Aggie teams win both open divisions at PAUSATF Cross Country Championships

The same familiar club names dominated the nine age divisions of Sunday's PAUSATF Cross Country Championships. The Asics Aggies won three team titles, Tamalpa won three, the Impalas won two and the West Valley Joggers and Striders take one team victory. These same four teams divide the nine team season titles, as well. If you are a new, or unaffiliated runner within the geographical boundaries of the Pacific Association, you would do well to consider joining one of these clubs.

The club coaches factor into at least four of the team championships, and one of the season team titles. Decisions about whether or not to drop down older runners to score for younger teams will determine the final outcome in the Masters Women, Senior Women, Super Senior Men and Veteran Men team championships. As the decision in the women's divisions will determine the season title for the Masters Women standings, it is fairly easy to guess which choice will be made. Still, there is bound to be some carefully calculated strategies involved with the final team selections. The following projections are best guesses, and do not accurately reflect the eventual outcome. 

Open Men

The Aggies dominated this race, with 5 of the first 9, and 10 of the first 21 runners. Runner-up, Transport Adidas, could manage just 5 of the first 23 runners. Every other team was simply blown away, with the River City Rebels and West Valley Track Club faring the best, finishing third and fourth respectively. Coincidentally, the finish order in the championships mirrored the finish order for the season standings, with the Aggies taking the title, Transport Adidas second, the River City Rebels thrid and WVTC fourth.

Open Women

The Aggies won a much closer race than the open men's against rival, Impalas, but the victory in the championships was not enough to secure the season title. Peninsula Distance Club took third Sunday. In the final season standings the Impalas were victorious, with the Aggies second and Tamalpa third.

Masters Men

As with the open men, the Aggies outclassed the field, taking 6 of the first 12 spots and easily defeating all other clubs. New Balance Excelsior put together their best performance of the season, taking second, as they had at the Golden Gate Open on this same course. Empire, Tamalpa and West Valley Joggers and Striders were much further back, in that order. The Aggies secured the season title, with Empire second, Tamalpa third and WVJS fourth for the season.

Masters Women

If the Jane's Elite Racing Club was from the PA, they would have won this team title. As it is, the Impalas have to choose between a team victory in the Masters Women or the Seniors Women. If they drop down Sarah Tabbutt to the Masters team they will win the championships, and the season standings as well. If they don't, Tamalpa will take the championships and the season title. The victor in the masters team championships will take second in the senior team championships. Tamalpa will win the senior season title regardless, so it is almost certain that the Impalas will drop Tabbutt down and in so doing take the master division. The Aggies will finish second or third, depending on what the Impalas choose to do. For the standings, the Impalas are expected to choose a strategy which gives them the title, Tamalpa will take second and WVTC will finish third.

Senior Men

Tamalpa held off a determined effort by the Aggies, winning the championships and the season standings. The Aggies will finish second in the championships, third in the season standings. WVJS finish third in the championships, and second in the standings.

Senior Women

Tamalpa will likely win this championship, based on the expectation that the Impalas will choose to win the Master team title instead. This will leave the Impalas in second for the championships and WVTC third. For the season, Tamalpa will take the title, the Impalas second and Empire will finish third.

Super-Senior Men

Here we find another championship title to be decided by coaches. Tamalpa and WVJS can each win one of the older two men's team championships, but neither club can win both. The decisions will determine which runners get to consider themselves part of a championship team, but won't affect the outcome of the season standings. Tamalpa or WVJS will win the championships for this division, with Buffalo Chips third. Tamalpa will win the season standings regardless of the coaching decisions, WVJS will be second and Buffalo Chips will be third.

Super-Senior Women

The Impalas finished with nearly the lowest score possible, in winning the championships. Tamalpa finishes a distant second. Nonetheless, Tamalpa will take the season title, with the Impalas settling for second.

Veteran Men

This championship is the flip-side of the Super-Senior Men's team title, with the team that places second there, winning here. WVJS or Tamalpa will win this championships, but WVJS will win the season title, with Tamalpa second.