This is Martin’s last year in the W60 category at the Club Cross Championships; she would love to exit with a strong performance. Genesee Valley Harrier teammates, Sharon Moore, 2^nd last year, and Cindy Ingalls, 6^th, are back to contest for the podium. Newcomers Mo Bartley, and Carmen and Maria Briones, will contest the issue. Bartley has run two 5K races recently in 21:06 and 21:20. That gives her the edge over Moore who ran 22:04 at the USATF 5K Championships in Syracuse. Moore should have enough to hold off the Briones sisters who have run their 5K races in the 22:10 to 22:27 range but it will clearly be close. Martin, Bartley, Moore.

W65. Jo Anne Rowland is the defending champion and she will be joined by Carolyn Smith-Hanna, moving up from the W60 ranks. They would be favored for 1-2 but there is a wild card. 2014 Runner of the Year, Sabra Harvey is entered. But will she run? Harvey broke the American 10 mile record for women 65-69 at the CRIM 10 Miler in August. Two months later she ran a terrific 15K at the USATF 15K championships on a very tough Tulsa Run course, age grading, despite the toughness of the course, at 96.06%, the only athlete, male or female, to crack 90% on that course on that windy day. But she was entered in the .US National Road Race two weeks later but did not show up for the race. Perhaps it was just fatigue but one worries that there may have been a flare up of an ankle injury she sustained earlier in the year. Harvey, Rowland, Smith-Hanna.

W70. None of the top finishers from last year are back. Based on a quick review of the 2015 races of the entrants it appears that it will be a tight race between Laury Fisher and Manya Hult, both of whom seem to run 5K races in the 28 to 29 minute range. I give Fisher a bit of an edge because her best 5K is a little faster than Hult’s and Fisher also has a 55:46 10K to her credit. Edda Stickle has a 5K just over 30 minutes and that should be good enough that she can claim third in this field. Fisher, Hult, Stickle.

W75. Only the 6^th place finisher from last year, Madeline Bost has returned for this year’s competition. Katherine Singer has a 69 minute 10K and a 4.2 mile run in 42:09. The ability to maintain close to a 10 minute per mile pace for races that long makes her the favorite. Bost runs 11 – 12 minutes per mile for 5K. It is hard to compare Eve Pell who mostly runs cross country and trail races and has no recent road race times. Singer, Bost, Pell.

W80. Last year there were no competitors entered in this division. This year there are two.   I will make Lynne Hurrell the favorite on the basis of her 30:21 5K this year and her 43:43 time in a 4 mile race. Her rival, Jeanie Kayser-Jones ran a 29:11 5K at the BAA 5K in April 2014 but I can find nothing since. If she has maintained her fitness in the interim, or lost it and regained it, she should be the favorite. But the lack of recent races makes me a little dubious. Hurrell, Kayser-Jones.

Best of Luck to all of the Athletes competing on the 12^th!