Cross Country Express

Catching up with De La Salle HS sophomore, Blair Hurlock...

2012-02-27T22:26:00.000-08:00

Today we chat with De La Salle HS sophomore, Blair Hurlock (picture to the left courtesy of dyestatcal.com taken during his freshman season at Tracy HS at the Clovis Invitational). This past Saturday, Hurlock set a new meet record in the 3000m. at the Super 7 Invitational running 8:43.73. According to the Track and Field News 'Big Gold Book', that time is equivalent to about 9:22.3 for 3200m. Because of the transfer rules in California, Hurlock can only compete in F/S races during his sophomore school year. During XC, he finished in 12th place at the 6 mild PAUSATF XC championship meet at Golden Gate Park. Definitely one of the bright stars in the North Coast Section and Northern California.

1) What sports have you played besides cross country and track and field?
Aside from track and cross country, I have participated in football, baseball, basketball, gymnastics, karate, and swimming.

2) How did you get your start in running and how old were you at that time?
I started running in the spring of 2010, during my eighth grade year as a 13 year-old. My teammate from baseball and football had run track the previous year for CYO and convinced me to join him. My first season of cross country was as a freshman at Tracy High School.

3) What was the first success that you remember in running?
My first success in running was during my first 1600 meter race. I had never run the distance before on a track (although I had run the mile for fitness tests in elementary school), but I was able to win by a large margin with a time of 5:06.

4) Tell us a little about your freshman experience at Tracy HS and some of your accomplishments during both cross country and track and field seasons.
At Tracy High, I was originally going to play football but decided to join the XC team after realizing my disadvantage in size and my recently discovered running talent. After joining XC, I went on to win my first race in an invitational with 216 runners. My coach then placed me on varsity, where I won every dual meet and was one of two runners on my team to eventually advance to the Section meet. I missed going to the State meet by 6 seconds, and was given the varsity MVP award at the end of the season. During the track season, I routinely would compete in the 800, 1600, 3200, and 4x400 relay in each dual meet in order to score points for the team. After running so many events, I quickly discovered that the 3200 was my best, and I ended up winning the SJAA League meet in the 3200 in the varsity competition. I then advanced to Sections, where I again was not able to advance to State, but posted a PR of 9:43 in the 3200.

5) You have also run for the Pleasanton Heat. What have been some of your achievements with that club? Who are some of your faster teammates that are now competing in high school?
My experience with the Pleasanton Heat and its coach is what first allowed me to realize my potential in running. During my first year of track for CYO, I was recruited to be on the Heat by Coach Kevin McCarthy. The summer following the CYO season, Coach McCarthy was able to bring down my times and I qualified for the Track and Field Junior Olympics in Sacramento, CA. I placed 8th in the nation in my age group in the 1500 meters in my first year of running. The 2010 XC season for the Heat included me placing 4th in the nation. In the 2011 Track JO's, I won the national championship for my age group in the 3000 meters, and almost won another gold in the 1500, placing second. The 2011 XC season had me placing 3rd. Heat teammates that are currently running high school include Nolan Petersen (Washington High), Jacob and Peter Schlachte (Amador Valley), Connor McCarthy, (AV), Connor McKinnon (AV), Natalie Dimits (Livermore High), Cody Mayer (Liberty High), and Parker Deuel (San Ramon Valley).

6) You transferred to De La Salle HS before your current sophomore year. What have been some of the positive changes for you both academically and athletically?
Positive changes academically at DLS include the higher quality of teachers and staff, their enthusiasm for God,teaching, and creating a great learning environment, and the increased difficulty in the learning material. Athletically, I have access to trainers, and the best coach that I have had thus far in my short running career, John Pelster, as well as much improved training facilities that include hills and a running track (which were not available at Tracy High).

7) What are your current PRs in 800, 1500, 1600, 3000, 3200, 5000 and 10000?
800: 2:05 (Regional Meet before 2011 Track JO's)
1500: 4:06 (2011 Track JO's)
1600: 4:23 (2012 Simplot Games)
3000: 8:43 (2012 Super 7 Track Invitational)
3200: 9:43 (2011 SJS Section 1 Meet)
5000: 15:18 (2011 XC JO's)
10000: 32:36 (2011 PAUSATF XC Championships)

8) You cannot compete in Varsity competition this school year due to your transfer. What other races will you be competing in to maintain appropriate competition for yourself?

Due to my inability to compete in varsity races, Coach Pelster and I developed a track schedule prior to the 2012 outdoor season. I will be racing in open collegiate meets at local colleges such as UC Davis and Sacramento State.

9) Tell us a little about your current and previous coaches and how they have helped become the person and runner you are today.
The first great coach that I had the privilege of training with was Kevin McCarthy (coach of the Pleasanton Heat). He allowed me to realize my potential and introduced me to the training that would be required in order to become elite. Coach John Pelster of DLS has shown identical traits and combines experience and knowledge to give me the most effective training and racing schedule that allows me to develop to my fullest potential.

10) How many miles a week do you typically run? What is the length of your longest run? What are some of your toughest workouts? Favorite workout? Favorite race distance?
I am currently running about 70-80 miles per week. The length of my long run is typically 14 miles. The toughest workouts for me include intervals involving speed. My endurance is well developed, but my turnover needs improvement before the end of the season. My favorite workout includes tempo runs, in that I am able to sustain a relatively hard pace for a long duration. My favorite race distance is the 10K (although I've only raced the distance once). I enjoy longer races in that my endurance allows me to be competitive, they typically involve more strategy, and they test the guts of every competitor.

11) What are some of the races in the summer that you are really looking forward to once the high school season is over?
Once my season is over, my coach and I have targeted the USA Junior Outdoor T&F Championships in Indiana, where I hope to qualify in either the 3200, 5000, or even the 10000. This will easily be the biggest meet of the season for me and should result in PR's for whatever event that I decide to run.

Thank you very much for your time Blair! AJC

Watch Luis Luna break indoor 2 mile Redwood Empire record

2012-02-27T21:20:00.000-08:00

http://running.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/1608/watch-luis-luna-race-fast-indoor-2-mile/

Ex-Granite Bay track star Scott Roth qualifies for World finals

2012-02-27T20:52:00.000-08:00

http://blogs.sacbee.com/preps/archives/2012/02/ex-granite-bay-1.html

National Postal Team Championship

2012-02-27T14:32:00.001-08:00

As found at www.xcnation.com. You can check out some of the current fastest teams in the nation which includes their 5 fastest 3200m. runners. You can send in your times for your school as well. The rules are posted at the links below.
Boys: http://www.xcnation.com/postalchampionship

Girls: http://www.xcnation.com/postalchampionship#!__postalchampionship-girls

For you history buffs out there, you can check out the following link which has results of all the previous postal meets from 1957 to 1978.
http://www.xcnation.com/postalchampionship#!__tfnpostal

Who would be on the top 10 list of NorCal teams (boys and girls) if we added the times of the 5 fastest 3200m. runners? I will compile a list as the season progresses so we can find out. Who are the favorites?

Buchanan Distance Results

2012-02-27T09:42:00.000-08:00

http://dyestat.rise.espn.go.com/meetresults.jsp?meetID=48879 (Del Campo boys impressive)

Brooks PR Invitational Results link...

2012-02-26T19:17:00.000-08:00

http://www.gohuskies.com/livestats/c-track/022612/index.htm

Some great performances by local athletes.

Capital Classic Relays results (2/25/12)

2012-02-26T10:48:00.001-08:00

http://redcaptiming.com/2012/ccrelays/CCR_Results_022512.htm (SJS)

To find all results for the 2012 Track and Field season, go to the following link:
http://www.crosscountryexpress.com/search/label/Northern%20California%20Results%20Track%20%2712

Super 7 Invitational Results

2012-02-26T07:03:00.000-08:00

Super 7 Invitational Results

Meet records were set in the Varsity girls 300m. hurdles, Varsity girls pole vault, Varsity boys pole vault (two vaulters tied for the new record), Varsity boys discus, F/S Distance Medley Relay, and F/S and meet records in 3000m. by Blair Hurlock.

Los Gatos All-Comers results (February 25th)

2012-02-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

http://www.dyestatcal.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2012/LGAC8/lgac_8.htm

Pictures: http://www.dyestatcal.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2012/PICS/LGAC/lgac.htm

Bellarmine Invite Results

2012-02-25T18:29:00.001-08:00

http://www.dyestatcal.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2012/BELLINV/bell_inv.htm

XC State Meet Qualifier changes for 2012

2012-02-25T15:05:00.000-08:00

You can check out how many teams qualified last season from each section at the following link (Page 5):
http://www.cifstate.org/images/Cross_Country/2011_XC_Handbook_-_Final.pdf

The following computations were by Gunn HS coach Ernie Lee. They are not official.

Division I Boys - no change

Division I Girls - CS loses 1, SJS gains 1

Division II Boys - CS gains 1, SJS loses 1

Division II Girls - CCS loses 1, SDS gains 1

Division III Boys - no change

Division III Girls - no change

Division IV Boys - CCS gains 1, SJS loses 1 (assuming I have the tie-breaker correct)

Division IV Girls - no change

Division V Boys - no change

Division V Girls - no change (again, assuming I have the tie-breaker correct)

"Of course, I could have made a calculation or attribution mistake, so until the CIF releases the official numbers, these are just guesses." Ernie

Nicole Lane and the UC Davis connection

2012-02-25T14:25:00.000-08:00

http://running.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/1564/nicole-lane-and-the-uc-davis-connection/

Northern California Track and Field Invitationals this weekend...

2012-02-25T10:39:00.000-08:00

Saturday, February 25th
Capital Classic Relays @ Elk Grove HS (SJS)
San Francisco Fog All-Comers @ Lincoln HS (SF)
Stocking "Super 7" Invit'l @ Diablo Valley College (NCS)
Bell Invite @ Bellarmine HS (CCS)
Los Gatos All Comers Meet @ Los Gatos HS (CCS)
MCAL All Comers @ Drake HS (NCS)

Any other meets taking place this weekend?

9 CCS titles in a row and going for #10 this year...

2012-02-24T13:20:00.001-08:00

It's not in Cross Country or Track and Field but Gilroy HS will be going after their 10th straight CCS title in wrestling. Anyway you look at it...very impressive!
http://www.gilroydispatch.com/sports/gilroy_high_school/wrestling-willie-fox-leads-ghs-in-its-hunt-for-th/article_487b6d84-5f12-11e1-a719-001a4bcf6878.html

Coming up later today...

2012-02-23T23:37:00.005-08:00

How many cross country teams qualify to the state meet in 2012? Found out what sections lost state meet berths and what sections gained additional state meet berths? These are not official but it will give you an idea of what will most likely be the numbers for next XC season.

A teaser: There are 4 divisions that will have a change. Care to venture a guess on those changes?

Stay tuned...

2012 Half Moon Bay Hall of Fame Class

2012-02-23T09:47:00.002-08:00

Becky Schmidt-Hollenshead, Class of 1978 will be a charter member of the Half Moon Bay HS Hall of Fame:
http://www.hmbreview.com/sports/she-was-part-of-first-ccs-winning-team/article_6262eb22-5dba-11e1-8a43-0019bb2963f4.html

Here are the results from the first CCS meet for girls in 1977:
http://www.dyestatcal.com/ATHLETICS/XC/1977/ccsres.htm

Also entering the HMB Hall of Fame is Craig Branstrom who high jumped 6'11" in high school and went on to compete in the decathlon at the University of Kansas.
http://www.hmbreview.com/sports/branstrom-held-high-jump-record/article_643d2b18-5dbc-11e1-9d0d-0019bb2963f4.html

Website of the Month Updated

2012-02-23T08:51:00.004-08:00

Check out the just posted website of the month above. If you have time, check out the year of that school's record holder in the 100m. and 200m. Any other school has records that old?

There are a few CCS school records posted at www.lynbrooksports.com at this link. Where are your school's track and field records posted? What is your most impressive school record?

Lindsay Allen time for a change in 2012

2012-02-22T22:09:00.001-08:00

Former College Park HS and Stanford University runner, Lindsay Allen:

Watch more videos on Flotrack

Local sports digest: Saint Mary's adds outdoor track and field program

2012-02-22T08:52:00.000-08:00

In today's Contra Costa Times:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/sports/ci_20015377

WILLIAMS NOT FAR BEHIND NATIONAL TEAM RUNNER

2012-02-21T13:51:00.000-08:00

Recently graduated Urban HS runner Cole Williams (above in Orange) now running at Occidental College:
http://oxyathletics.com/sports/mtrack/2011-12/releases/20120219bwpdql

New track has sport’s future looking bright in Corvallis

2012-02-21T07:21:00.002-08:00

Another college option for NorCal HS athletes?
http://special.registerguard.com/web/sports/27630613-41/track-field-osu-sullivan-program.html.csp

Couple of NorCal updates from Simplot Games

2012-02-20T19:00:00.000-08:00

Some of the following was reported by Rich Gonzalez of ESPN Rise (https://twitter.com/#!/dyestatcal):
South Bay Express (3 athletes from Valley Christian San Jose and one from Piedmont Hills) won the Sprint Medley Relay in 3:31.5. Sean Davis (above) of Valley Christian SJ anchored the team running a reported hand time of 1:53.7. He ran cross country this past fall for the first time during his high school career.

Trinity Wilson of St. Mary's Berkeley won the 60 meters Hurdles final in 8.23 which is a California Indoor Record (2nd fastest all-time in the nation).

Sophomore Blair Hurlock of De La Salle (ineligible this year to compete in varsity competition due to his transfer from Tracy HS) ran 4:23.91 to finish 4th.

Senior Byron Marshall of Valley Christian SJ won the 60m. in 6.87.

2012 North Coast Section Preview Men

2012-02-20T08:48:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of Keith Conning and THE CONNING TOWER:

http://theconningtower.blogspot.com/2012/02/2012-north-coast-section-preview-men.html

Former Montgomery HS and UC Davis runner Kim Conley

2012-02-19T19:35:00.000-08:00

Check out her latest post on her blog:
http://kimconley.wordpress.com/2012/02/19/emerald-city-opener/

Passion for running hit Sharlet Gilbert at an early age

2012-02-19T10:58:00.000-08:00

In today's SF Examiner:
http://www.sfexaminer.com/sports/personal-best/2012/02/passion-running-hit-sharlet-gilbert-early-age