Sunday, July 29, 2012

Is German Fernandez going to run for Nike?

Shortly after competing in the1,500 finals at the Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Ore., last month, former Riverbank, Calif., High School running phenom declared he was turning pro.

Now rumors have it that he's joined Nike and the Oregon Track Club to train.

After graduating from Riverbank High School, Fernandez spent four years at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, running cross-country and track.

Although he's graduated, Fernandez still had a full outdoor season of eligibility left because of red-shirting.

He won the 1,500 at the NCAA track and field championships as a true freshman in 2009. But he has since said he believes the 5,000 may be his best event.

Stay tuned.

Area runners take silver at Junior Olympics

A team of four girls from Modesto's Central Valley Roadrunners youth track club took second in the 4x800-meter relay, July 26, at the Junior Olympics in Baltimore.

Team members were Juliette Acosta, Nicole Warwick, Victoreya Maravilla and Meagan Warwick. (Nicole and Meagan Warwick are twins.)

The Roadrunners Youth Girls' team ran 10:04.68, placing behind the gold medal team from Oak Hill Racing, Sacramento, which ran 9:46.17.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Age is no hurdle for this runner


You're never too old to run.

Just ask Joe LoBianco, who at 84 years old, continues to dominate the 80-plus age group.

You may say he wins his age group because there are few other runners over 80. That may be true.

But when you look at Joe's times, you'll see that he continues to beat runners several decades his junior.

Joe lives in the Bay Area, but he has his favorite races in the Central Valley that he'll run year in and year out. HIs most recent was the Escalon Park Fete 2-miler, July 15, where—you guessed it—he won his age group.

Joe is always quick with a smile or a joke. Maybe it's the running that keeps him so young.