Dec. 7, 2012
For immediate release
Men’s squad sends top runners to Club Cross Country finals
The Sacramento Running Association’s Elite Team hopes to continue a strong fall season with a good performance at the USA Track & Field National Club Cross Country Championships Saturday in Lexington, Ky.
California International Marathon winner Daniel Tapia, Kevin Pool, Tim Tollefson, Charlie Brenneman, Austin Ramos and Jose Morales are scheduled to run for the SRA men’s team, one of more than 50 entered in the 10k race at Masterson State Park.
Pool, the SRA’s Elite Team manager, hopes Tapia has recovered sufficiently from his CIM victory last Sunday to contribute.
“He’s entered,” Pool said. “If he feels good, he’ll go.
“He’s been a big player in our group. If everyone runs well, and he runs, we could certainly be in the top 10.
“We’re sending a solid group of guys. We’ve been looking forward to this.”
The SRA women’s team is not entered but has also enjoyed a successful fall season.
Olympian Kim Conley broke the course record held by Sally Kipyego, the Olympic 10,000-meter silver medalist, in winning the Pacific Association 5k Road Championship held in San Jose on Thanksgiving Day in 15 minutes and 40 seconds.
SRA Elite Team member Alia Gray delivered a strong performance in her debut marathon, finishing ninth at the CIM in 2:44:21.
“The whole fall season was very successful,” Pool said. “I’m really happy.”
The Sacramento Running Association, which puts on the CIM, is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding ways to encourage people of all ages and abilities to run. The SRA is committed to developing new, quality running events that appeal to a broad variety of runners.
Other SRA events include the recently concluded Lake Natoma Four Bridges Half Marathon, the Super Bowl Sunday 10k Run on Feb. 3 and the Credit Union SACTOWN Ten-Mile Run on April 7.
SRA beneficiaries include the American River Parkway, youth fitness programs, local running venues and aspiring young runners.