So Cal Roadrunners
Win Girls Youth Division
USATF JO's 2006 Cross Country
by Danny Castro

 
Awards - Melanie Powers near finish - Meet Album for Team

December 9th, 2006 competition
Spokane, Washington

USATF National Junior Olympics

The Southern California Road Runners win the girls youth (age 13-14)
Division National Title.

The race was held December 9, 2006 in Spokane Washington with snow on
the ground. Although the snow was cleared back from the course, the course
was still frozen.
First girl in for the SCRoadRunners Club was Melanie Powers, a
14-year-old freshman at Wilson High School in Hacienda Heights. Melanie is
the daughter of Derrick Powers a record holder at Arroyo High School. He
was a member of the “Fab four” Arroyo High’s fastest team in the state back
in the 80’s. In addition, Melanie’s mom, Vanessa Powers a one-time runner
for Wilson High School, still holds a track record at Wilson. Melanie’s
younger sister, Ashlee Powers a 12-year-old seventh grader at Cedarlane in
Hacienda Heights, was also on the winning youth girl’s team. What a joy it
is to see the tradition of running continuing in a family.
Melanie’s time of 15:19 over the frozen 4K course was good enough to
get her 17th place out of 240 runners in the race and All-American honors.
Top 25 make the All-American. “Melanie and Ashlee are such a pleasure to
coach”, said Road Runner’s coach Danny Castro, “they never back away from a
work-out and always put their trust in what I say, I give a plan for each
race and they work it to perfection”. “They make coaching look easy,” says
Coach Danny. The other team members of the winning team were Danika Bark
(Palos Verdes), Hannah Valenzuela (Apple Valley), Taylor Hebb (Alta Loma),
Carmille Garcia (Fountain Valley), Elyse Capestany (Highland), and Audrey
Correa (Rubidoux).