Caitlin Chock (Granite Bay) talks about her 17:15 All-Time Performance at Crystal Springs

Up the hill at the mile with a big lead (Scott Chisam photo) - Chock purrs along on the way to her #9 All-Time performer effort at Crystal Springs (Hank Lawson photo)

One of the pleasant surprises this Fall has been the running of Caitlin Chock of Granite Bay HS, who charged a super 17:26 to win her race at Stanford, then this past weekend moved into prepdom's elite end of the All-Time list at the Crystal Springs Course in the CCS with her 17:15 that made her the #9 Performer ever on that often used Championship venue. With most ahead of her on the All-Time list racing in November Championship affairs, Catlin's early October run was particularly impressive. She took the time from her busy schedule to answer a few questions for us on her running and the great race, with the approach to, and sense of carrying the effort out, always fun to read about when someone performs so magnificently. Interesting goal tied into her family during the event (read below about mom's excellent performance), with the Stanford Girls group adding a bit of inspiration to the weekend!

Thanks Caitlin - continued best of luck - Doug Speck - DyeStatCal

1) Describe the race briefly and how it went in relation to other runners?

Because of the downhill start, I was able to get out quickly. I didn't take the lead until a little before the half mile mark. from that point on I just tried to focus on my own race. I had no idea as to what time or pace I was at, so I just stayed relaxed. When I reached the top of "cardiac hill", someone yelled to me that I was on pace to hit a 17:15. I thought he was just crazy, but I continued to just push myself. But when I was about 75 meters from the finish, my mom yelled to me that I was at 17 minutes, and I just tried to get as close to 17 as I could.

2) What strategy did you have in mind coming into the meet?

Because I have never raced this course before, let alone seen it, I had no expectations. I wasn't sure who the competition would be in the race, so I just went into it thinking that I should go out smart, and race how I felt. the only really big goal for me was to beat my mom's pr on that course when she was in
junior college: 17:44. :)

3) How do you run the Crystal Springs course (think of it as a "hill
course,"work the downhills," "hold your own on hills, work the flat" ??? -
how do you approach it)—

I definitely think that this was a hilly course, because of the couple steep uphills. So I used the course to work on my hill running for the upcoming footlocker meet at Mt. Sac. (that course has some MIGHTY nice hills:))

4) How did you feel at the Serra meet compared to your race at Stanford?

I felt a LOT better at the Serra meet than at the Stanford meet. I'm not sure exactly why, but I just felt stronger. Plus, when I arrived to look at the course on friday afternoon, I was amazed to see that the Stanford girls' cross country team was holding practice there!!! I got to watch Alicia Craig, Sara Bei, and the rest of the girls run a training course, and it was so impressive. (I even saw Megan altenbach...she was on her recruiting trip to Stanford) they were so nice, and they even wished me good luck...so maybe that's why I did so well:)

5) Briefly what did you do for training from Monday to Friday leading up to
the Crystal Springs race (very briefly okay)--?

I took it easy early in the week, and did my last speed workout on Thursday. On Friday I just did and easy run on the course to get familiar with it.

6) What is coming up?

I have a couple league meets, but the next big race that I will be focusing on is definitely state meet. after that, I hope to run well at the footlocker west meet, and qualify for the footlocker nationals. I will just relax and enjoy the rest of my season!!

Thanks so much for your time, effort, and support, Doug. Hopefully I'll see you around!!

~~Caitlin

ALL TIME CRYSTAL SPRINGS LIST (Bob Rush)

Check the select company below Caitlin moved into on the All-Time Lists at Crystal Springs with her performance last weekend - #9 All-Time Performer and #14 All-Time Performance on the oft-used facility!!! - CONGRATS!!! Realize all ahead of her on the following list all-time except for maybe MacSwain accomplished their time in mid or late November in Section Championship action or the first year when the Kinney (now Foot Locker) National Championships had their Western Regional on this course (Ellen Lyons of Idaho was the National Champ that year - CR holder!) - CONGRATS!!!

Caitlin as DyeStatCal Athlete of Week - Interview

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS - BEST MARKS LIST - Bob Rush
CRYSTAL SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY COURSE
2.95 miles (present course established 1972, first races 1977)
(entries current through 2001)

ALL TIME LIST OF INDIVIDUALS
Entry Runner Mile
Rank Rank Name Class School, City Time Pace Year
1 Ellen Lyons* Sr Bishop Kelly, Boise, ID 16:31 5:36 1979 KWest (Kinney Nat'l Champ)
2 Laurie Chapman Sr Gunderson, San Jose 16:44 5:41 1985 CCS (State 3200 Champ 10:12.86 3200)
3 Vickie Cook So Alemany, Mission Hills 16:50 5:43 1979 KWest (State 3200 Champ 10:11.78 3200)
4 Rebecca Chamberlain Sr Leigh, San Jose 17:00 5:46 1985 CCS (#11 AT US HS 5000 16:49.5)
5 Roxanne Bier Jr San Jose Cndrgls 17:02 5:47 1978 CA-AAU (#5 AT US HS 10,000 34:54.8)
6 Katy McCandless** Jr Castilleja, PA 17:09 5:49 1986 Reg1 (10:28.80 2 mile 1988 #5 US for year)
7 Eliza Carney Sr McClintock, Tempe, AZ 17:11 5:50 1979 KWest (Qualiifer Kinney Nationals CC)
8 Robyn MacSwain Jr Terra Linda, SR 17:14 5:51 1980 CSI (10:45.3 2 mile 1980)
9 CAITLIN CHOCK (GRANITE BAY) So 17:15 5:51 2002 SERRA INV

ALL TIME LIST OF PERFORMANCES
Meet
1 1 Ellen Lyons* Sr Bishop Kelly, Boise, ID 16:31 5:36 1979 KWest
2 2 Laurie Chapman Sr Gunderson, San Jose 16:44 5:41 1985 CCS
3 3 Vickie Cook So Alemany, Mission Hills 16:50 5:43 1979 KWest
4 4 Rebecca Chamberlain Sr Leigh, San Jose 17:00 5:46 1985 CCS
5 Chapman Sr Gunderson, San Jose 17:01 5:47 1985 CSI
6 5 Roxanne Bier Jr San Jose Cndrgls 17:02 5:47 1978 CA-AAU
7t Chapman Sr Gunderson, San Jose 17:09 5:49 1985 Reg2
7t 6 Katy McCandless** Jr Castilleja, PA 17:09 5:49 1986 Reg1
9 7 Eliza Carney Sr McClintock, Tempe, AZ 17:11 5:50 1979 KWest
10 Chamberlain Jr Leigh, San Jose 17:12 5:50 1984 CSI
11t McCandless Jr Castilleja, Palo Alto 17:13 5:51 1986 CCS
11t McCandless Sr Castilleja, Palo Alto 17:13 5:51 1987 CCS3
13t 8T Robyn MacSwain Jr Terra Linda, SR 17:14 5:51 1980 CSI
14 9 CAITLIN CHOCK GRANITE BAY 17:15 5:51 2002 SERRA INV
15 McCandless Jr Castilleja, Palo Alto 17:19 5:53 1986 CSI
16 Alejandria Barrientos Jr San Lorenzo Valley 17:21 5:53 1999 CCS
17 10 Cory Schubert Sr Del Mar, San Jose 17:23 5:54 1982 CM3
18 Chamberlain Sr Leigh, San Jose 17:26 5:55 1985 CSI
19 11 Shannon Clark Fr Mountain View (closed) 17:27 5:55 1982 CCS

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