News and Announcements
2011 - Record Alumni Turnout for the 6th Annual Race!
Alumni definitely outnumbered the current team today, as Mustang Cross Country graduates from the 1980's, 1990's and the 2000's came back to socialize, lace up the running shoes and take on the Eliminator. Once again, veteran alumni Mike Abrams claimed the oldest alumni honor (1987) while Chris Leavell (1988) kept his attendance streak intact as well.
The current team was not intimidated though, as Senior Drew Feldman and Junior Amy Ingram claimed overall top male and female honors today.
During check in, the race seemed of secondary importance as the prerace social hour unfolded. Former Coaches Mike Huntsman and Scott Camp, along with current coaches Sharon Kovar, Ross Rembac and Mike Davis, greeted newbies and veterans alike.
Once on the line, the more determined in the crowd quickly showed why the racing is NOT an afterthought as the leaders got out fast and started to string the group out after the first quarter mile. In the middle and back of the pack, jokes and laughter went along with groans and complaints!
In the end, the scoring took two very different paths. After Drew crossed the line in the fine 11:17 effort, the Alumni Boys took the next four spots, with Michael Garaventa ('11), Harry Nunns ('08), Connor Donley ('09) and Josh Smiley ('11) hammering it home. Current team member Matt Yap stopped the bleeding by finishing 6th, but the Alumni took the next four spots to seal the deal. Chris Leavell ('88), Peter Nunns ('04) and John Berhing ('00) rounded out the scoring team. '87 alum Mike Abrams was in 14th place despite running 16 miles in training immediately before the starting horn sounded!
The Alumni rolled over the under represented current team 21 to 40 to even the series at 3 -3.
On the girls side, the scoring could not have been closer, with the two squads trading finishes one after the other. After Amy completed the course in a fine 14:36 effort, alumni Nicole Aha ('10) was next in 2nd place. 3rd went to current team member Sr Megan Yap, while 4th was back to the alumni with Renee Lau ('08). Next across were Jr. Elena Smith for the current team and Kimmy Abood ('10) for the alumni in 6th place. Alumni Amanda Stansell ('11) in 7th and Jamie Callahan ('04) in 9th finished out the alumni scoring team, while Soph Erin Herting and Megan Blair (in 8th and 10th) completed the current squad.
It was too close to call, requiring the coaches to check, and recheck the math. Aided by the first place finish, the Current Team Girls JUST EDGED the alumni by a 27-28 final score!
As the runners came in, despite the pleas from Coach Huntsman "not to hold hands", many alumni finished their run in just that manner, determined to show that lasting friendships are what MVXC is all about.
After honoring the top finishers, newcomer Mitch Camp received the "Top Rookie" award, while Alumni Peter Nunns, on a stopover from New Zealand where he now resides, took home the "Spirit of MVXC" award.
Two hours after the race, the last of the group departed Oak Hill Park. With the strong turnout motivating the coaching staff, plans for the 7th Annual Race in 2012 are already being formed!
MV (pause) XC!
Results in the handout below. Photos: http://s182.photobucket.com/albums/x215/MUSTANG_XC/00%202011%20Alumni%20Race/
Preliminary schedule for the 2011 season. Most dates are firm - some changes may be made before the season starts on Aug 15th, 2011.
Please note all Saturday Invitationals and EBAL meets - especially the EBAL Championships. All meets except Stanford and Mt SAC are for the WHOLE TEAM!
Avoid PSAT and SAT test conflicts.
Coach Sharon Kovar
Coaching history:
3rd season coaching at Monte Vista
2009 MVXC Frosh Soph coach - FS Girls League Champs / FS Boys 2nd place
Middle and Long Distance track coach at MV since 2009
2005: Middle and Long Distance coach at American School of Kuwait
Mother of 3 (Drew, Courtney and Taylor)
High School: Saratoga HS, Saratoga CA - Track & Field and Cross Country
1978 - California State meet in the Mile and Mile Relay (4X440)
Mile PR: 4:46.53 / 880 PR: 2:11.07 / 440 PR: 58.12
'78, '79, '80 MVP Girls Track and Field
'79 & '80 MPV Girls Cross Country
College: Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Degree in Merchandising
Post College: Executive level in retail for 15 years. Then 3 year career working overseas for Chevron Overseas Petroleum. Today, sponsored Extreme and Ultra Marathon Runner.
Running Achievements: Competed in 56 marathons (Boston twice) with a 3:11 PR. Competed in 23 ultra marathons in the US and Internationally most in Africa and Italy including Comrades, South Africa 2011 in a time of 9 hours, 22 minutes.
First female finisher in the following races: 2005 DeadSea 50K Ultra Marathon (Amman, Jordan), 2007/2008 Death Valley 30K Trail Race, 2007 100km del Sahara Desert Race (Tunisia, Africa), 2007 Chott Desert Marathon (Tunisia, Africa) 2007 Senegal Maraton di Afrique (Senegal, Africa), 2009 Stormy 100 mile ultra marathon (Squamish, BC, Canada) - 4th overall.
Quote: "Know what you believe"
HEADLINES BELOW ARE FROM 2010 OR EARLIER
Ross Rembac - Boys Team Coach
Second Year Monte Vista Cross Country
San Diego State University - Distance swimming captain two years
San Diego State University - Triathlon club captain two years
Youth Soccer Coach 8 years
