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Bay Area Track Club greatly impacting their local communities2-24-2011INDIANAPOLIS - The USATF Foundation took a look back at its Distance Center funding for 2010 during its recent board meeting and the feeling was unanimous; the Bay Area Track Club (BATC) is hitting on all cylinders. BATC, based in Oakland, CA, and serving the entire San Francisco Bay Area community, is currently one of seven approved Distance Centers throughout the country that’s supported in part, by the USA Track & Field Foundation through the USA Distance Project. “BATC started with ambitious goals for the support of some of America's top athletes, as well as for community action,” said Jack Wickens, USATF Foundation Director & USATF Vice-Chair. “Congratulations on executing beautifully on both goals,” continued Wickens. As evidence of their commitment to elite and youth track & field, the club recently sponsored two highly successful events; the inaugural Bay Area Cross Challenge (BAXC) & the Spring 2011 BATC Kids Clinic. The BAXC held on January 16, 2011, presented a unique opportunity to San Francisco Bay Area runners to compete alongside professional runners from around the country on a cross country course in Golden Gate Park. Local athletes towed the line with the likes of Molly Huddle (5000 meter American record holder), Magdalena Lewy-Boulet (2008 Olympic marathoner/club member) and David Torrence (elite middle distance runner/club member), running the challenging Polo Fields course in front of cheering men, women & children. Elite athletes from as far away as New York City, and representing many of the Distance Centers, were on-hand to compete and support this inaugural event. “We were very pleased that other distance centers chose to send athletes to the BAXC,” said Tony Kauke, President/Co-Founder, BATC. “Those athletes certainly made our event more special, and we hope the race helped them prepare for USA Cross Nationals and beyond.” Besides the open women’s and men’s competitions, races for under-20 girls and boys were also contested. A rousing kid’s race ended the day’s competition, followed by food, raffles & prizes, music & the opportunity to mingle and chat with the professional runners in an informal, relaxed setting. Other BATC club members handled every duty imaginable, from leading the raffle, handing out prizes, to stocking the food booths…a true team effort. Feedback from the athletes, attendess and community was excellent. Plans are already under way for the 2012 Bay Area Cross Challenge, with deeper men’s & women’s elite fields expected. Club organizers look for this event to become a fixture on USATF’s cross country calendar. For additional information about the Bay Area Cross Challenge, please visit http://www.bayareatrackclub.com/page/BAXC-2011. The Spring 2011 Kids Clinic was held at both Campolindo High School in Moraga, CA (2/12/11) & School of the Arts/McAteer High School in San Francisco (2/19/11). The clinic targeted kids 12-18 years old of all ability levels, with elite runners offering guidance on training and competing for success. These young athletes were instructed in the proper technique for warming up, building speed & mechanics, efficient recovery from hard efforts, core/general strength, dynamic flexibility & establishing a pre-race routine. Please click the following link for highlights from the Campolindo clinic: http://www.flotrack.org/video/459187-2011-Bay-Area-Track-Club-Clinic-Campolindo-High-School. The USATF Foundation provides a means to attract and guide funds to new and innovative track and field programs with an emphasis on providing opportunities for youth athletes, emerging elite athletes, distance training centers and anti-doping education. The Foundation depends upon donations from its Board of Directors and from generous fans of track & field. For more information or to contribute to the USA Track & Field Foundation, visit www.usatffoundation.org.
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BAY AREA TRACK CLUB MEMBERS |
