Impalas, Aggies put on strong team showing at Golden Gate Cross Country Open

The Impala women's teams and the Asics Aggies men's team dominated at the Golden Gate Cross Country Open held today in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, under near storm conditions.

View photo highlights from the Golden Gate Cross Country Open

Thunder and lightening rolled through the region during the pre-race period and brief spits of large rain drops peppered the participants milling around between races. It was perfect conditions for a cross country race.

The Open Men's Cross Country race at the Golden Gate Open Saturday (photo by Carolynne Juarez)

Tim Wason, of SF Running & Walking, and a large contingent of helpful volunteers, did a great job of organizing the races and keeping the runners on the course, even dealing with mercury retrograde influenced logistical problems over incorrectly delivered porta-potties. The race further distinguishes itself by awarding division winners with garden plants instead of the usual medal or ribbon. Pay attention, because these are the same organizers and the same course to be visited again for the PAUSATF Cross Country Championships November 22nd.

Moments before the start of the Women's Cross Country race at the Golden Gate Open (photo by Carolynne Juarez)

This was the third in the PAUSATF Grand Prix series of Cross Country races, and traditionally the most competitive of the non-championship events. PA LDR Officials Coordinator, Mark Winitz, was on hand, adding an air of authority to the event.

Start of the Masters Men's Cross Country race at the Golden Gate Open Saturday (photo by Carolynne Juarez)

In the women's race Linda Somers Smith repeated her victory at the Santa Cruz Challenge by winning not only the masters division, but the entire race in what is believed to be a women's course record time of 22:58. Smith is 48 years old, but a former Olympian, so the younger women can be excused if they can't keep up with her record setting pace. Rachel Booth was second in the race, winning the open division with 23:42, a time that would win the women's race most years. Annie Bersagel finished in third. Christine Kennedy continued her dominance of the women's senior division, with her victory here over runner-up Sara Freitas. Joanne Rowland was the first super-senior. Finally, a warm welcome back to Susan Lentz, who has been missed by the running community so far this season.

Phillip Reid, who was second in the PA Cross Country Championships a year ago, won the race in 20:02, the fastest time recorded on the two lap course since Peter Gilmore's 19:59 in 2003. Reid was chased to the line by David Cheromes and a fast closing Jonathan Cardenas. Gilmore came in 4th this time, just ahead of the winner of last year's open standings, Chris Chavez, who had won at Santa Cruz last month.

In the race for master's men, Chris Schille continued his winning ways from Santa Cruz and the Empire challenges, taking the top spot in 22:11. Cliff Lentz finished second, with Jeff Hongo taking third. Brian Pilcher was the top senior in seventh place overall. In the very deep super-senior division, Bill Dunn has taken each of the first three meetings this season, and with Don Porteous, his closest competition, falling at Empire and apparently not yet race ready today, Len Goldman stepped up to push Dunn. Carl Petersen won in the veterans division, narrowly beating David Norlander.

Team results are unofficial, and may be modified as clubs decide whether older runners are dropped into younger divisions to improve overall placement. Unofficially it appears that the Impala women took the open and masters divisions and are closely matched by Tamalpa for the senior division victory. For the men it appears that the Asics Aggies defeated Transport Adidas, victors from the previous two meets. The masters division looks like a battle between the Aggies and Tamalpa, the seniors a battle between Tamalpa and West Valley Joggers and Striders, with decisions about which teams the clubs place their runners onto determining the results.

The next event in the Grand Prix Cross Country series is a 5K scheduled at Garin Park in Hayward on September 26th, hosted by West Valley Track Club.

Top finishers in the Women's race

1	22:58	Linda Somers Smith (first Master)
2	23:42	Rachel Booth
3	24:08	Annie Bersagel
4	24:42	Yiou Wang
5	24:50	Megan Daly
6	24:51	Lindsay Gardina
7	24:52	Heather MacFalls
8	24:57	Nicole Campbell
9	25:01	Liz Gottlieb
10	25:06	Jennifer Derego
11	25:09	Anna Bretan
12	25:14	Allyson Estess
13	25:20	Susan Pohlymeyer
14	25:21	Rebecca Walker
15	25:22	Danielle Rope

Top Masters

Linda Somers Smith (22:58), Christine Kennedy (25:58), Sara Freitas (26:31)

Top Seniors

Christine Kennedy (25:58), Sara Freitas (26:31), Sarah Tabbutt (26:55)

Top Super-Seniors

Joanne Rowland (32:32), Edda Stickle (34:16), Irene Herman (34:25)

Top finishers in the Men's Open race

1	20:02	Phillip Reid
2	20:11	David Cheromes
3	20:12	Jonathan Cardenas
4	20:16	Peter Gilmore
5	20:18	Chris Chavez
6	20:29	Crosby Freeman
7	20:35	Jeff Lease
8	20:38	Gus Gibbs
9	20:41	Jonathan Charlesworth
10	20:43	Keith Hankins
11	20:57	Jeff Gardina
12	20:59	Sam Robinson
13	21:02	Ron Tibaduiza
14	21:07	Kevin Pierpont
15	21:08	James Nielsen

Top finishers in the Men's Masters race

1	22:11	Chris Schille
2	22:34	Cliff Lentz
3	22:44	Jeff Hongo
4	23:07	Tim Wallen
5	23:14	Peter Vicencio
6	23:16	Daniel Feder
7	23:19	Brian Pilcher (first Senior)
8	23:28	Carlos Castelo
9	23:29	John Foley
10	23:30	Brad O'Brien
11	23:31	Andy Lief
12	23:35	Jorn Jensen
13	23:38	Jim Scattini
14	23:41	Scott Bang
15	23:43	Dan Mancini
16	23:46	Kevin Ostenberg
17	23:50	Wayne Best
18	23:54	Brian Davis
19	23:55	Tom O'Reilly
20	24:00	Don Stewart