asics Greenville Track Club-ELITE - a post-collegiate, Olympic-development program
8 USA Olympic Trials Qualifiers
established 2012
8 USA Olympic Trials Qualifiers
established 2012
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 It is with extreme sadness that we lost Laura Caldwell yesterday (9.20.22) as she succumed to complications resulting from her brain aneurysm rupture on June 7. After many weeks in Greenville Memorial Hospital and a couple of weeks in a rehab center, she came home to her family on September 7th. However, she later experienced severe seizures and a high fever, which caused her to become unresponsive. She passed peacefully on Tuesday just after noon. Laura will be fondly remembered as a best friend, nurturing mother, big sister, athlete, coach, mentor and environmentalist.
After graduating from Florida State with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree, Laura excelled as a professional distance runner, winning the Racing South road racing Grand Prix series four times, the Dallas Grand Prix, qualifying for the US Olympic Marathon Trials twice, and winning US National Masters championships at both 5,000m and the Half Marathon. She competed as a NIKE sponsored athlete. Among her many accomplishments, she placed among the top ten at Atlanta’s famous Peachtree Road Race three times (including a runner-up and one third place finish), placed 8th in the 1987 USA Women's Marathon championships, won the 1992 Seattle Marathon, won USA Masters 5,000 championship on the track and was the '93 USA Masters Cross Country champion. She also earned three silver medals at the World Masters Games in 1997 (1500m and 5000m on the track and over 8K cross country). She competed for the Bowerman Athletic Club, which won the USA National Masters XC Championship. Laura demonstrated tremendous range in competing at a very high level from 800 meters (former school record at Florida State) up to the marathon. One of the highlights of her career was running 1:15:52 for the half-marathon at age 43.
Laura's coaching career began in Tallahassee, FL at her alma mater Florida State University and included stints at Florida High School, Lake Oswego High School in Oregon and Furman University in Greenville, SC. Her coaching success continued at the post-collegiate level with ASICS GTC-ELITE. The women finished 8th at the 2015 USA Club Cross Country Championships, in their first year competing as a team, placing two among the top 27. Then, in early 2016, two of the women she coached (Dylan Hassett and Nicole DiMercurio) ran under the standard of 1:15:00 in the Jax Bank Half Marathon to qualify for the 2016 USA Olympic Team Marathon Trails in Los Angeles. She then developed Cristina McKnight, who qualified for the 2020 USA Olympic Team Marathon Trials in her debut attempt at the distance and then ran 2:40:29 at those Trials in Atlanta. Annie Rodenfels, qualified for the 2021 USA Olympic Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase (9:46.98) and improved her track 1500m time by 10 seconds to 4:13.49, her 5,000m time from 16:35 to 15:35 and also set the South Carolina State Road 5K record of 16:09.
Also a successful administrator, Laura was co-founder and board member of Greenville ELITE Track Club (ASICS GTC-ELITE). She was previously selected as a team manager and accompanied the USA women's Ekiden Relay team that competed in Bejing, China in 1993. She was also a founding member and the first president of Team Athena, a women's running club in Portland, and was the publisher and editor of Racing South Magazine in the 1980s before it was acquired by Running Journal. She was most recently a board member and webmaster for the Women's Running Coaches Collective whose mission is to support, unite, inform, inspire, encourage, and empower women coaches at all levels of our sport. She was an active member of the 50-year-old Greenville Track Club.
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012. The program produced four qualifiers for the 2016 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles, one qualifier/participant for the 2019 Pam American Games Marathon in. Lima, Peru, three qualifiers/two participants for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA and one qualifier and participant in the 2021 USATF Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase. The program's runners set four South Carolina State road race records in 2020 (5K, 15K and Half Marathon--twice) and three (15K, 10-Mile and 20K) in 2021. ASICS GTC-ELITE also produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year.
The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 50-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), The Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Cocoa Elite recovery products, Stryd Running, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility), On Pace Wellness (nutrition coaching) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
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ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel ran 29:40 to place 12th in the 2022 USATF 10K Road Championships on Saturday morning at the 45th running of the Great Cow Harbor Run in Northport, NY. It was his first venture to this historic race on New York's Long Island, which features a hilly and challenging route through the picturesque village with the finish overlooking the quaint harbor. Jason ran with a contingent of Hansons Brooks ODP runners as he passed 5K in 14:54 while in 14th place. He covered the final 5K in 14:45, finishing within a group of five between 29:29 and 29:43. He was only five seconds out of the top ten. Jason's time was the fastest for an ASICS GTC-ELITE athlete at the Great Cow Harbor 10K. ASICS GTC-ELITE men's top performances at the Great Cow Harbor 10K
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012. The program produced four qualifiers for the 2016 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles, one qualifier/participant for the 2019 Pam American Games Marathon in. Lima, Peru, three qualifiers/two participants for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA and one qualifier and participant in the 2021 USATF Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase. The program's runners set four South Carolina State road race records in 2020 (5K, 15K and Half Marathon--twice) and three (15K, 10-Mile and 20K) in 2021. ASICS GTC-ELITE also produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year.
The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 50-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), The Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Cocoa Elite recovery products, Stryd Running, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility), On Pace Wellness (nutrition coaching) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.  ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel continues to be ranked second in the South Carolina Road Race Rankings for the tenth consecutive month. The rankings were published this week by South Carolina's USATF record keeper Bill Marable. In December 2021 Weitzel was ranked for the first time since joining the post-collegiate, Olympic-development program in August of 2021. The top ranked SC road racer continues to be Greenville's James Quattlebaum, who was the 2019 and 2021 South Carolina Long Distance Runner of the year and has led the SC rankings all year. In June, Weitzel placed ninth in the prestigious Portland Track Festival in Oregon with a personal best of 28:59.57 for 10,000 meters although that performance does not affect the South Carolina Road Race Rankings. Then, in August he raced in the Palmetto State and won the Eduard Michelin Memorial 5K with a time of 14:44. That time equaled the third best ever for that race and was only two seconds shy of the event record. Jason's next scheduled race is the USATF 10K Championships at the Great Cow Harbor 10K in Northport, NY on September 17. ASICS GTC-ELITE's Mackenzie Lowe, who placed second July 4th in the Red, White and Blue Shoes 5K at Furman University is ranked seventh among women. She unfortunately had COVID in August and had to curtail her training.
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012. The program produced four qualifiers for the 2016 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles, one qualifier/participant for the 2019 Pam American Games Marathon in. Lima, Peru, three qualifiers/two participants for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA and one qualifier and participant in the 2021 USATF Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase. The program's runners set four South Carolina State road race records in 2020 (5K, 15K and Half Marathon--twice) and three (15K, 10-Mile and 20K) in 2021. ASICS GTC-ELITE also produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year.
The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 50-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), The Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Cocoa Elite recovery products, Stryd Running, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility), On Pace Wellness (nutrition coaching) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel led from the start and ran a solo-effort 14:44 to win the Eduard Michelin Memorial 5K on Saturday morning. It was his first competitive effort following his macrocycle-break from training after Atlanta's Peachtree Road Race 10K on July 4th. "This race has been a tradition for our athletes to check on their fitness after coming off their breaks in training each summer," explained coach Mike Caldwell. Jason's next race is the Cow Harbor 10K in Northport, NY on September 17, which is the 2022 USATF 10K Road Championship. The GTC-ELITE program has produced the overall winner in every Michelin 5K starting in 2013, with the exception of the virtual event last year due to COVID-19. Weitzel's time equaled the third fastest performance in the event's history and was only two seconds off of Austin Steagall's 14:42 in 2016 on a slightly different route. Adam Freudenthal ran 14:43 on that same route in 2014. Jason's time equalled Steagall's time of 14:44 from 2018 on the current course. Top Michelin 5K performances by ASICS GTC-ELITE male athletes are below.
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012 and is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The program produced four qualifiers for the 2016 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles, one qualifier/participant for the 2019 Pam American Games Marathon in. Lima, Peru, three qualifiers/two participants for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA and one qualifier and participant in the 2021 USATF Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase. The program's runners set four South Carolina State road race records in 2020 (5K, 15K and Half Marathon--twice) and three (15K, 10-Mile and 20K) in 2021. ASICS GTC-ELITE also produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year.
The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 50-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), The Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Cocoa Elite recovery products, Stryd Running, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility), On Pace Wellness (nutrition coaching) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.  Brent Leber, front row on left, at 2022 RRCA RunPro Camp. photo by Michael Scott. Recent Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN) graduate Brent Leber was selected to attend the 2022 edition of the RunPro Camp conducted by the Road Runners Club of America. The camp was conducted in Northern Virginia on July 29-30. Leber committed to ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE following his final collegiate track season, which was completed in June. He unfortunately suffered an ankle injury in his conference meet while competing in the 10,000 meter event. That injury required surgery, from which he is currently recovering and rehabing through physical therapy. The goal of RunPro Camp is to provide a comprehensive overview of what it takes and what is involved in becoming a professional distance runner, competing on the track, roads, in cross country, and on trails/ultras. The interactive camp provides opportunities to:
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012. The program produced four qualifiers for the 2016 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles, one qualifier/participant for the 2019 Pam American Games Marathon in. Lima, Peru, three qualifiers/two participants for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA and one qualifier and participant in the 2021 USATF Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase. The program's runners set four South Carolina State road race records in 2020 (5K, 15K and Half Marathon--twice) and three (15K, 10-Mile and 20K) in 2021. ASICS GTC-ELITE also produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year.
The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 50-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), The Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Cocoa Elite recovery products, Stryd Running, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility), On Pace Wellness (nutrition coaching) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel continues to be ranked second in the South Carolina Road Race Rankings for the eighth consecutive month. The rankings were published last week by South Carolina's USATF record keeper Bill Marable. In December 2021 Weitzel was ranked for the first time since joining the post-collegiate, Olympic-development program last August. The top ranked SC road racer continues to be Greenville's James Quattlebaum, who was the 2019 and 2021 South Carolina Long Distance Runner of the year and has led the SC rankings all year. Weitzel recently placed ninth in the prestigious Portland Track Festival in Oregon with a personal best of 28:59.57 for 10,000 meters. However, that performance does not affect the South Carolina Road Race Rankings. ASICS GTC-ELITE's Mackenzie Lowe, who placed second July 4th in the Red, White and Blue Shoes 5K at Furman University is ranked seventh among women. South Carolina Road Race Rankings |
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ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012. The program produced four qualifiers for the 2016 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles, one qualifier/participant for the 2019 Pam American Games Marathon in. Lima, Peru, three qualifiers/two participants for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA and one qualifier and participant in the 2021 USATF Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase. The program's runners set four South Carolina State road race records in 2020 (5K, 15K and Half Marathon--twice) and three (15K, 10-Mile and 20K) in 2021. ASICS GTC-ELITE also produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year.
The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 50-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), The Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Cocoa Elite recovery products, Stryd Running, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility), On Pace Wellness (nutrition coaching) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 50-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), The Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Cocoa Elite recovery products, Stryd Running, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility), On Pace Wellness (nutrition coaching) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
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Mackenzie Lowe ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE athletes competed in two different traditional July 4th events on Monday. Jason Weitzel traveled to Atlanta, GA for the 53rd running of the Peachtree Road Race and Mackenzie Lowe ran the Red, White & Blues Shoes 5K at Furman University in Traveler's Rest, SC.
This year's Peachtree hosted a deep international field, including 14 of the top 25 finishers. Kenya's Rhonex Kipruto was targeting the 27:01 course record over the 10K route, but the oppressive weather conditions quickly put an end to that. However, he still blitzed the field with a quick 27:26. The temperature was 75 degrees and rising with 97% humidity as the runners assembled for the 7:00 am start (the elite women started at 6:50 am). The race once again attracted tens of thousands of runners as it is the largest 10K in the world.
Weitzel, who ran 28:59.5 for a track 10,000 on June 10th, passed two miles with a 9:15 split. However he felt a twinge in his left hamstring soon after. He did split 14:39 for 5K, but had to run cautiously due to the injury for the last half of the race and was unable to run hard on the final downhill segment. His finishing time of 31:14 was good for 25th place overall, but well off his road 10K best of 29:22.
"We are disappointed that due to his in-race injury Jason was not able to demonstrate his current level of fitness," stated coach Mike Caldwell. "However, looking at the positive, it was the final race in this training macrocycle. So we'll use the post-cycle break to recover, heal and prepare for some late summer and fall races."
Lowe stayed close to home as she ran the 11th Edition of the Red, White and Blue Shoes 5K, a race she won last year when it was conducted in Simpsonville to to COVID-19 restrictions at Furman. Similar to Atlanta, the weather conditions were oppressive with extreme humidity. Although passing the first mile in 5:30, she slowed over the final 2 kilometers and finished second among women with a time of 18:11.
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012. The program produced four qualifiers for the 2016 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles, one qualifier/participant for the 2019 Pam American Games Marathon in. Lima, Peru, three qualifiers/two participants for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA and one qualifier and participant in the 2021 USATF Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase. The program's runners set four South Carolina State road race records in 2020 (5K, 15K and Half Marathon--twice) and three (15K, 10-Mile and 20K) in 2021. ASICS GTC-ELITE also produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year.
The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 50-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), The Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Cocoa Elite recovery products, Stryd Running, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility), On Pace Wellness (nutrition coaching) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
This year's Peachtree hosted a deep international field, including 14 of the top 25 finishers. Kenya's Rhonex Kipruto was targeting the 27:01 course record over the 10K route, but the oppressive weather conditions quickly put an end to that. However, he still blitzed the field with a quick 27:26. The temperature was 75 degrees and rising with 97% humidity as the runners assembled for the 7:00 am start (the elite women started at 6:50 am). The race once again attracted tens of thousands of runners as it is the largest 10K in the world.
Weitzel, who ran 28:59.5 for a track 10,000 on June 10th, passed two miles with a 9:15 split. However he felt a twinge in his left hamstring soon after. He did split 14:39 for 5K, but had to run cautiously due to the injury for the last half of the race and was unable to run hard on the final downhill segment. His finishing time of 31:14 was good for 25th place overall, but well off his road 10K best of 29:22.
"We are disappointed that due to his in-race injury Jason was not able to demonstrate his current level of fitness," stated coach Mike Caldwell. "However, looking at the positive, it was the final race in this training macrocycle. So we'll use the post-cycle break to recover, heal and prepare for some late summer and fall races."
Lowe stayed close to home as she ran the 11th Edition of the Red, White and Blue Shoes 5K, a race she won last year when it was conducted in Simpsonville to to COVID-19 restrictions at Furman. Similar to Atlanta, the weather conditions were oppressive with extreme humidity. Although passing the first mile in 5:30, she slowed over the final 2 kilometers and finished second among women with a time of 18:11.
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012. The program produced four qualifiers for the 2016 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles, one qualifier/participant for the 2019 Pam American Games Marathon in. Lima, Peru, three qualifiers/two participants for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA and one qualifier and participant in the 2021 USATF Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase. The program's runners set four South Carolina State road race records in 2020 (5K, 15K and Half Marathon--twice) and three (15K, 10-Mile and 20K) in 2021. ASICS GTC-ELITE also produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year.
The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 50-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), The Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Cocoa Elite recovery products, Stryd Running, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility), On Pace Wellness (nutrition coaching) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
 Jason Weitzel |  Mackenzie Lowe |
As David Byrne of the Talking Heads so famously vocalled in their 1980's hit Once in a Lifetime,
"Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was."
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel continues to be ranked second in the South Carolina Road Race Rankings for the seventh consecutive month. The rankings were published this week by South Carolina's USATF record keeper Bill Marable. In December Weitzel was ranked for the first time since joining the post-collegiate, Olympic-development program. The top ranked SC road racer continues to be Greenville's James Quattlebaum, who was the 2019 and 2021 South Carolina Long Distance Runner of the year and has led the SC rankings all year.
Weitzel recently placed ninth in the prestigious Portland Track Festival in Oregon with a personal best of 28:59.57 for 10,000 meters. However, that performance does not affect the South Carolina Road Race Rankings.
ASICS GTC-ELITE's Mackenzie Lowe, who has competed out of the Palmetto state for her last two races (those races do not count in these rankings), is ranked seventh among women.
"Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was."
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel continues to be ranked second in the South Carolina Road Race Rankings for the seventh consecutive month. The rankings were published this week by South Carolina's USATF record keeper Bill Marable. In December Weitzel was ranked for the first time since joining the post-collegiate, Olympic-development program. The top ranked SC road racer continues to be Greenville's James Quattlebaum, who was the 2019 and 2021 South Carolina Long Distance Runner of the year and has led the SC rankings all year.
Weitzel recently placed ninth in the prestigious Portland Track Festival in Oregon with a personal best of 28:59.57 for 10,000 meters. However, that performance does not affect the South Carolina Road Race Rankings.
ASICS GTC-ELITE's Mackenzie Lowe, who has competed out of the Palmetto state for her last two races (those races do not count in these rankings), is ranked seventh among women.
South Carolina Road Race Rankings
as of June 4, 2022
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ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012. The program produced four qualifiers for the 2016 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles, one qualifier/participant for the 2019 Pam American Games Marathon in. Lima, Peru, three qualifiers/two participants for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA and one qualifier and participant in the 2021 USATF Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase. The program's runners set four South Carolina State road race records in 2020 (5K, 15K and Half Marathon--twice) and three (15K, 10-Mile and 20K) in 2021. ASICS GTC-ELITE also produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year.
The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 50-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), The Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Cocoa Elite recovery products, Stryd Running, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility), On Pace Wellness (nutrition coaching) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 50-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), The Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Cocoa Elite recovery products, Stryd Running, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility), On Pace Wellness (nutrition coaching) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
 |  Jason Weitzel (left) breaking 29:00. |
On a very rainy Friday evening in the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego, ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel ran a personal best of 28:59.57 for 10,000 meters. That placed him ninth, fourth USA athlete, in a very good field in this prestigious meet. Jason was seeded 19th off of his road best 10K of 29:22 and cut 35 seconds from his previous track 10,000 best (29:34.62).
Weitzel's time was a new team record for ASICS GTC-ELITE, besting the 29:06.16 of Mark Leininger set exactly five years ago on this same track.
The race was run during a steady rain at Lewis & Clark College's Griswold Stadium, which Portand's running media Tracklandia has labeled "the Electric Forest." The early pace was set by designated pacer Frank Lara, a former Furman University standout who now competes for Roots Running. Lara led former NCAA champion and new Northern Arizona Elite athlete Wesley Kiptoo through a quick first mile of 4:25. Once Lara completed his pacing duties, Kiptoo led the remainder of the race and finished with a time of 28:19.87. He was followed by the US Army's Geoffrey Kipchumba (28:38.25) and NAZ Elite's Alex Masai (28:38.53).
Jason started near the back of the 22 man field in Heat 1 and passed 1600m in 4:40.09. He maintained fairly consistent 400 meter laps just over or under 70 seconds. He passed 5,000m at 14:34.7 as he moved up his position. He then ran at the front of a small group of runners as the race progressed over the final three kilometers as he passed 8K in 23:19.1. He needed to cover the final 2,000m in under 5:40 to break 29:00. And he accomplished that goal as he ran the final kilometer in 2:46.0 with a last lap of 1:02.47.
The Portland Track Festival is also the newest member of the World Athletics 2022 Continental Tour.
Weitzel's time was a new team record for ASICS GTC-ELITE, besting the 29:06.16 of Mark Leininger set exactly five years ago on this same track.
The race was run during a steady rain at Lewis & Clark College's Griswold Stadium, which Portand's running media Tracklandia has labeled "the Electric Forest." The early pace was set by designated pacer Frank Lara, a former Furman University standout who now competes for Roots Running. Lara led former NCAA champion and new Northern Arizona Elite athlete Wesley Kiptoo through a quick first mile of 4:25. Once Lara completed his pacing duties, Kiptoo led the remainder of the race and finished with a time of 28:19.87. He was followed by the US Army's Geoffrey Kipchumba (28:38.25) and NAZ Elite's Alex Masai (28:38.53).
Jason started near the back of the 22 man field in Heat 1 and passed 1600m in 4:40.09. He maintained fairly consistent 400 meter laps just over or under 70 seconds. He passed 5,000m at 14:34.7 as he moved up his position. He then ran at the front of a small group of runners as the race progressed over the final three kilometers as he passed 8K in 23:19.1. He needed to cover the final 2,000m in under 5:40 to break 29:00. And he accomplished that goal as he ran the final kilometer in 2:46.0 with a last lap of 1:02.47.
The Portland Track Festival is also the newest member of the World Athletics 2022 Continental Tour.
Top Finishers in 10,000m
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012. The program produced four qualifiers for the 2016 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles, one qualifier/participant for the 2019 Pam American Games Marathon in. Lima, Peru, three qualifiers/two participants for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA and one qualifier and participant in the 2021 USATF Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase. The program's runners set four South Carolina State road race records in 2020 (5K, 15K and Half Marathon--twice) and three (15K, 10-Mile and 20K) in 2021. ASICS GTC-ELITE also produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year.
The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 50-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), The Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Cocoa Elite recovery products, Stryd Running, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility), On Pace Wellness (nutrition coaching) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 50-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), The Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Cocoa Elite recovery products, Stryd Running, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility), On Pace Wellness (nutrition coaching) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE is excited to announce that Brent Leber will be joining the post-collegiate, Olympic-development program. Brent recently earned his Masters of Professional Studies in Organizational Leadership degree from Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN.
During his extended career at Lipscomb, where he previously graduated with an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science, Brent posted times of 8:11.9 for 3,000 meters (Indoor), 14:01.1 for 5,000 meters and 29:26.57 for 10,000 meters. He set the conference record for the Indoor 5,000m in 2020 and was the first Lipscomb cross country athlete to qualify for the NCAAA XC Championships (2019).
Brent initially planned to join the program following his final NCAA race this spring. However, he unfortunately entailed a serious injury during the 10,000m event at the ASUN Conference Championships in May. Upon examination, it was determined to be a longtudinal tear in the posterior tibial tendon, which required surgery.
“We are excited that Brent has decided to join our program as he pursues his running career goals,” stated program director and coach Mike Caldwell. “He has shown that he has a high upside, which we intend to help develop. The revised plan is for Brent to recover from the surgery, complete the physical therapy process and then embark on his return to running. Once he is healthy, he will relocate to Greenville and join the program.”
Leber explained his thoughts regarding the next chapter in his running career, "ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE is a unique opportunity to pursue my dream of pushing my limits to be the best runner I can be. The ability to compete against the best runners in the United States while having exceptional support from ASICS GTC-ELITE is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m excited to work with extremely knowledgeable coaches and talented athletes to continue running towards my ambitions in the sport. God has provided me a future in Greenville and I cannot wait to get started."
During his extended career at Lipscomb, where he previously graduated with an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science, Brent posted times of 8:11.9 for 3,000 meters (Indoor), 14:01.1 for 5,000 meters and 29:26.57 for 10,000 meters. He set the conference record for the Indoor 5,000m in 2020 and was the first Lipscomb cross country athlete to qualify for the NCAAA XC Championships (2019).
Brent initially planned to join the program following his final NCAA race this spring. However, he unfortunately entailed a serious injury during the 10,000m event at the ASUN Conference Championships in May. Upon examination, it was determined to be a longtudinal tear in the posterior tibial tendon, which required surgery.
“We are excited that Brent has decided to join our program as he pursues his running career goals,” stated program director and coach Mike Caldwell. “He has shown that he has a high upside, which we intend to help develop. The revised plan is for Brent to recover from the surgery, complete the physical therapy process and then embark on his return to running. Once he is healthy, he will relocate to Greenville and join the program.”
Leber explained his thoughts regarding the next chapter in his running career, "ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE is a unique opportunity to pursue my dream of pushing my limits to be the best runner I can be. The ability to compete against the best runners in the United States while having exceptional support from ASICS GTC-ELITE is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m excited to work with extremely knowledgeable coaches and talented athletes to continue running towards my ambitions in the sport. God has provided me a future in Greenville and I cannot wait to get started."
 Brent (center). |  |
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012. The program produced four qualifiers for the 2016 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles, one qualifier/participant for the 2019 Pam American Games Marathon in. Lima, Peru, three qualifiers/two participants for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA and one qualifier and participant in the 2021 USATF Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase. The program's runners set four South Carolina State road race records in 2020 (5K, 15K and Half Marathon--twice) and three (15K, 10-Mile and 20K) in 2021. ASICS GTC-ELITE also produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year.
The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 50-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), The Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Cocoa Elite recovery products, Stryd Running, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility), On Pace Wellness (nutrition coaching) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 50-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), The Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Cocoa Elite recovery products, Stryd Running, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility), On Pace Wellness (nutrition coaching) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
