| February 2003 Newsletter |
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IUTC EARNS TWO ALL-AMERICANS
Ithaca United's nine-year-old Andris Goncarovs and fourteen-year-old Christian Thompson earned top honors this past weekend by earning the coveted "All American" Status by placing in the top 25 at the USATF Junior Olympic's in Carrollton, GA. Goncarovs and Thompson overcame unseasonably cold weather, very wet conditions, and the largest field of Qualified USATF Junior Olympians ever.
Over 3500 selected athletes, representing 16 regions, 56 Associations, and over 2000 clubs and scholastic teams, were invited to compete at the United States Track And Field National finals. Like the International Olympics, the Junior Olympics site changes from year-to-year. Next year's Junior Olympics will be in Albuquerque, NM.
Goncarovs competed in the 3000 meter cross country race against nearly 300 nine and ten year olds - the largest group in Junior Olympic history. Goncarovs, who placed 20th, lost time early in the race because of the sheer volume of runners and narrow turns in the beginning of the course. He made up lost ground, however, by working the hills to his advantage. Additionally, Goncarovs overcame a persistent head cold he contracted two days prior to the race.
Thompson ran in the 4000-meter race placing 24th overall against over 300 finishers aged 13 and 14. Thompson raced well early in the muddy and soft turf, but lost position in the twisted and turned paths in the woods in the middle of the course. Thompson saved his race effort by a last minute charge down the sculpted and painted final stretch, passing no less than 6 other sprinting runners.
IUTC's Bantam Team (9 and 10 year olds) placed 9th overall, the Midget team (11 and 12) placed 16th, and the Youth (13 and 14) placed 18th in the team score. Coach Andre Goncarovs states that the team placement is very deceiving. "We were literally 5 - 10 seconds out of the top 3 team slots for the Midgets and Bantams." Cross Country Score totals skew significantly as huge field of equally matched runners enter the chute. "They all ran valiantly," says Coach Goncarovs. "The Midget team had to recover from a major pile-up early in the race that saw four IUTC runners hit the ground." Goncarovs says that the early Midget race looked more like a Rugby game than a cross-country race. The Youth Team, dealing with similar skewed score issues, beat rival Mkean from Smithport, PA, settling the end-of-season rivalry that began at Robert H. Treman Park in November. "In general, I am very proud of their efforts. Each runner had challenges to surmount - some expected, some not, but all were faced. And we continue on."
Ithaca United will return to the track this winter on
Mon., Wed., and Thursday at 6:45 PM beginning January 2nd. IUTC offers
three programs: developmental, beginner, and competitive for young boys
and girls aged 8 - 14. Coaches are available for distance runners and
sprinters. Call 227-2806 for details.
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