| USATF NATIONAL XC CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
On the dawn of the club's fifth USATF Club National Cross Country, there is much excitement within the club's ranks. Never before has either aGSTC team, men or women, been loaded with so much talent. However, every year since 2011 the club has brought a stronger, deeper squad to America's best cross country race than the previous year. Yet for various reasons, every year the teams perform under their collective expectations. So, the big question in 2015 is simple enough.
 Is 2015 the break through year?
aGSTC WOMEN: Can they crack the top 10?
In their fourth appearance at club nationals, the ladies have a long history of successful team finishes. In 2012, they were 14th in Kentucky, and last year, in Bethlehem, they were 13th. 2013 was a down year, mostly due to injury, and the ladies salvaged a mere 21st.
That said, it's a different ballgame this year.
Carmen Graves should be the women's team top finisher, and she very well could slip inside the top 25 of the race. She will need to average 5:20 to 5:25 to do it. With a 16:08 PR over 5,000m, and as one of America's best steeplechasers, she certainly has the potential to finish inside the top 25. And after winning all but one race this fall, she certainly is having a great season.
Crystal Burnick will most likely be the second finisher for the club. After spending all fall preparing for a crack at the Olympic Trials half marathon standard of 75:00, she is super strong coming off a big summer and fall base. And, after running 76:30 at Philly's Rock n Roll, she is now very fit and ready to roll. She could potentially crack the top 50 with a big race.
Liz Sweeney has also been training under Carl Blickle, and she's had a banner year. After winning the Manna on Main 5k in 17:11, she was then the club's top finisher at the USATF East Region XC Championships. If she runs well, look for her to crack the top 75.
Jenn Cronin, Liz's training partner, is also running fantastic reps and is in fantastic shape right now. At the Manna on Main 5k weeks ago, she finished just two seconds behind Liz in 17:13. Cronin is a savvy, veteran racer who also, with a good race, can also get inside the race's top 75.
Last year in Bethlehem, Alyssa Douma was the team's #5 runner, and there's a good chance she repeats that this year in San Francisco. This fall is the hardest she has ever worked, and her recent personal best at the Ashenfelter 8k of 29:40 is an indicator that she could be inside the top 100 finishers.
Aimee Chegwidden had a strong race last year in Bethlehem, and she's poised to do so again this year in SF. With a 17:34 5k personal best, she trotted an easy 18:21 on Thanksgiving morning in Sparta. She could also be the 5th finisher and break the top 100 finishers on a good day.
Perhaps the biggest surprise could come from newcomer Cara Notarianni. After a few fast 5k's this early fall including one at 18:04, she loaded up for a late half marathon in Philadelphia where she ran 85:58. If she's fully recovered, she could blast a big 6k and slip inside the team's scoring top 5.
Women's B Team The club is also bringing a formidable "B Team" that should beat many teams this coming weekend. Those running include the club's women co-captains, Erika Meling and Nicole Salge, the club's North Enclave Captain, Katie Castroagudin, and two ladies coming off fall marathons: Emelia Perry and Nicola Hallenborg. |
| | aGSTC Men: Can they also crack the top 10? On paper, the best team the club has brought to the national championships was their first team in 2011, when they finished 15th. The next three years saw finishes of 20th, 19th, and 19th. How is this possible with a stronger team every year? Well, two things have gotten in the way: a stronger field and underperforming.
Will all that change this Saturday at Golden Gate Park?
A Team
There won't be many people in the field who can run with Matt Gillette, the gentle giant from Shippensburg. Fresh off an Olympic Trials qualifying half marathon of 64:38, he latest conquest was winning a diamond at the Run for the Diamonds. He is running incredible intervals and has tons of confidence going into the big show on Saturday. A top 40 finish is very possible, and when considering the professional athletes in the field, this would be a huge performance for both him and the club.
Alfredo Santana is the other contender for the aGSTC's top man this weekend. After running a 4:05 mile this August, he was been on fire this fall, as he shattered the often-run Ashenfelter 8k course by almost a full minute (whaaaaat?). The Olympic hopeful is also brimming with confidence and is also a top-40 contender. How good is Santana? This is what he likes like at the END of a five mile race!
Just four days after a half marathon PR in Philly, Sean Stetler slammed the Ashenfelter 8k in 24:33--a time that wins every year but 2015. After putting in a huge base, Stetler is strong and hungry to finish the fall season on a high note. Look for the gritty school teacher to fall somewhere in the top 70-80 if he runs well.
Youssef Rochdi has a legendary status on the NJ roads, especially after scorching the Ashenfelter course last year in a record time. During the USATF East Region XC Championships this year, he ran comfortably with a very fast lead pack up until the final 400m, whereas he faded to third. If he runs smart and in control, he's a threat to crack the top 80, and if he does, the club will be in a great position to finish in the top ten.
The number five runner is the big question mark for the Black and Gold. There is a strong possibility it could be veteran Tim Seeley, a savvy racer with tons of high-level competition experience. After busting a big 8k PR at Rothman in 24:56, his marathon background and 6-4 frame could carry him well over the final 2k. While it takes five strong runners to crack the top 10, the place of the #5 man will surely be a huge factor in the squad's final place.
Ethan Rissell has quietly logged dozens of 90-100 mile weeks this summer and fall and has refused to back off for any races until the big dance in San Fran. The 10k is sits perfectly in wheelhouse, and after busting a 15:12 5k in Thanksgiving, his wheels have caught up with his big aerobic engine. He very well could be in the top 5 with a solid race and crack the top 120.
Rob Nihen has been one of the most reliable, steady runners on the aGSTC since 2012. After finally shaking off a long-term hip injury, the TCNJ grad is super fit--as shown by his dominating win in the USATF-NJ 8k XC Championships. After a personal best 8k of 25:06, or 5:03/mile, the Glen Rock resident is certainly ready to fight for a spot in the top 120.
With a 3:43 best in the 1500 meters, or a 4:01 mile, Nick Crits is loaded with talent, speed, and grit. Under a new coach this year, he's been running reps stride-for-stride with training partner Alfredo Santana. If this LaSalle grad can put together a good 10k performance after a speedy 25:16 8k at Ashenfelter, he has the potential to be the biggest surprise finisher for the Gold's A-Team.
B Team | | | Sewnig and Anis battle at Ashefelter |
The phrase "B Team" holds connotations that, quite simply, don't fit the aGSTC B Team this year. Truth be told: 99% of the running clubs in America would salivate for their A Team to consist of the eight talented athletes comprising of this group. This team consists of three time A-Teamer Ken Goglas, the 2015 USATF-NJ Grand Prix Champ Kyle Price, PSAC record-holder and 4:06 miler Mike Robinson, 2015 NJAC 10k Champ Jon Sewnig, USATF-NJ 5k XC Champ Will Appman, 4:12 miler Kevin D'Emic, and the always-steady Mike Anis. Last year's B Team finished 31st out of 68 teams, so expect this group to potentially crack the top 25 this year. Like we said...99% of America's clubs would salivate at such a talented crew.
C Team | | | Steve Rathbun rolls on Thanksgiving morning in Glen Ridge |
Much like the B Team, the C Team is chock-full of talented runners who, under different circumstances, could have been on the A or B Teams. It's a squad filled with athletes with 5k PRs between 15:20-16:00. The aGSTC C Team will be Sean Donohue, Matthew Eder, Stephen Rathbun, James Rivers, and Joseph Zeoli. Last year, the C Team finished 48th out of 68 teams, thus beating 20 squads. Look for this group, once again the only C Team in the field, to improve on such a team performance.
D Team | | | Ryan Degregorio finishes the Giralda Farms 5k |
Last year, the aGSTC put out the event's first D (and E) teams, so this year's D Team will only be the second to grace the USATF XC national championship course. This crew will consist of Brendan Conway, Ryan DeGregorio, Zachary Martins, Steven Morgan, and John Welsh. Last year, the D Team incredibly beat 12 teams, finishing 56th out of 68 teams. The group's goal is simple: improve on this performance from 2014 and continue the long history of excellence in black and gold, regardless of what letter your team is.
|
Masters Men's 50s For the first time in club history, the masters team will have a 50's team at the USATF Club XC National Championships. Last year, in Bethlehem, the women's 40's team finished 3rd overall, while the men's 40's team finished 15th in the USA. While it will be tough to beat those brilliant performances from last year, this team is just one of three masters teams representing the USATF-NJ out in San Francisco.
The group's frontrunner is John Montgomery, the pride of the Wild West Enclave. One of the best 50's runners in New Jersey, Montgomery consistently races over the 82% PLP level. After rolling to a 29:05 8k at Ashenfelter, Montgomery is clearly very fit and ready to place well at this national level event.
During the 1990's, Jeremy Stratton was the most prolific racer in the USATF-NJ, winning nearly every race he started. Now, with a recent resurrection of his running career, the 55 year old is in the best shape in man, many years--as shown by his recent 31:40 at Ashenfelter.
Masters captain Matt Baker is in good form at this time of the season. Although embracing shorter distances like the mile, his fitness has improved a good bit this fall in preparation for the national cross country championships. Despite an early-season injury, his 30:28 8k on Thanksgiving shows he's ready to roll on Saturday.
Louis Cinquino is no newcomer to the sport, as he competed in last year's USATF XC National Masters Championships. New to the club, he is also a published writer for Runner's World. Perhaps he enjoys his aGSTC team experience so much he writes an article about it after the race!
While the oldest of the bunch, Kevin Dollard certainly won't be the last guy to finish. In fact, he may be the #1 or #2 runner, as he is fresh off an incredible 38:35 10k race, which age grades as 85% PLP. Also new to the club, Dollard is excited to make his debut with the Black and Gold a memorable one in San Francisco.
|
|
USATF Club Cross Country National Championships
A Look Back in Time
2011: Seattle, Washington In the club's debut at the event, the upstart team from New Jersey finished 15th on a flat, fast golf course on the outskirts of Seattle. In order, the club's finishers were Chris Heibell, Jeff Perrella, Adin Mickle, Mike Dixon, Mike Anis, and Mark Delmonaco.
2012: Lexington, Kentucky The GSTC ladies debut at the national event, as nine runners compete in the muddy, rugged 6k course at Masterson Station Park. The team finishes 14th out of 24 teams, as Cheyenne Ogletree, Alyssa Douma, Lindsey Lambert, Chelsea Callan, and Kristin Cupido make up the scoring top five finishers.
For the first time in club history, the GSTC does something very few clubs in America are able to do: bring a B Team. In a much more competitive race on the East Coast, the A Team finishes 20th, while the B Team is 32nd out of 42 teams. In a classic display of why every place counts in cross country, the men edge cross-river rivals Central Park Track Club by just one point: 563-564.
2013: Bend, Oregon In elevation, running through sloppy mud and snow with several tight turns, the GSTC men brought three teams, making them the first club in USATF history to do so. Although the A Team finished a disappointing 19th of 50 teams, the B and C Teams ran well, finishing 38th and 42nd, respectively. Chris Johnson, Ken Goglas, Will Griffin, Chris Croff, and Steve Mennitt were the team's top five finishers.
For the first time in club history, the GSTC women competed a B Team--a very rare occurrence with women clubs. However, it was a rough day for the Gold, as they finished 21st and 34th of 34 teams. Plagued with injuries in the final month of the season, the top five ended up being Cheyenne Ogletree, Alyssa Douma, Erika Meling, Sarah Schillaci, and Danielle Czohla.
2014: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Bouncing back from a rocky 2013, the Golden Girls have a banner year out at Lehigh. The top five finishers of Cheyenne Ogletree, Alyssa Vassallo, Allyson Black, Greta Sieve, and Alyssa Douma score 393 points--good for 13th place, the highest finish ever for a GSTC team. Sporting the new adidas uniforms, they finish just one place behind a traditional women's team powerhouse: Central Park TC. The B Team runs well and finishes 28th out of 38 teams, while the C Team--the first ever women's C Team in the history of this USATF event--finishes 34, beating four teams.
 Never before had the USATF seen a D Team and an E Team at this national championship event, but the newly named adidas Garden State Track Club brought both to the table. Muscled with their best A Team in club history, the crew struggled, resulting in yet another 19th place finish. That aside, the other four teams ran very well against the 68 team field. The B Team was 31st, C Team 48th, D Team 56th, and the E Team 63rd. That's correct: the E Team beat five teams, a feat perhaps that will never be matched in event history again. Chris Warren, Chris Johnson, and Ken Goglas were the club's top three finishers.
The aGSTC women's masters 40s team shocked the field with their surprise 4th place finish. Their 42 second gap between #1 and #3 was the tightest of any in the top five. Their scoring three included Michelle Brangan, Locky Trachsel, and Martha Grinnell.
To cap off one of the biggest days in club history, the men's 40s team finished 15th overall in a very competitive race. Chris Sallade was the top finisher in 34:42, followed by teammates Dan Shea, Hernan Rozemberg, Justiel Feil, and Joe Pawlish. |
| | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment