June 23, 2012
For immediate release
But former Sac State standout can still earn a spot in 1,500
The Sacramento Running Association salutes former Sacramento State star Lea Wallace, who just missed Saturday in her attempt to advance to the women’s 800-meter finals at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore.
Wallace finished fifth in her semifinal heat with a 2 minute, 4.14-second effort. She posted the 11th-fastest time overall, with only the top eight advancing to Monday’s final.
Wallace is also scheduled to run in the 1,500 meter preliminaries on Thursday.
Kim Conley, a former UC Davis standout and a member of the Sacramento Running Association’s Elite Team, and Cal’s Deborah Maier, from Ponderosa High School, are scheduled to run in the first round of the women’s 5,000 meters on Monday.
Maier finished ninth in the 10,000 meter final Friday night with a 32:25.82 effort after leading for most of the first half of the race.
“I just wanted to go out at a good pace,” Maier said. “I figured that I don’t have the Olympic ‘A’ standard and there’s no pacer, so even if I don’t get the standard, maybe I’ll help someone else pulling them along. In these championship races, you might as well go for it.
“I’ll still run the 5k and try to get ready for that. It’s just such an opportunity to run at the Olympic Trials. I remember watching the last one as a high schooler and saying somehow I want to be there.”
The Sacramento Running Association 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.
SRA events include the California International Marathon, which celebrates its 30th anniversary on Dec. 2. More than 3,000 runners have already registered for the race.
Other SRA events include the Lake Natoma Four Bridges Half Marathon, The Super Bowl Sunday 10k Run and the Credit Union SACTOWN Ten-Mile Run.
SRA beneficiaries include the American River Parkway, youth fitness programs, local running venues and aspiring young runners.