USATF Mourns the Loss of former USATF San Diego Association President Ken Bernard
SAN DIEGO -- Longtime USATF San Diego Association President and the first national masters chair Ken Bernard passed away over the holiday break at the age of 88.
A memorial service for Ken will be held at 9 a.m. PT on Friday, January 9th:
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá,
10818 San Diego Mission Road,
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 283-7319
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for individuals to donate to a charity of their choosing in Ken’s name. For a full obituary, please visit MastersTrack.com.
Olympian Ritzenhein becomes first American to win Italy’s IAAF Cross Country Permit meeting
SAN GIORGIO SU LEGNANO, ITALY -- Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein took home a huge victory Tuesday in San Giorgio su Legnano at the 58th edition of the Campaccio cross-country race, the first of two Italian IAAF Cross Country Permit meetings.
Ritzenhein held off 2012 European cross-country champion Andrea Lalli to win in 29:08 with Lalli’s Italian compatriot Daniele Meucci, the European marathon champion, completing the podium.
Ritzenhein became the first US athlete, man or woman, to win in the 58-year history of the Campaccio meeting. But despite his success in San Giorgio su Legnano, the US runner is concentrating on the roads in 2015.
“I’m training for a marathon later this year but first I’m running the 4km in Edinburgh on Saturday,” said Ritzenhein, who turned 32 last week. “My goal is to qualify for the US Olympic marathon team at the US Trials in 13 months.”
For a full recap, please visit the IAAF official website.
Cain, Rupp Target 2-Mile Races at Armory Track Invitational
NEW YORK CITY -- In less than a month two of the country’s premier Track & Field athletes will perform in the Armory Track Invitational at The Armory’s New Balance Track & Field Center.
Mary Cain will focus on a World Junior indoor record in the Women’s 2-Mile on Saturday, January 31 at The Armory. Last year Cain rewrote the record books running an American Junior Record in the 3k of 9:04.51 en route to her World Junior 2-mile Record of 9:38.68.
Galen Rupp, the country’s premier distance runner and 2012 London Olympic silver medalist, will be favored to capture the men’s 2-Mile. In 2014 Rupp established an American Indoor record in the 2-Mile when he finished in 8:07.41 in Boston, coming within 3.34 seconds of a World record.
Rupp also owns American Indoor bests in the 3k (7:30.16) and 5k (13:01.26). Joining Rupp in the Men’s 2-Mile will be Japanese Record Holder Suguru Okao and Canadian Record Holder, former NCAA Champion and 2012 London Olympian Cam Levins.
Contributed by Armory Track
Contact:
Media: Nick Nicholas
Nicholas & Lence Communications
(212) 938-0833
nick@nicholaslence.com
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(917) 687-0282