PACIFIC ASSOCIATION, USA TRACK & FIELD - MAY 22, 2006 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Fred Baer, PA USATF Women's Track & Field Chair / Past President at (651) 345-4114, or email: [email protected]

First Open Meet At New CSM Track Facility: PA CHAMPIONSHIPS & $15 K GRAND PRIX SUN. MAY 28

CONCLUDES LOCAL T&F SEASON

The first open competition on College of San Mateo's new Mondo Track will be USA Track & Field's Pacific Association Championships and Grand Prix Competition on Sunday, May 28.

The full slate of events gets underway at 9 a.m. with a combined men's and women's 10,000 meter race and concludes at 3:45 p.m. with the men's 200 meters.

The meet will award double points in the season-long PA Grand Prix, which has $15,000 at stake.

Former Stanford shot putter Jill Camarena won the 2005 PA women's Grand Prix and $1,700 ahead of Olympic long jumper Grace Upshaw out of Cal, who pocketed $1,300. Former Cal hurdler Tim Bogdanof took the men's competition over sprinter Jeff Laynes (out of USC and Merritt College) for similar cash prizes.

Current GP leaders are men's middle distance runner Jim Sorensen, with 3,858 points, and women's distance runner Johanna Bonfiglio, with 3,982 points.

Scores are based upon an athlete's five best point totals during the season, utilizing the official international (IAAF) scoring tables. Several athletes have only posted three scores to date. They can still tally points in the Pacific Association Championships and in other meets leading up to the USA Championships in Indianapolis, June 20-25. Athletes earn bonus points for their performances at the nationals.

Highest individual event totals for 2006 submitted include:
Men: Sprinters Chris Berrian (out of Fresno State), 20.31 in the 200 meters at the Mt. SAC relays for 1,181 points, and Jeff Laynes, 10.17 in the 100 meters at the Modesto Relays for 1,169 points.
Women: Hammer thrower Jennifer Joyce, 220 feet, 9 inches (67.29 meters) for 1,093 points (competing for Canada at the British Commonwealth Games in Australia), and shot putter Kristin Heaston, 59-10 1/4 (18.24 meters) for 1,052 points (at the USA Indoor Championships in Boston). Both are Cal grads.

Competitors, unless they are currently attending a high school or college, must be registered USA Track & Field athletes. The meet is open to all athletes but school athletes do not compete for GP prize money.

Advance registration for the PA championships is being conducted on-line at directathletics.com.

Late registration after May 25, at $30 per event (cash only), will be accepted at the meet on May 28 prior to 9 a.m. only.

--There is no admission charge for spectators and free parking is available in the new tennis court parking lot.

For further information contact:
--PA meet director and men's track and field chair Al Hernandez, (510) 651-3162, or via e-mail: [email protected]
--PA grand prix coordinator and women's track & field chair Fred Baer at (651) 345-4114, or email: [email protected]
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Note to news media: There is ample press seating in the new CSM press box, where refreshments will be served and full results provided.