Track And Field:

Lots of great opportunities for people to have great experiences in 2009 and for the team to shine even brighter than it did 2008.  This year the indoor nationals are in a new location for the first time since 2005.  The USATF Masters Track And Field Championships will be in Landover, Maryland, near Washington DC, March 20 - 22 and we will have a number of team members there taking a shot at improving on last year's 6th place finish.

There are other excellent opportunities indoors and for winter track.  In Nampa, Idaho, where the 2005 indoor meet was held a two day indoor extravaganza is held on February 6-7.  Frank Condon is going after some more records there and there are a lot of masters events on the program. Also, there are all comer meets all winter and some open/collegiate meets.

Outdoors of course there are the outdoor nationals which will be held in a great location in 2009, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 9-12.  This would be a great summer trip for the team.  There will also be the Western States meet put on by Parker White again this summer and it is planned for UC Davis to allow a full compliment of events, including the steeplechase, plus many other meets.

Relays.  We have an opportunity to run some great relays this year.  Both in the postal relay competition held all year and at the national events.  Records are very possible.  We just need to get four healthy bodies to run well at the same time, but we have the ability in several age groups.  Maybe we could take on Tamalpa in a meet sometime.

Individuals-  There are a number of people who will be going for outstanding marks in 2009.  I won't go down the list of names because there are so many of you who are chasing world and American records, national ranking, qualifying for the masters invitational program and much more.

 We have a developing and growing Ultra Team.  They plan to do well in the Pacific Association Grand Prix in 2009 and also some other major ultra runs.  We had some strong showings in 2008 and things should be even bigger, with more people running in 2009.  We also have some strong individuals here as well who should rank very high on a regional and national basis.

Long Distance Running 

2008 saw great inroads in the PA Grand Prix races and in some major marathons as well. We have several making the trek to Boston, having qualified at CIM and of course we will have a strong showing at the CIM in 2009.  We should once again have a strong masters women's team on the road in both the 40s and 50s and some strong men's teams as well.  Once again we will have people placing high in both the long and short series and earning comp entries for 2010.

Next fall should see a real growth in cross country running for Golden West.  Great participation and fielding teams in several age groups in the PA Cross Country Grand Prix should be a reality for us in 2009.  Maybe we could even send a team or two to the nationals which are in Lexington, Kentucky in 2009 for those who like horse racing.  Also, we will have several people achieve top 10 ranking in their age group and much higher.

So many things and possibilities.  This is just a thumbnail sketch as I am sure we will have plenty of new and exciting things in 2009.  As for me, just to do a good job coaching and helping the team be better than ever and just maybe, once my knee heals, get into some kind of shape to help the group and participate in things this summer and fall.

Happy New Year,

Randy