By Tim Unger
The GWTC Racing Team needs runners of all abilities to join the traveling teams for the first events in 2002. The Blue Angel Marathon will be the first team racing opportunity on February 23. The 2001 team of Godwin, Silvanima, McDermott, Griffin, and Mitchell brought back the awesome runners-up team trophy from the open division. Interested runners need to get a check for $30.00 made out to MWR/BAM, and an entry form to Tim Unger by 2/15. This will give you a chance to represent your club, and save you at least $10.00 off the individual entry fee charged for this event. The five runners representing GWTC will also be awarded the first 2002 team racing singlets. BAM information is available at www.mwr-pcola.navy.mil/nas.html
GWTC earned national recognition for our team racing success at the 2001 River Run 15k National Championship. GWTC claimed both the Women’s Open and Men’ s Master’s Team National Championships in the 2001 race. The Open Men’s team also brought back the third place trophies to highlight our clubs excellent versatility. River Run is the home of the largest 15k-team competition in the world. The 2002 event celebrates the 25th anniversary of the race and promises to be bigger and better than ever. 2002 River Run participants are promised commemorative 25th anniversary medals for the first 7500 finishers. The Race has been changed into a “Chip” race for 2002 with a limited entry of 9000 participants. This will be the largest running event held within a few hours of Tallahassee in 2002. Registration is going on now. It is very important to get registered through the mail for this event. The top 1000 seeds are selected from mailed registrations. New for 2002 is a $2.00 fee for picking up your race package on Saturday morning. You must WRITE ON YOUR ENTRY FORM that you would like to pick up your number and chip on race morning and include the extra $2.00 to pay for this service. GWTC had over 25 members competing in this race last year and we all had a great time. 2002 has the potential to be even better.
GWTC could have up to four open class teams in this event. Men’s, Women’s, Masters Men, and Masters Women are the available classifications. There is a five-person limit for each team. Fastest three are the scoring individuals. The scoring members of the top three Men’s and Women’s teams and the top Men’ s and Women’s Master’s teams are sent individual awards from 1st Place Sports. Individuals will need to have run a certified 10k/15k event within the last year in order to be considered for one of the top 1000 seeds for the start of this huge event. Runners who register early will receive a seeding card. A COPY OF THIS CARD MUST BE SENT WITH EACH TEAM ENTRY. GWTC teams will be decided in highest to lowest seeding order as determined by the River Run race director and GWTC team director. GWTC will award the 2002 team-racing singlet to all scoring team members for this race. Individuals contacting the Team Coordinator before the team entry deadline Monday March 5, 2002 with the highest seeded numbers will get the first opportunity to represent GWTC at this spectacular running event. Please contact me as soon as your seeding card arrives for team registration instructions. We will need runners of all abilities to fill all the available team slots. Don’t delay, If you can FINISH a 15k send in you registration ASAP, and contact Tim today @ 562-2901 or UNGERT@PRODIGY.NET. River Run Race details are available at www.1stplacesports.com/