USATF Cross-Country Jr. Nationals

Top six in each race advance to World XC Championships in Switzerland!

Horowitz, Nelson claim titles!

Gotcher also makes Worlds team!

--

Clara Horowitz, former prep star at Head-Royce School in Oakland (CA.) area and now a standout at Duke University, was a surprise winner in the junior race! Billy Nelson (Taft HS, University of Colorado) came through great to win the Juniors (19-and-under) men's race, with Brett Gotcher (Aptos HS, Stanford University) taking fourth. All three are heading to Switzerland next month for the World Cross-Country Championships! Congratulations!

Results courtesy of USATF

Men 8 km Meter Run CC Junior
=======================================================================
Name Year Team Finals Points
=======================================================================
1 Billy Nelson Unattached 27:08.00 (Taft HS '02, Univ. of Colorado)
2 Bret Schoolmeester Unattached 27:17.00
3 Andy Weilacher Unattached 27:19.00
4 Brett Gotcher Unattached 27:25.00 (Aptos HS '02, Stanford U.)
5 Timothy Moore Unattached 27:29.00
6 James Hower Unattached 27:31.00
7 Joseph Gray Unattached 27:40.00
8 Jason Bill Starved Rock Run 27:51.00
9 Chris Solinsky Unattached 27:53.00
10 Aaron Aguayo Unattached 27:59.00
11 Micah VenDenend Unattached 28:00.00
12 Galen Rupp Unattached 28:00.00
13 John Crews Unattached 28:01.00
14 Payton Batliner Unattached 28:18.00
15 Mint Henk Unattached 28:23.00
16 Bobby Curtis Unattached 28:25.00
17 Travis Boyd Unattached 28:25.00
18 Ryan Deak Cent. FL Gliders 28:36.00
19 Alex Romero Unattached 28:40.00
20 Matthew Keally Unattached 28:46.00
21 Chris Jacobson Unattached 28:47.00
22 Mike Sayenko Unattached 28:51.00
23 Mark Batres Unattached 28:53.00 (Don Bosco Tech HS '02, Cal Poly Pomona)
24 Forrest Tahdooahnippah Wings of America 29:01.00 1
25 Marc Pelerin Unattached 29:20.00
26 Daniel Lyon Unattached 29:25.00 (Sultana HS '02)
27 Brian Sullivan Unattached 29:29.00
28 Shane Dougherty Unattached 29:32.00 (El Toro HS '02, Rancho Santiago College)
29 Rolf Steier Unattached 29:41.00
30 Peter Meindl Unattached 29:43.00
31 Brett Carter Unattached 29:45.00
32 James Krawczyk Unattached 29:49.00 (Rancho Santiago College)
33 Alec Wall Unattached 29:50.00
34 Jonathan Serrell Metroplex Str.-R 29:56.00 2
35 Gregory Castro Boulder RR 30:00.00
36 Dane Hurtubise Unattached 30:01.00
37 Jon Hickey Unattached 30:08.00
38 Logan Sherman Metroplex Str.-R 30:11.00 3
39 Thomas Antenucci Unattached 30:11.00
40 Andrew Middleton Unattached 30:13.00
41 Mitch Sanders Unattached 30:22.00
42 Marshall Medicine Bear Wings of America 30:28.00 4
43 Andrew Fuchs Unattached 30:32.00
44 Colin Meyers Unattached 30:34.00
45 Craig Segal Unattached 30:39.00
46 David Sumner Unattached 30:47.00
47 Jonathan Harmon Wings of America 30:47.00 5
48 Tyler Chapman Metroplex Str.-R 30:55.00 6
49 Lance Hall Unattached 31:02.00
50 Jesse Mang Unattached 31:48.00
51 Brett Olson Unattached 31:49.00
52 William Smallwood Wings of America 31:54.00 7
53 Leor Pantilat Unattached 32:03.00
54 Michael Hanson Metroplex Str.-R 32:31.00 8
55 Patrick Grass Wings of America 33:14.00 9
56 Ryan Lawrence Boulder RR 33:16.00
57 Chris Miller Metroplex Str.-R 34:11.00 10
58 Sheldon Benally Unattached 34:11.00
59 Wesley Walker Life Sports TC 36:01.00
60 Justin Marsette Wings of America 37:25.00 11
61 Bjay Matt Unattached 37:42.00
62 Matthew Alves Sonics Youth TC 40:15.00

Team Scores
===============================================================================
Pl Team Total 1 2 3 4 *5 *6 *7 *8
===============================================================================
1 Wings of America 17 1 4 5 7 9 11
Total Time: 2:02:10.00
Average: 30:32.50
2 Dallas Metroplex Striders 19 2 3 6 8 10
Total Time: 2:03:33.00
Average: 30:53.25

Reebok Aggies -- Team Champions!

Jennifer James, Linzy Allen, Kelly Ortlieb, Casey Nevitt, Kim Conley and Ellen Thompson combined to lead the Reebok Aggies to the team title at the USATF Cross-Country Jr. National Championships in Houston! These young ladies had to slosh through the mud to win it all! Their backsides are muddy, but great smiles on the front side! (Post-race photos courtesy of Spencer Allen, passed along to us by Dan Cruz.)

Women 6 km Run CC Junior
=======================================================================
Name Year Team Finals Points
=======================================================================
1 Clara Horowitz Unattached 23:34.00 (Head-Royce School '02, Duke Univ.)
2 Laura Hodgson Unattached 24:10.00
3 Amy Hastings Unattached 24:19.00
4 Rebecca Walter Unattached 24:21.00
5 Julia Lucas Unattached 24:25.00
6 Angela Homan Unattached 24:39.00
7 Valerie Lauver Unattached 25:10.00
8 Christine Bolf Unattached 25:20.00 (Notre Dame Academy '02, U. of Colorado)
9 Amber Harper Unattached 25:21.00
10 Nelly Anderson Unattached 25:31.00
11 Laura Stanley Unattached 25:41.00
12 Rachael Forish Metroplex Str.-R 25:56.00 1
13 Jackie Zeigle Unattached 26:18.00
14 Erin Henry Unattached 26:21.00
15 Noelani Kaneko Unattached 26:38.00
16 Brittany Brockman Unattached 26:46.00
17 Jennifer James Reebok Aggie RC 26:49.00 2 (Chico State/Enterprise HS, Redding)
18 Lindsay Allen Reebok Aggie RC 26:53.00 3 (College Park HS '03)
19 Kalysta Harmon Unattached 26:57.00
20 Kelly Ortlieb Reebok Aggie RC 27:01.00 4 (Foothill, Redding HS '02, Chico St.)
21 Sheyenne Lewis Wings of America 27:02.00 5
22 Roxann James Wings of America 27:05.00 6
23 Shannon Saunders Unattached 27:09.00
24 Rachel Collins Metroplex Str.-R 27:14.00 7
25 Casey Nevitt Reebok Aggie RC 27:24.00 8 (Aptos HS '03)
26 Marianne Fusselman Metroplex Str.-R 27:38.00 9
27 Jessica Hale Wings of America 27:48.00 10
28 Phoebe Garcia Wings of America 28:07.00 11
29 Krystal Rodriguez Metroplex Strid. 28:28.00
30 Cateka Tsosie Wings of America 28:32.00 12
31 Erin Bedell Metroplex Strid. 28:35.00
32 Jessica Anderson Unattached 28:50.00
32 Faith Barlow Unattached 28:50.00
34 Andrea Delicati Metroplex Str.-R 29:04.00 13

35 Lauren Swenson Metroplex Strid. NT 16
36 Lyndsy Bedell Metroplex Strid. NT 17
37 Crystal Larue Unattached NT
38 Kim Conley Reebok Aggie RC NT 18
38 Kristin St. Germaine Wings of America NT 19
40 Ellen Thompson Reebok Aggie RC NT 20
41 Lisa Marx Unattached NT

Team Scores
=============================================================================
Pl Team Total 1 2 3 4 *5 *6 *7 *8
=============================================================================
1 Reebok Aggie Running Club 17 2 3 4 8 18 20
Total Time: 1:48:07.00
Average: 27:01.75
2 Wings of America 32 5 6 10 11 13 19
Total Time: 1:50:02.00
Average: 27:30.50
3 Dallas Metroplex Striders-Red 32 1 7 9 15
Total Time: 1:49:52.00
Average: 27:28.00
4 Dallas Metroplex Striders 59 12 14 16 17
Total Time: 1:57:06.00
Average: 29:16.50

Culpeppers win U.S. Cross Country titles

HOUSTON, Texas – By winning the men’s 12-kilometer race and the women’s
four-kilometer races respectively, Alan and Shayne Culpepper made history
Sunday at the 2003 USA Cross Country Championships at Buffalo Bayou Park in
Houston, Tex.

Alan Culpepper won his second men’s long course title in a spirited battle
with two-time defending champion Meb Keflezighi, and his wife Shayne won her
first U.S. cross country title in the women’s 4 km race after winning the
women’s 6 km title at the 2002 USA Fall Nationals in Rocklin, California.
With their wins today, the Culpeppers became the first married couple to win
U.S. Cross Country titles in the same year.

In today’s Junior Men’s competition, the University of Colorado’s Bill
Nelson defeated runner-up and Colorado teammate Bret Schoolmeester by a
nine-second margin. Defending men’s junior champion Timothy Moore finished
fifth.

The top-six finishers at this year’s USA Cross Country Championships
qualify for the 2003 IAAF World Cross County Championships, March 29-30. The
USA Championships follows the same format as the upcoming World
Championships, with six races over a two-day span.

The following is a listing of the top 15 finishers in Sunday’s races, along
with quotes from selected athletes and a race in review for each contest.
Complete results may be found on the USATF Web site at ww.usatf.org.

OPEN MEN – 12,008 Meters
1. Alan Culpepper (adidas), 38:22
2. Meb Keflezighi (Nike), 38:34
3. Edwardo Torres (University of Colorado), 39:04
4. Nick Rogers (Nike), 39:31
5. Abdi Abdirahman (Nike), 39:36
6. Chad Johnson (Nike), 39:43
7. David Cullum (Nike Farm Team), 39:44
8. Robert Gary (adidas), 39:45
9. Gregory Jimmerson (Nike Farm Team), 39:52
10. Michael Donnelly (Nike), 40:03
11. Dave Davis (Nike), 40:03
12. Chris Seaton (adidas), 40:10
13. Richard Brinker (Hansons Running Shop), 40:13
14. Nolan Swanson (ASICS), 40:32
15. Thomas Kloos (adidas), 40:35

TEAM SCORING: 1. Nike – 14 points; 2. adidas – 32; 3. The Farm Team – 57; 4.
Hansons Running Shop – 65; 5. U.S. Army – 79; 6. U.S. Air Force – 126; 7.
U.S. Marines – 137; 8. U.S. Navy – 145.

Culpepper Notes: The runner-up in the 10,000 meters at the 2000 Olympic
Trials, Culpepper was the U.S. Cross Country long course champ in 1999 and
the top American finisher that year at the IAAF World Cross Country
Championships (21st). The 1999 U.S. 10,000 meter champ, Culpepper was second
in the 5,000m, and third in the 10,000 meters at the 2001 USA Outdoor
Championships. Known for his versatility, Culpepper ended the 2001 campaign
ranked #4 at 3,000m #5 at 5,000m and #3 at 10,000 meters in the U.S. by
Track & Field News. He ended the 2002 season ranked #3 in the U.S. at
10,000m after placing third at the USA Outdoor Championships.

RACE IN REVIEW: The final championship race saw 74 athletes in a huge pack
charge on to the wet, slick, muddy, blustery course for six trips around the
figure-eight circuit. While the top six spots for the world team were
identified early, it was a fascinating race to watch as the runners surged
back and fourth, sometimes singly, other times in pairs. A summary of the
loop-by-loop action is as follows: First west loop (3:13): Alan Culpepper
and Meb Keflezighi together. On the first east loop (6:23): Culpepper and
Keflezighi. Second west loop (9:30): Culpepper and Keflezighi, then Abdi
Abdirahman, then Edwardo Torres, Robert Gary and Nick Rogers together. On
the second east loop (12:41), Culpepper and Keflezighi, then Abdirahman,
then Torres and Gary, then Dave Davis and Rogers. Third west loop (15:51):
Culpepper and Keflezighi, then Abdirahman, then Torres, then Gary and Davis
together. Third east loop (19:01), Keflezighi and Culpepper, then
Abdirahamn, then Torres, Rogers and Gary, then Davis in single file. Fourth
west loop (22:11): Culpepper and Keflezighi, then Torres, Abdirahman,
Rogers, Gary and Davis. Fourth east loop (25:22): Culpepper and Keflezighi,
Abdirahman and Torres, then Rogers, then Gary and Davis. Fifth west loop
(28:36): Culpepper and Keflezighi, Abdirahman, Torres, then Gary and Davis.
Fifth east loop (31:48): Keflezighi and Culpepper shared the lead followed
by Torrez and Abdirahman. Rogers and Gary followed close behind. Sixth west
loop (34:56): Keflezighi and Culpepper were in the lead followed by Torres
then Abdirahman and Rogers. On the final east loop, Culpepper surged
strongly to take the lead over Keflezighi. Torres also established his
superiority in third over Abdirahman with Nick Rogers surging strongly to
take fourth.

Alan Culpepper Quotes:

On the conditions: It’s a pretty close toss-up between here and Ireland in
1999. Here there were almost no places where there was solid, safe footing.
So, it was definitely a challenging course. I was just trying to stay on my
feet and run hard. When you have conditions like this, you can’t have too
much of a game-plan, I was just running and see what happens

It was just random where each of us felt better than the other one and we’d
go around and you couldn’t get away.

On the final circuit versus Keflezighi: I felt strong, actually I was doing
really well on the downhills which typically isn’t my strength, so I was
able to roll up a lot of that just on that last steep downhill and then I
caught him on the uphill and we stayed together until about 600 to go or so.

Once I caught him again and went around him, I felt pretty confident once I
get to that last half-mile go. He’s a tough runner – he’s really tough – so
I’m definitely psyched when I get to beat him.

I think both of us came in not completely at our bests, honestly. The
marathon can kind of throw things off a little bit with our normal
build-ups, and I think he was in the same situation. Because of running the
marathon in the fall, I didn’t get a normal base phase running into this
race, so I’m just kind of out of my element having not done a typical
build-up

On Shayne and he both winning: It’s exciting, I’m so proud of her. I knew
she had a bad day yesterday and I knew she was really fit. I’m just glad
she was able to be mentally strong and come back and run a great race.

On a possible” family affair” at World Cross: I’m not sure yet, we have to
figure out some of the details. I’m not completely set whether I’m going or
not, honestly. Cross country isn’t my favorite thing in the world. Our
plate’s pretty full and I’ve learned I can’t do everything. I have to pick
and choose the things I think are important for myself. Moving more toward
the marathon in the coming years I want to solidify my 10K and especially my
5K PRs, and make a shot at that American record in the 10K. I just have to
weigh all the options.

Meb Keflezighi—Alan’s a great runner, and it was a good dual, and I tried to
make a surge before the kick, but he wanted to get it over before the kick.
I did the best that I could for today, and I am happy to be going to
Lausanne. I think we’ve got the potential for a pretty good team going to
Lausanne. I think we can do very well.

It was hard trying to pass…hard to accelerate through the mud…I had a hard
time going down the hill, but I was running well up the hill. I was strong
up the hill, but Alan was stronger down the hill.

Edwardo Torres—This course was a perfect fit for me…mud, hills. My training
leading up to this race has been great, even though I have not had George
(twin brother Jorge) and Dathan to train with. It’s been a different
situation for me. I’ve been able to train myself to get into good shape. I
plan on running the 5k indoors (for the Univ. of Colorado) before the world
championships.

OPEN WOMEN – 4,148 Meters
1. Shayne Culpepper (adidas), 15:10
2. Collette Liss (Nike), 15:19
3. Ann Marie Brooks (Team New Balance), 15:22
4. Amy Rudolph (adidas), 15:23
5. Sarah Toland (Nike), 15:27
6. Molly Austin (Unattached), 15:34
7. Heather Sagan (adidas), 15:36
8. Sara Gorton (Unattached), 15:37
9. Sally Hauser (Nike), 15:41
10. Katie Sabino (adidas), 15:44
11. Libbie Hickman (Nike), 15:48
12. Kelly MacDonald (ASICS), 15:52
13. Janet Trujillo (Nike), 15:56
14. Sarah Hann (Team New Balance), 16:15
15. Marie Davis (The Farm Team), 16:16

TEAM SCORING: 1. adidas – 16; 2. Nike – 20

Culpepper Notes: The 2002 USA Fall Cross Country women’s champion,
Culpepper is a former Big 12 Outdoor 1,500m and 3,000m champion at the
University of Colorado. She finished sixth in the 1,500m at the 2001 USA
Outdoor Championships and third in that event in 1999. A 2000 Olympian,
Culpepper finished fourth in the 1,500 meters at the 2000 U.S. Olympic
Trials in Sacramento.

RACE IN REVIEW: The short course senior women ran two times around this wet,
muddy, figure circuit to choose the team bound for Lausanne. After the first
west end loop (3:38), the field of 37 had already separated with Colette
Liss, Janet Trujillo, Amy Rudolph and Ann Marie Brooks running single file
at the front. After completing the first east end loop (7:77), it was Liss,
Rudolph, Trujillo, and now Shayne Culpepper single file up in front.
Completion of the second west end loop (11:04) saw the lead consist of Liss,
Culpepper, Rudolph, Brooks, Sarah Toland, Molly Austin and Sara Gorton. On
the final east loop, Culpepper took command over Liss, with Brooks surging
to outkick Rudolph for the third spot on the team.

Culpepper Quotes: Yesterday I made a big mistake and I went out way too
hard, so I really sat back today and let the race unfold. I felt yesterday
in my head, I was really focusing toward longer events – 8K, 10K – and
conditions caught me by surprise.

On the opportunity to go to the World Championships with Alan: We’ll see
what happens. Right now I’m just trying to soak up the win. It’s my first
national title and I’ve been working really, really hard, so yesterday was
really crushing, so I really saw that my hard work and my strength came
through to help me.

Yesterday I just panicked. [Culpepper dropped out of yesterday’s women’s 8
km championships]. It was the conditions and I wasn’t expecting that. I
didn’t really pay attention to how I was feeling and I got caught up in the
race. Today I just stayed focused on myself and how I was feeling, and let
the race unfold.

Actually, going up-hill is one of my strengths; downhill is one of my
weaknesses. When we got here on Thursday, I was really pleased with the
course. I think it was laid out completely perfectly. The mud, however,
was what I had to adjust my plans for.

On when she felt she might be able to win: About halfway … I saw kind of
where my gap was and knew how I felt and thought I should be able to catch
the leader. [Collette Liss]

On winning fall and winter titles this season: The conditions were similar
to this at that race so just getting out there and being on that terrain. It
was as sloppy in certain areas, but Rocklin (the fall site) had that
backstretch that was a little bit drier and you could get your momentum
going better. This was bad almost every step of the way, and yesterday was
worse than today.

On motherhood and running: I think it’s helped me tremendously with my life
and my training. It puts life in perspective and you don’t have time to sit
around and sulk about bad races and bad workouts. You have a baby there and
it’s such joy and such fun.

I was able to get up today have a fresh start and refocus.

Collette Liss—I just ran as best as I could. Shayne’s such an incredible
runner. She was tough today. I was running scared the last 200 meters. I
didn’t want to come all this way and get passed (at the end), so I just gave
it everything I could, and took off as fast as possible.

Ann Marie Brooks—The strategy was to hang on with the front people as long
as I could, and not let up…I found out from running the 8k yesterday (11th)
that if you gave an inch on the mud, you can never regain it. If the top
girls got even two feet, you can’t get it back, and lose contact. I was
tired from the 8k but the knowledge I gained more than made up for it. The
World Cross Country Championships will be way upscale competition. I came
here and was only entered in the 8k, but my husband Clay said, “You go down
and pay the $15 and enter the 4k. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here’.

Brooks is coached by former WR holder in the 10,000m Arturo Barrios, and
lives in Boulder, CO.

JUNIOR MEN – 8,078 Meters
1. Bill Nelson (Univ. of Colorado), 27:08
2. Bret Schoolmeester (Univ. of Colorado), 27:17
3. Andy Weilacher (Unattached), 27:19
4. Brett Gotcher (Stanford), 27:25
5. Timothy Moore (Notre Dame), 27:29
6. James Hower (Georgetown), 27:31
7. Joseph Gray (Univ. of Portland), 27:40
8. Jason Bill (Starved Rock), 27:51
9. Chris Solinsky (Stevens Point (WI) HS), 27:53
10. Aaron Aguayo (Unattached), 27:59
11. Micah Ven Denend (Unattached), 28:00
12. Galen Rupp (Portland, Oregon), 28:00
13. John Crews (Glasgow, Va.), 28:01
14. Payton Batliner (Univ. of Colorado), 28:18
15. Mint Henk (Braintree, Vermont), 28:23

RACE IN REVIEW: Weather conditions were windy and chilly (45 degrees) as 62
athletes toed the line and began their four-lap journey on this wet,
slippery, muddy 2-kilometer figure-eight circuit. At the end of the first
west end loop (3:22) it was a foursome of Joe Gray, Bill Nelson, Tim Moore
and Chris Solinsky leading the pack. After the first east loop (6:43) it was
Solinsky, Moore and Nelson. After the second west loop (10:02) and second
east loop (13:24), the lead had not changed. After the third west loop
(16:47), Brian Sullivan joined the leading threesome, with seven others
close behind. After the third east loop (20:10), the lead group now
consisted of Nelson and Moore, accompanied by Bret Schoolmeester. After the
fourth west loop (23:30), Nelson led the group including Schoolmeester,
Moore and Andy Weilacher. After the final east loop (26:42), beginning a
sprint toward the finish, it was Nelson, Schoolmeester and Weilacher.

Billy Nelson---I wanted to get out fast, because I wanted to get away from
the mud, and there’s a lot of good runners, and I didn’t want to get caught
up in the pack. I’ve raced against a lot of these guys and I knew the guys
that I had to key off of. I felt good, but felt a bit tired on the third
lap, but I kicked it in with about 600 to go.

I was a little bit more nervous about this race than I was last year, as
there’s so many good guys coming up.

I have been focusing on this meet…I’ve only run two indoor meets this
season….there were about 10 (college) guys capable of making the team.

The mud was going to slow things down, but the fact that my short stature
and the fact that I am light weight helped, especially going through the
hills. I got a lot of advice from some of the girls on my team, and also
from some of the pro runners, in terms of what kind of spikes to wear,
keeping on my toes, etc. It didn’t change my race strategy, but it did
change the way I looked at the course.

DyeStatCal News

is published by

Editor: Doug Speck
Publisher: John Dye

�2002 by DyeStat