Tom Kloos of Transport Adidas and Clara Peterson of New Balance were the winners in Saturday's Empire Open Cross Country Challenge held at Spring Lake in Santa Rosa, California. Tom's winning time was 17:10, with a seven second margin over runner-up Jonathan Charlesworth of West Valley Track Club. Clara, who I believe has returned after having a baby last year, finished in 20:12, with nearly a minute margin of victory over women's Masters division victor Valerie Young of Tamalpa. Christine Kennedy of WVTC was the women's Senior division winner.
Tom Kloos winning the Men's Open race at the Empire Cross Country Challenge
Chris Schille, of the Asics Aggies, won the men's Masters race in 18:52 over Jeff Hongo in 19:17. Tim O'Rourke of Tamalpa led the men's Senior division runners in 20:10, while Bill Dunn of West Valley Joggers and Striders was the top Super Senior in 22:58.
Clara Peterson winning the Women's race
Unofficial team results have the Impala's winning the women's race and Tamalpa winning both the women's Masters and Seniors divisions. On the men's side, Transport Adidas was the first team, with the West Valley Joggers & Striders taking the Master's division and Tamalpa taking the Senior division.
Some 250 runners braved very hot weather on the 3.43 mile cross country course, approximately 75 more runners than participated at least year's events. With the first two races of the Grand Prix Cross Country series now completed, it definitely appears that this year there are many more people interested in competing than have been seen over the past few years.
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