Horrible late October Fires of 2003

Guy Singer (San Diego) and Rich Ede (Claremont)

San Diego and Southern Sections, Trailblazing !

Guy Singer

For the past week Firestorm 2003 has been devastating homes and expansive acreage from Ventura, San Bernardino, Camp Pendleton and San Diego down to the border. So devastating that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been called in. Most counties in southern california have been deemed national disaster sites. Unless you are callous, emotions have been stirred, lives have been disrupted, at best. The media have saturated us with updates, statistics, and enthralling video. The eastern county skies have been aglow and the sun has been a mere ominous red glow through the thick plumes of smoke in what could be pictured as a scene from some futuristic movie in which the earths doom is eminent.

In San Diego Section Dennis Ackerman cancelled all CIF sports for the week. So with all the drama what can be expected of the prototype cross country runner in these areas ? Aerobic cross training, of course ! Aqua-jogging, Pool work, indoor bicycling, rowing, and various other aerobic, and cardio vascular activities.

Cross country requires extensive base conditioning that continues throughout a three month season in which athletes continue to improve their times in search of the coveted state meet appearance. But, for those living and training in the affected areas what kind of impact could this have ? Is the playing field still level for those competing against runners from unaffected areas of the state ? Could the seven day plus disruption of physical training, not to mention the psychological impact have an adverse result on those runners ? Should they, or could they (?) postpone the CIF and State meet one week ? Perhaps that would make those unaffected, seasons too long ! There is no clear cut answer, I just wonder if ther are as many options as opinions.

I have spoken to some coaches in these areas. The opinions vary. Most believe that the elite teams would be doing somekind of proactive activity during the week off. That's probably true of the programs with the resources to do so. Will Pat King's San Pasqual girls team go on unaffected by all of this ? We will all have to wait until the end of the season to reflect. One thing is for sure, adverse conditions always provide an opportunity for the truely great athletes to shine. I wish all of those athletes the best of luck, in the hopes that somehow this years season will be remembered for the great individual and team performances in Fresno, and not overshadowed by the devastation of Firestorm 2003.

Fire Damage Claremont area around Webb School - Rich Ede/Doug Speck

The Southern California fires were terrible to observe, as many of us were residents in the middle of fires burning within an hour on all sides destroying eventually nearly 3500 homes, 700,000 acres, and resulting in the deaths of 20 people (at last count). Rich Ede of Claremont HS was good enough to go over to Webb School in Claremont and snap some pictures of the damage there. Interestingly, my own prep coaching career started at Webb School in the late 1960's when a friend of mine, John Cavanaugh, and myself took on the duties of the track and cross-country teams there. The "campus" cross-country course and track high above the campus were nice settings for training and the meets. As Rich's graphic photos below show, the damage to the cross-country course was quite complete, with the track (and campus just below) seemingly saved by the great efforts of fire-fighters in the area.

Fire burns right up to the edge of the track and campus (R Ede photo)

Cross-Country Course trail runs right through devastated fire area (R Ede photo) - typical of fire damage is total devastation right up to the edge of homeowners' property, a tribute to firefighters' professionalism and a lot of prayers!

Mondo Hill - the big hill 2.6 miles into the race and its surroundings will not heal quickly! (R Ede photo)

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