The USATF Nebraska Association sent three athletes to the Club Championships in Tacoma, WA this past weekend. Team Nebraska was the lone club represented. Aubrey Baxter scored 30 points winning the “Baxter Hat Trick” as it should forever be known. Hammer, Discus, Shot, Yawn. Ashley Miller scored in the 800, 1500, & 5000 to contribute 21 points. The two women did enough damage to finish 3rd overall ( and win $1000) in their division. Peter Falcon was the single male from Nebraska to participate, ran 34:21 for the 10000, tough day, finishing 10th of 10.
The meet was not only poorly attended by the Nebraska Association though. As evidenced by the Team Nebraska women’s 51 points being good enough for 5th overall in the combined men’s and women’s team scoring. Complete results here: http://www.usatf.org/usatf/files/22/22093827-70a3-44bd-9208-08cc0b9ee2c7.pdf
Your top 3 USATF Elite Development Clubs were:
Central Park Track Club- 408 points.
Club Northwest- 319 points.
Kansas City Smoke- 141 points. Way to represent our Midwest Region Smoke!
Our Association Championships “Road Mile” were held in Lincoln yesterday morning. Some interesting results as Ivan Marsh (40, unattached) won the 40-44 in 4:59. Shannon Stenger (35, NDORFNZ Racing) won the 35-39 in 4:46. Ryan Salem (39, LRC Racing) was 3rd in the same age group in 5:01. Paul Wilson (32, unattached) took 3rd in his division with 5:04. Bob Garcia (59, unattached) was 2nd in the 55-59 in 5:32. All used to run for me on Team Nebraska, glad to see they are still getting it even though they no longer run for me or the red and white. Complete results here: http://onlineraceresults.com/race/view_plain_text.php?race_id=41021
It was great to see so many athletes Racing. Representing their teams by proudly wearing their club affiliation on their chest. One of the recurring problems I had with TN back in the day was making sure Everyone understood how important it is to wear your Club Colors during Every Race. It seems that problem is no longer and I couldn’t be happier. Our NRGE President Kyle Clouston was in kit and ran 4:52, just two seconds off his lifetime best. Damned proud of that effort considering what he’s doing later this week, stay tuned for that.
Our mate Stacy Shaw finally got her jaw wiring removed, she can now breathe. Interestingly or amazingly she’d never run a 1 Mile Race before. But we all know her to be the most versatile and talented female masters in Nebraska. You can make arguments for several others (Jetensky, Kunasek, Erickson, etc), but if you look at the WAVA age grading tables, no one, NO ONE, age grades better. Her 5:48, (48, 2nd O/A masters) age grades to 86.3%. For contrast the overall masters time was 5:43 by a 41 year old, and while first across the line, age grades to a mere 78.47%. The difference between National Class and Regional Class right before your eyes. Stacy is just getting started, going to be a FUN Filled Summer and Fall with her.
Fun Facts:
100% = Approximate World-Record Level
90+% = World Class
80+% = National Class
70+% = Regional Class
60+% = Local Class
Mike Wasson, also 48 and fast, was the Overall Winner at the Beat The Heat 10K. His time of 38:09 age grades to 79.19, just missing the National Class mark. Regional, regional, nanny nanny boo boo! Watch him destroy things later this fall.
Bob Garcia is in my age group for another 9 months, but who’s counting. He had the second best time and second best bared chest of the morning.
Shannon Stenger showing the form that made him the Most Versatile male in the history of Team Nebraska (back in the day he ran 2:29 at Lincoln and sub 4 for 1500.)
My Dear Sweet Linda showing good form in her return to competitive racing.
Stacy Shaw in full flight. Five ticks behind the masters winner despite having an additional 7 years. Just think of what’s coming once training returns to regular (able to eat and breathe normally.)
Lincoln Mile Race Photos courtesy of Gary Dougherty Photography.
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