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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 Eddie Garcia & Jason Weitzel enjoying some post-race chicken in Columbia. Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel and Eddie Garcia remain ranked second and third in the most recent South Carolina Road Race Rankings published by USATF State Record Keeper Bill Marable. Weitzel maintains the runner-up ranking for the 16th consecutive month, behind only 2022's South Carolina Long Distance Runner of the Year James Quattlebaum. Quattlebaum, who represents Run In, previously won the SCLDROY honors in 2019 and 2021. Garcia, was the 2020 SCLD Runner of the Year in 2020. Weitzel recently won the MGC Long Run 15K in Columbia, SC in late February and previously placed second to Quattlebaum in the 44th edition of the GTC Run Downtown 5K in January. Garcia won Greenville's Run Through the Zoo 5K in November and then placed third (behind Quattlebaum and Weitzel) in the GTC Run Downtown 5K before finishing second to his teammate Weitzel in the MGC Long Run 15K. Weitzel and Garcia placed 14th and 16th in the USATF 15K Championships on March 4th in Jacksonville, FL's Gate River Run. However, those results do not affect the South Carolina rankings since the race was not in SC. GTC-ELITE alum Roland Hakes (now residing in Columbia) is ranked fifth. Hakes placed third, behind Weitzel and Garcia, in the MGC Long Run 15K. South Carolina Road Race Rankings |
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Jason Weitzel | Eddie Garcia |
Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012 and is entering its second decade as a post-collegiate, Olympic development program. 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. GTC-ELITE also produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year.
The program is sponsored and supported by the 51-year-old Greenville Track Club, ASICS, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), 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, UCAN energy products, 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 program is sponsored and supported by the 51-year-old Greenville Track Club, ASICS, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), 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, UCAN energy products, 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.
Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel and Eddie Garcia are ranked second and third in the most recent South Carolina Road Race Rankings published by USATF State Record Keeper Bill Marable. Weitzel is maintains the runnerup ranking for the 15th consecutive month, behind only newly named South Carolina Long Distance Runner of 2022 James Quattlebaum. Quattlebaum, who represents Run In, previously won the SCLDROY honors in 2019 and 2021. Garcia, who was the 2020 SCLD Runner of the Year, enters the rankings for the first time in over a year.
Weitzel recently placed second to Quattlebaum in the 44th edition of the GTC Run Downtown 5K in January and won the MGC Long Run 15K in Columbia, SC last Saturday. Garcia won Greenville's Run Through the Zoo 5K in November and then placed third (behind Quattlebaum and Weitzel) in the GTC Run Downtown 5K before finishing second to his teammate Weitzel on Saturday in the MGC Long Run 15K.
GTC-ELITE alums Roland Hakes (Columbia) and Ricky Flynn (Greenville) are ranked fourth and fifth. Hakes placed third, behind Weitzel and Garcia, in the MGC Long Run 15.
Weitzel recently placed second to Quattlebaum in the 44th edition of the GTC Run Downtown 5K in January and won the MGC Long Run 15K in Columbia, SC last Saturday. Garcia won Greenville's Run Through the Zoo 5K in November and then placed third (behind Quattlebaum and Weitzel) in the GTC Run Downtown 5K before finishing second to his teammate Weitzel on Saturday in the MGC Long Run 15K.
GTC-ELITE alums Roland Hakes (Columbia) and Ricky Flynn (Greenville) are ranked fourth and fifth. Hakes placed third, behind Weitzel and Garcia, in the MGC Long Run 15.
South Carolina Road Race Ranking
as of February 5, 2023
Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012 and is entering its second decade as a post-collegiate, Olympic development program. 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. GTC-ELITE also produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year.
The program is sponsored and supported by the 51-year-old Greenville Track Club, ASICS, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), 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, UCAN energy products, 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 program is sponsored and supported by the 51-year-old Greenville Track Club, ASICS, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), 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, UCAN energy products, 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.
Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel and Eddie Garcia finished first and second in the MGC Long Run 15K on a cold (32 degrees), but sunny Saturday morning in South Carolina's Capitol city of Columbia. The training partners led from the start and ran together for over half the race on a challenging, rolling route, in downtown Columbia. Due to the rolling terrain their mile splits varied significantly with a fastest of 4:36 and a slowest of 5:15 on the long uphill segments.
Jason ran 45:53 (4:55 per mile) and won $500 for his victory and Eddie earned $250 for second with his time of 46:21 (4:58 per mile). Eddie had previously won this event the last time it was conducted (in 2020, pre-COVID-19) with a time of 46:32 on a different course.
Jason ran 45:53 (4:55 per mile) and won $500 for his victory and Eddie earned $250 for second with his time of 46:21 (4:58 per mile). Eddie had previously won this event the last time it was conducted (in 2020, pre-COVID-19) with a time of 46:32 on a different course.
Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012 and is entering its second decade as a post-collegiate, Olympic development program. 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. GTC-ELITE also produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year.
The program is sponsored and supported by the 51-year-old Greenville Track Club, ASICS, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), 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, UCAN energy products, 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 program is sponsored and supported by the 51-year-old Greenville Track Club, ASICS, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), 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, UCAN energy products, 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.
GTC-ELITE'S Eddie Garcia (left) and Jason Weitzel (right) with winner James Quattlebaum (center)
Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel and Eddie Garcia placed second and third in the 44th GTC Run Downtown on a cold and brisk Saturday morning. The race was won by Greenville's James Quattlebaum, who is currently ranked first in the USATF South Carolina Road Race Rankings. Quattlebaum's time of 14:14 equals the record for the 5K event, which was set by former GTC-ELITE Austin Steagall in 2017 on a different course.
Weitzel, the 2022 Run Downtown champion, who is ranked second in the SC Road Race Rankings, improved his time from 14:37 last year to 14:29. That is now the third fastest performance in race history. Garcia ran 14:40, which now ranks equal fifth in race history, equaling former GTC-ELITE's Adam Freudenthal's time from 2013.
Weitzel, the 2022 Run Downtown champion, who is ranked second in the SC Road Race Rankings, improved his time from 14:37 last year to 14:29. That is now the third fastest performance in race history. Garcia ran 14:40, which now ranks equal fifth in race history, equaling former GTC-ELITE's Adam Freudenthal's time from 2013.
All Time Fastest Performances at GTC Run Downtown 5K
1. Austin Steagall, GTC-ELITE - 14:14 (2017)
1. James Quattlebaum, Run In - 14:14 (2023) new course
3. Jason Weitzel, GTC-ELITE - 14:29 (2023) new course
4. Jason Weitzel, GTC-ELITE - 14:37 (2022)
5. Adam Freudenthal, GTC-ELITE - 14:40 (2013)
5. Eddie Garcia, GTC-ELITE - 14:40 (2023) new course
7. Walter Bugler, Run In - 14:41 (2020)
8. Cole Atkins - 14:41 (2020)
9. Adam Freudenthal, GTC-ELITE - 14:52 (2014)
10. Joe Niemiec, GTC-ELITE - 14:53 (2019)
11. Austin Steagall, GTC-ELITE - 14:54 (2018)
12. Eddie Garcia, GTC-ELITE - 14:56 (2020)
1. James Quattlebaum, Run In - 14:14 (2023) new course
3. Jason Weitzel, GTC-ELITE - 14:29 (2023) new course
4. Jason Weitzel, GTC-ELITE - 14:37 (2022)
5. Adam Freudenthal, GTC-ELITE - 14:40 (2013)
5. Eddie Garcia, GTC-ELITE - 14:40 (2023) new course
7. Walter Bugler, Run In - 14:41 (2020)
8. Cole Atkins - 14:41 (2020)
9. Adam Freudenthal, GTC-ELITE - 14:52 (2014)
10. Joe Niemiec, GTC-ELITE - 14:53 (2019)
11. Austin Steagall, GTC-ELITE - 14:54 (2018)
12. Eddie Garcia, GTC-ELITE - 14:56 (2020)
 Jason Weitzel |  Eddie Garcia |
Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012 and is entering its second decade as a post-collegiate, Olympic development program. 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. GTC-ELITE also produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year.
The program is sponsored and supported by the 51-year-old Greenville Track Club, ASICS, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), 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, UCAN energy products, 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 program is sponsored and supported by the 51-year-old Greenville Track Club, ASICS, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), 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, UCAN energy products, 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.
 |  Greg and Mackenzie Lowe |
Sometimes you just have a bad day. That's what happened to Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Mackenzie Lowe in Sunday's Chevron Houston Marathon. She had race goals of lowering her personal best of 2:48:50 and seemed on her way to do so as she passed 5K, 10K and the Half Marathon with split times of 19:41, 39:13 and 1:23:03, respectively. That pace could potentially lead to a sub-2:47:00 final time or faster. However, she soon began to encounter gastro-intestinal issues that required a visit to a port-potty in the 16th mile. Her stomach issues remained throughout the final ten miles and her pace slowed considerably. She finished with a time of 2:57:25 and placed 75th of the 2,372 female finishers.
"I felt really fit and strong going into this, and really believed I was ready to run 2:40-2:45, but a warm and muggy day (and tummy issues probs as a result of that) caused me to really struggle in the second half." Mackenzie explained. "I have never been so happy to get to a finish line. Thankful that I have so much support and a good God that loves me and doesn't define me by results. Ready for a little rest & reset, but you better believe I'm gonna get back to work and get after it next time. I can always gain fitness and lessons/experience from a bad race."
"I felt really fit and strong going into this, and really believed I was ready to run 2:40-2:45, but a warm and muggy day (and tummy issues probs as a result of that) caused me to really struggle in the second half." Mackenzie explained. "I have never been so happy to get to a finish line. Thankful that I have so much support and a good God that loves me and doesn't define me by results. Ready for a little rest & reset, but you better believe I'm gonna get back to work and get after it next time. I can always gain fitness and lessons/experience from a bad race."
Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012 and is entering its second decade as a post-collegiate, Olympic development program. 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 program is sponsored by ASICS, the 51-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), 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 program is sponsored by ASICS, the 51-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), 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.
Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel is ranked second for the 14th consecutive month in the South Carolina Road Race Rankings published this week by South Carolina's USATF record keeper Bill Marable. He is only behind Greenville's James Quattlebaum, who was the 2019 and 2021 South Carolina Long Distance Runner of the year and has led the SC rankings for quite some time. GTC-ELITE alum Ricky Flynn, also of Greenville, is ranked third.
South Carolina Road Race Rankings
as of January 7, 2023
Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012 and is entering its second decade as a post-collegiate, Olympic development program. 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 program is sponsored by ASICS, the 51-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), 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 program is sponsored by ASICS, the 51-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), 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 year 2022 was supposed to include our celebration of reaching our 10th anniversary as a post-collegiate, Olympic-development program. However, due to the untimely passing of Coach LAURA CALDWELL, we never had the opportunity to celebrate that milestone occasion. Coach Laura was one of the three founders of our program with Bill Keesling and Mike Caldwell. She was the bright spirit within our organization and enhanced us with her wisdom, caring, experience and pragmatic leadership. Unfortunately, she suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm on June 7th and after extended periods of hospitalization, passed away at her home on September 20. We celebrated her wonderful life on her 70th birthday, October 6, where her family and friends gathered. Former GTC-ELITE athletes Chris Caldwell, Kimberly (Ruck) Mahoney, Alison Parris, Carolyn Watson, Kate (Dodds) DeVar, Chelsi (Woodruff) Townley, Nicole DiMercurio, Adam Freudenthal, Ricky Flynn, Frank DeVar and Avery Martin (in addition to our current athletes) attended/participated as did our Board of Directors and Greenville Track Club leadership.
Celebrating the wonderful life of Laura Caldwell.
Despite our great loss, our post-collegiate/Olympic-development program continued to produce high performance results throughout the year.
GTC-ELITE athletes competed in the following cities during 2022:
Greenville, SC; Columbia, SC; Clemson, SC; Jacksonville, FL; Charleston, SC; Cleveland, TN; Philadelphia, PA; Rochester, NY;
Lake Oswego, OR (Portland): Atlanta, GA; Northport, NY; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN; Birmingham, AL
Greenville, SC; Columbia, SC; Clemson, SC; Jacksonville, FL; Charleston, SC; Cleveland, TN; Philadelphia, PA; Rochester, NY;
Lake Oswego, OR (Portland): Atlanta, GA; Northport, NY; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN; Birmingham, AL
JANUARY
- Jason Weitzel was ranked second in the South Carolina Road Race Rankings for the second 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.
- Jason Weitzel ran a solo 14:37 on a cold and windy Saturday morning over the streets of downtown Greenville, SC to win The Greenville News Run Downtown 5K. It was the second fastest time for the historic event, only behind former ASICS GTC-ELITE's Austin Steagall's course record of 14:14 set in 2017. It was the 11th time an ASICS GTC-ELITE athlete has placed first in this event. Jason joins Kimberly Ruck (3x), Austin Steagall (2x), Adam Freudenthal (2x), Joe Niemiec, Annie Rodenfels and Chelsi Woodruff as event winners. GTC-ELITE alum Frank DeVar finished second with a time of 15:37. It was the fourth time Frank has placed among the top four in this race.
- Jason Weitzel ran a personal best of 8:06.49 in placing second in the men's 3,000-meter event on Friday evening at the University of South Carolina Invitational in Columbia, SC. Entering the meet with a PB of 8:12.04, Jason ran in the pack of twelve in the first and fastest heat as he covered the first two laps (400m) in 1:03.29. He was sixth at 1,000m, passed in 2:39.67. After the pacer left the track around 1400m the pace slowed and the 2,000m intermediate time was 5:25.51 with Jason at 5:25.99 in 5th. He responded by increasing the pace with 4 laps (800m) remaining and briefly led. However, Furman University's Carson Williams retook the lead and won with a time of 8:04.43. Jason's last 1,000m was 2:40.98, including a 30.13 final 200m, when he advanced from fourth to second. Jason's performance now ranks second in ASICS GTC-ELITE program history, only behind Austin Steagall's 8:04.45 at Clemson's 2017 Bob Pollock Invitational.
- Jason Weitzel ran 8:13.12 to place third in the 3,000 meter event at the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, SC on Saturday. Weitzel was looking to improve on his recent personal best of 8:06.49 from January 28th. He followed pacer Nick Wolk and eventual winner Jack Miller of the University of Pittsburg through the initial 800 meters, clocking 2:08.15, and then passed 1600 meters in 4:16.84. After the pacer retired, Miller led and passed 2,000 meters in 5:21.18 with Weitzel at 5:22.32. However, Jason was unable to match Miller's increased pace over the final kilometer as Miller finished with a personal best of 7:57.39. Auburn's Ryan Kinnane closed with a quick 29.05 final lap (200m) to pass Weitzel for second (8:10.2).
- Jason Weitzel ran 45:48 to place 25th at the 2022 USATF 15K Championships on Saturday. On a foggy and very humid north Florida morning Jason passed the first 5K in 14:49 and 10K in 30:03 before the infamous climb up the Hart Bridge--a.k.a. The Green Monster--in Jacksonville, FL. After climbing some 43 meters in elevation up the bridge, he ran the mostly downhill then flat final mile in 4:48.
APRIL
- Jason Weitzel ran a personal best of 29:22 for 10K in the 45th edition of the Cooper River Bridge Run from Mt. Pleasant to Charleston, SC. That placed him 12th overall in a field mostly dominated by Kenyan-born athletes as seven finished ahead of him. Although finishing well behind second-placer and 2016 USA Olympian Leonard Korir (28:27), he bested two other USA Olympians (2021 marathon) in Abdi Abdirahman (13th/29:37) and Jake Riley (15th/29:58). Jason finished as the fifth USA citizen and second South Carolinian and his time was also a new 10K best for the ASICS GTC-ELITE program.
- Jason Weitzel ran a personal best of 14:05.29 on a windy Friday evening to place third in the 5,000 meters at Lee University's Flames Invitational in Cleveland, TN. His previous best was 14:12.0 while competing for Concord University in 2021. Jason recorded kilometer splits of 2:48.33, 2:51.23, 2:51.28, 2:53.25 and 2:41.2 as he covered the final 400m lap in 1:02.9. It was a quick turnaround after running 29:22 at the Cooper River Bridge Run 10K six days earlier.
- Jason Weitzel and Mackenzie Lowe placed second among men and women, respectively, in the United Community Bank 44th Reedy River Run 10K on Saturday morning. Weitzel placed second for the second time in this historic race as he covered the challenging course in a quick 29:47--some 35 seconds faster than in the 2021 race. He finished behind two-time defending champion James Quattlebaum, who not only won for the third time, but set what is believed to be an event record of 29:20. Quattlebaum and Weitzel have been ranked first and second all year in the South Carolina Road Race Rankings.
In the women's division, Lowe improved on her third place in 2021 by finishing second with a Personal Best of 36:16, dropping 1 minute and 39 seconds from her time here last year. She finished only four seconds behind Mauldin, SC's Victoria Hammersmith, who won in 36:12. Hammersmith was the 2021 SC Long Distance Runner of the Year. Weitzel earned $650 for his performance ($400 for 2nd overall, $50 for 2nd South Carolinian and $200 time bonus) and Lowe takes home $450 (2nd overall and South Carolinian)
MAY
- Mackenzie Lowe ran 59:34 for 10 miles to place 26th among women in Philadelphia's Broad Street Run. After passing the five-mile checkpoint in 29:42, she maintained her pace through seven miles at 41:46 and then through the finish. Mackenzie had placed second last weekend in Greenville's United Community Bank Reedy River Run 10K with a time of 36:16.
- Jason Weitzel ran 14:07.1 to win the 5,000 meters at the Lee University Last Chance Meet in Cleveland, TN. Jason ran in the chase pack for most of the race as the pacer led a couple of runners at the intended pace of 13:50. However, once the pacer dropped out, the leader began to slow and Weitzel caught him with about 500 meters remaining. Jason closed well with a final 400 at 1:03.07. His winning margin grew to almost five seconds.
- Mackenzie Lowe returned to her home state of New York and placed fifth in the women's Rochester Mile. She earned $250 for her performance as she clocked 5:07 for the distance, which was much shorter than the distances that she focuses on--10K through the marathon.
- Announced 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 NCAA XC Championships (2019). Unfortunately, Brent suffered an ankle injury during the 10,000m at the ASUN Conference meet in May and required surgery. He hopes to relocate to Greenville in 2023 once he has completed rehab.
- On a very rainy Friday evening in the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego, 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). The 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.
- Jason Weitzel led from the start and ran a solo-effort 14:44 to win the Eduard Michelin Memorial 5K. 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.
SEPTEMBER
- Jason Weitzel ran 29:40 to place 12th in the 2022 USATF 10K Road Championships 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.
- Jason Weitzel ran a personal best of 48:34 at the USATF 10-Mile Championships in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. The time was 22 seconds better than the 48:56 he ran en route to the USATF Half Marathon Championships in December 2021 in Hardeeville, SC. Competing in a very deep field of the USA's top road racers, Jason passed 5-miles in 24:03 (4:49 per mile pace) before slightly slowing over the hills from 4 to 7 miles. He passed 8.6 miles at 42:04, which was a 4:58 pace for the segment from 5 to 8.6 miles. He then averaged 4:45 per mile for the final 1.4 miles. He placed 27th in the men's championship. His 48:34 broke the ASICS GTC-ELITE program record of 48:56 which was jointly held by Mark Leininger and himself. Leininger's performance was also run on the same course in the 2016 edition of this event.
- Eddie Garcia, who rejoined ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE this month, won the Zoom Through the Zoo 5K on a clear, but chilly, morning in Greenville, SC. Eddie recently returned to training following a bout with COVID-19 after competing in the World Championship marathon last summer. He used the race to test his current fitness level as he begins his preparation for the 2023 BAA Boston Marathon. He ran about 5:00 per mile pace until the final mile which wound through the Greenville Zoo.
- Mackenzie Lowe placed second among women in the Magic City Half Marathon in Birmingham, AL. Running in her first race since recovering from COVID-19, she ran 1:21:24 and earned $400 in prize money. "I wrote Coach Laura's initials on my wrist as a reminder to look at during the race," she explained following the race.
As we complete 2022 and head into 2023, our current and former ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE athletes have set and currently hold South Carolina State Road Race Records at the following distances:
* 5K (road) 16:09, Annie Rodenfels, Low Country Elite 5K, Hardeeville, SC, Sept. 12, 2020
* 15K (road) 52:47, Cristina McKnight, MCG Long Run, Columbia, SC, February 1, 2020
* Half Marathon, 1:04:32, Eduardo Garcia, Mortgage Network Half Marathon, Hardeeville, SC, December 6, 2020
* 15K (road), 45:34, Jason Weitzel, Mortgage Network Half Marathon, Hardeeville, SC, December 5, 2021
* 10-Miles (road), 48:56, Jason Weitzel, Mortgage Network Half Marathon, Hardeeville, SC, December 5, 2021
* 20K (road), 1:01:21, Jason Weitzel, Mortgage Network Half Marathon, Hardeeville, SC, December 5, 2021
* 5K (road) 16:09, Annie Rodenfels, Low Country Elite 5K, Hardeeville, SC, Sept. 12, 2020
* 15K (road) 52:47, Cristina McKnight, MCG Long Run, Columbia, SC, February 1, 2020
* Half Marathon, 1:04:32, Eduardo Garcia, Mortgage Network Half Marathon, Hardeeville, SC, December 6, 2020
* 15K (road), 45:34, Jason Weitzel, Mortgage Network Half Marathon, Hardeeville, SC, December 5, 2021
* 10-Miles (road), 48:56, Jason Weitzel, Mortgage Network Half Marathon, Hardeeville, SC, December 5, 2021
* 20K (road), 1:01:21, Jason Weitzel, Mortgage Network Half Marathon, Hardeeville, SC, December 5, 2021
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012 and is entering its second decade. 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), 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, 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), 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, 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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Congratulations to ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Alison Parris on her beautiful wedding yesterday at Aurora Farms near Greenville, SC. She married Matt Leonard with family and friends in attendance. Among those were her former teammates; bridesmaids Kimberly (Ruck) Mahoney and Carolyn Watson. Her brother-in-law and GTC-ELITE alum Avery Morris was also in the wedding party. Joining in the festivities were other alum/teammates Chelsie (Woodruff) Townley and Chris Caldwell as well as GTC-ELITE director/coach Mike Caldwell and president Bill Keesling. Alison's college coach and family also attended.
Alison was the second woman to join ASICS GTC-ELITE. She had worked for three years in her home state of Maryland following her 2011 graduation from James Madison University. With the intention of pursuing post-collegiate running once completely healthy after some persistent injuries during her collegiate career, she was selected to attend the RRCA Run Pro Camp, where her interest spiked and she contacted ASICS GTC-ELITE. After her successful interview visit, she relocated to Greenville, SC in May of 2014. During her time with the program Alison competed in almost 40 races and finished among the top five 30 times, including 14 victories and set five course records. She competed in three USATF Club Cross Country Nationals with two top 40 finishes (26th and 33rd). Parris and her teammates placed 8th at those championships in 2015 in San Francisco. She ran personal bests of 16:29 for 5,000 meters, 27:13 for 8K and 35:12 for 10K. She also placed 6th at the 2015 Peachtree Road Race. Alison was employed by ScanSource, Inc. as part of our Adopt An Athlete program. After experiencing a semi-chronic foot injury during the latter part of 2017, Alison retired from competitive running and decided to make a career change and accepted a full-time employment position in her adopted home of Greenville. She is currently completing her education in Cyber Security.
Alison was the second woman to join ASICS GTC-ELITE. She had worked for three years in her home state of Maryland following her 2011 graduation from James Madison University. With the intention of pursuing post-collegiate running once completely healthy after some persistent injuries during her collegiate career, she was selected to attend the RRCA Run Pro Camp, where her interest spiked and she contacted ASICS GTC-ELITE. After her successful interview visit, she relocated to Greenville, SC in May of 2014. During her time with the program Alison competed in almost 40 races and finished among the top five 30 times, including 14 victories and set five course records. She competed in three USATF Club Cross Country Nationals with two top 40 finishes (26th and 33rd). Parris and her teammates placed 8th at those championships in 2015 in San Francisco. She ran personal bests of 16:29 for 5,000 meters, 27:13 for 8K and 35:12 for 10K. She also placed 6th at the 2015 Peachtree Road Race. Alison was employed by ScanSource, Inc. as part of our Adopt An Athlete program. After experiencing a semi-chronic foot injury during the latter part of 2017, Alison retired from competitive running and decided to make a career change and accepted a full-time employment position in her adopted home of Greenville. She is currently completing her education in Cyber Security.
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.
Two ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE athletes are ranked in the South Carolina Road Race Rankings published this week by South Carolina's USATF record keeper Bill Marable. Jason Weitzel is ranked second for the 13th consecutive month. He is only behind Greenville's James Quattlebaum, who was the 2019 and 2021 South Carolina Long Distance Runner of the year and has led the SC rankings for quite some time.
In the Women's rankings, Mackenzie Lowe is sixth. She recently placed second the Magic City Half Marathon in Birmingham, AL, although that race was out-of-state and does not affect her ranking.
In the Women's rankings, Mackenzie Lowe is sixth. She recently placed second the Magic City Half Marathon in Birmingham, AL, although that race was out-of-state and does not affect her ranking.
South Carolina Road Race Rankings
as of December 3, 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.
