2010 Grand Prix Preview/2009 Recap

USATF of OREGON, Bob Latham, Long Distance Running Chair

GRAND PRIX SERIES

2010 PREVIEW/2009 RECAP

TITLE SPONSOR---ROAD RUNNER SPORTS

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Road Runner Sports has come on board as the sponsor of the USATF-Oregon Grand Prix Series for 2010. This year's series will have some exciting changes from the previous years format. Each race will be billed as a USATF-Oregon Road Championship. Each race will be awarding prize money, so there will be no final payout at the end of the series. Over $7,000 will be awarded in 2010. However, the overall men's and women's cumulative winners will receive a product gift from Road Runner Sports. In addition, runners who compete in all five Grand Prix races will receive an Ironman (person) Award for supporting the participating Grand Prix races. Cross Country races will not be included in the 2010 Grand Prix, but you are welcome to participate in the USATF-Oregon Association and Regional championships in November. In order to participate in the Grand Prix Series, you must be a 2010 member of the Oregon Association of USATF, so apply for your membership today.

The prize structure for the Red Lizard 5 Miler, the Pearblossom 10 Miler, the Eugene Half-Marathon, and the Bowerman AC 5k will be $300 (1st), $200 (2nd), and $100 (3rd) for Open men and women. The prize money for Masters men and women will be $100 (1st) and $50 for second. The prize distribution for the Butte-to-Butte 10k will be $200 (1st), 150 (2nd), and $100 (3rd), for Open men and women. Masters winning male and female runners will receive $100. The masters races for all events will be age-graded to give all competitors a chance to race as evenly as possible.

Coming Attractions 

The initial race on the Grand Prix menu will be the Red Lizard 5 Miler on Sunday, March 7. This USATF certified course finishes at George Rogers Park in Lake Oswego. The start time is 10 AM, and the proceeds from the race go into a special scholarship fund which supports high school track and cross country athletes. You can register online at www.signmeup.com or call Torrey Lindbo at (503) 705-6392. Additional information is available at www.teamredlizard.com.

Next on the Grand Prix racing agenda will be the legendary Pear Blossom 10 Miler in Medford. We are thrilled to continue with this event in the Grand Prix series because of its reputation and history in Southern Oregon.The race supports local running scholarship programs as well as statewide USATF youth programs. Thanks to race director Jerry Swartsley for the opportunity to compete in this classic race. Please contact Pear Blossom at (541) 535-1205 or at www.pearblossomrun.com for entry information. Entries will be available around February 1st. 

And the Winners Are

The top money winners for the 2009 Grand Prix Series were as follows:

Open Men:

1. Max King (80 points)                 $500

2. Aaron Coe (50 points)               $300

3. No third place prize money.

Open Women:

No 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place prize money.

Masters Men:

1. Chuck Coats (95 points)            $500

2. Mike Blackmore (80 points)        $300

3. Eric Holstrom (58 points)           $100

Masters Women:

1. Suzanne Ray (125 points)          $500

2. Trisha Kluge (91 points)             $300

3. Jennifer Teppo (80 points)          $100

Remember, in 2009 you needed to participate in at least two of the races in order to be eligible for a money award. Check the complete 2009 point standings at www.usatf-oregon.org. 

USATF-Oregon Mountain, Ultra, Trail

At the USATF Annual Meeting held in Indianapolis, Kami Semick was named as the USATF Ultrarunning female Runner-of-the-Year. Kami's accomplishments for 2009 included two IAU World Championships. She won the IAU World Cup 100k in Torhout, Belgium, leading the USA to a team Gold Medal. Meghan Arbogast from Corvallis was fifth on that World Championship. Kami also won the IAU World 50k in Gibraltar. She won the 50 Mile USATF Trail Championship at White River, the 50k USATF Road Championship at Caumsett Park, NY, with a new course record, the American River 50 Mile, and the Miwok 100k Trail Championship. Way to go, Kami!!!

The second annual La Sportiva/USATF-Oregon Mountain Running Series was completed with Ashland's Ian Torrance winning the Open division. Ian competed in four of the five events in the series. Taking the Masters title was new USATF member Donald Gallogly from Corvallis who was the only other runner to also complete four races. Jenn Shelton from Ashland was the Open womens winner, and Susanna Beck from Eugene won the Masters womens division. Thanks to the generousity of La Sportiva, every USATF member who scored points in the series received a FREE pair of running shoes. 

In addition to the Lithia Loop Trail Marathon, two additional USATF National Trail Championships were awarded at the Annual Meeting in Indianapolis in December. On June 12 the USATF Half-Marathon Trail Championships will be held in Bend; on September 25 the USATF 50k Trail Championships will also take place in Bend. Finally, on November 6, the USATF Trail Marathon Championships will again be held in Ashland. This makes Oregon the USATF trail mecca for the United States. Thanks to those race directors who sponsored bids for these championships.

La Sportiva will return again in 2010 as the title sponsor for the third annual Oregon Mountain Running Series. The exact events and race dates are still being finalized. A complete schedule will be published at www.usatf-oregon.org/node/322.

As in the past, Richard Bolt, the MUT coordinator for USATF-Oregon will compile a list of all of the mountain, ultra, and trail races in Oregon and publish that list on the USATF-Oregon website. Thanks Richard for all of the great work you do for USATF-Oregon on the part of Mountain, Ultra, and Trail racing throughout the state. 

Reminder 

Please check the USATF-Oregon ad in this issue of RaceCenter NW for a listing of all of the Grand Prix events for 2010. Remember, you MUST be a member of USATF-Oregon to participate in the scoring and prize money portion of the 2010 Grand Prix and the MUT series as well. Support the races in our series through your participation. Celebrate running!