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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 Jason Weitzel (on right) just after 26K Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel placed 26th overall in the Tartan Ottawa International Marathon on Sunday morning in Canada's capitol city. Running in his debut marathon, Weitzel's goal was to run under 2:18:00 to achieve a qualifying time for next February's USA Olympic Team Trials Marathon. He ran with his pace group for much of the race and passed the first three 5K segments in 16:23, 32:28 (10K) and 47:52 (15K) before hitting the half-marathon in 1:07:42. He covered the first 25K in 1:20:43 and 30K in 1:37:25 (a 2:16:55 pace) before experiencing intermittent cramps in his calves. Struggling to maintain a fluid stride, he slowed considerably over the final 8K before finishing with a time of 2:24:28. The marathon was part of the Run Ottawa weekend which attracted over 27,000 participants combined in races of 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon. Unfortunately for the runners the weather conditions became much warmer on Saturday and Sunday than in the previous days. The temperature at the start on Sunday was 54 degrees F, but warmed quickly to 65 degrees during the elite's race before reaching 85 later in the day, with the bright sun making it seem warmer. The marathon course is rolling and crosses the Ottawa River from Ottawa, Ontario into Quebec around 15K before returning to Ottawa for the final 17K.   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.
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 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 18th 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. In 2023 Weitzel has 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 of 2022 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. In April's United Community Bank 45th Reedy River Run 10K, Quattlebaum defended his title and Weitzel placed second for the third consecutive year. Mackenzie Lowe is ranked seventh among the women after placing 4th in the United Community Bank Reedy River Run 10K. It was recently announced that she will be relocating with her husband back to their hometown of Buffalo, NY this month. GTC-ELITE alums Ricky Flynn and Roland Hakes (now residing in Columbia) are ranked fifth and sixth, respectively. Flynn placed third in the United Community Bank Reedy River Run 10K for the third straight year. Hakes placed third, behind Weitzel and Garcia, in the MGC Long Run 15K in February. South Carolina Road Race Rankings |
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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.
Mackenzie Donahue visited Greenville with her then fiancé Greg Lowe in December of 2019 to interview with Greenville Track Club-ELITE as a potential program to pursue her running goals. After marrying Greg in the summer of 2020 they relocated to Greenville from their homes in Buffalo, NY as she joined the post-collegiate, Olympic-development program. She was employed at Fleet Feet and Greg worked as a physical therapist at Purposed PT.
After 33 months in Greenville, she and Greg will be moving back home to Buffalo at the end of May as Greg has a teaching position at their alma mater, Daemen University. Greg will also be starting his own physical therapy business.
During her time with the program, Mackenzie competed in 15 races and placed among the top four in nine of those competitions. She won the 2021 Red, White & Blue Shoes 5K and placed 3rd, 2nd and 4th in the most recent United Community Bank Reedy River Run 10Ks. Her proudest moment was running her personal best of 2:48:50 in the 2021 Philadelphia Marathon.
Mackenzie explained, “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to run for the GTC-Elite program these past few years and for everything that Coaches Mike and Laura have done for me! I feel like I’ve grown so much as a runner and as an individual during my time in Greenville, and I’m so thankful for experiencing being a part of this awesome elite running program and the community that has come with it. I’m also grateful to have had the opportunity to run with some incredibly talented teammates who I’ve been able to learn so much from. I wish the program only the best moving forward and I’m so excited to see where GTC Elite takes Jason and Eddie next— I’m so excited to see their talent continue to progress and I’ll miss them so much as well! I’ll be continuing to root for the team’s future success and growth!”
"Mackenzie will be missed by all who know her," stated GTC-ELITE coach Mike Caldwell. "She is always so positive and brings her smile to workout sessions and lifts everyone's spirits and I will definitely miss her enthusiasm. She and Greg were a valuable part of our program, but life keeps moving on and they are ready for the next phase in their lives. We wish them the best and know they will have great memories of their time in Greenville."
After 33 months in Greenville, she and Greg will be moving back home to Buffalo at the end of May as Greg has a teaching position at their alma mater, Daemen University. Greg will also be starting his own physical therapy business.
During her time with the program, Mackenzie competed in 15 races and placed among the top four in nine of those competitions. She won the 2021 Red, White & Blue Shoes 5K and placed 3rd, 2nd and 4th in the most recent United Community Bank Reedy River Run 10Ks. Her proudest moment was running her personal best of 2:48:50 in the 2021 Philadelphia Marathon.
Mackenzie explained, “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to run for the GTC-Elite program these past few years and for everything that Coaches Mike and Laura have done for me! I feel like I’ve grown so much as a runner and as an individual during my time in Greenville, and I’m so thankful for experiencing being a part of this awesome elite running program and the community that has come with it. I’m also grateful to have had the opportunity to run with some incredibly talented teammates who I’ve been able to learn so much from. I wish the program only the best moving forward and I’m so excited to see where GTC Elite takes Jason and Eddie next— I’m so excited to see their talent continue to progress and I’ll miss them so much as well! I’ll be continuing to root for the team’s future success and growth!”
"Mackenzie will be missed by all who know her," stated GTC-ELITE coach Mike Caldwell. "She is always so positive and brings her smile to workout sessions and lifts everyone's spirits and I will definitely miss her enthusiasm. She and Greg were a valuable part of our program, but life keeps moving on and they are ready for the next phase in their lives. We wish them the best and know they will have great memories of their time in Greenville."
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.
 Top 5 Men: Jason 2nd from left. |  Jason Weitzel |
Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel placed second in the United Community Bank Reedy River Run for the third consecutive year. On a stormy Saturday morning, the 10K race started on time at 7:15 am after a quick moving thunder storm moved over Greenville between 5:00 and 6:30 am. Once the starter's horn sounded, Jason ran with three-time race champion James Quattlebaum as they passed the first mile in 4:39 and reached 5K at 14:30. Quattlebaum pulled away over the second half of the race through Cleveland, Cancer Survivor's and Falls Parks. James became the first to win four titles in the 45 editions of this historic race and ran a quick 29:22--only two seconds off the course record he set last year. Weitzel finished alone in second with a time of 30:15. Ricky Flynn (31:27)) was third for the third consecutive year.
Weitzel's GTC-ELITE teammate, Mackenzie Lowe, ran 37:22 to place fourth among women. She previously placed 3rd in 2021 and 2nd in 2022. The women's race was won by the Atlanta Track Club Elite's Joanna Stephens in 35:31. She was followed by Simpsonville's Alyssa Bloomquist (a multiple time Olympic Trials qualifier) in 36:07. Shelby Jaramillo finished third for the second straight year by running 37:19 and besting Lowe by three seconds. Last year's champion, Victoria Hammersmith, was fifth with a time of 38:23.
Top 5 Women: Stephens, Bloomquist, Jaramillo, Lowe and Hammersmith
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 Eddie Garcia ran his debut BAA (Boston) Marathon on a damp Patriots Day in the deepest field of elite runners in race history. Conditions at the 9:37 am start were 49F/9C with 95% humidity and damp road surfaces. Eddie, whose most recent marathon was the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, OR in July, started conservatively as he followed his race plan and passed the first 5K in 16:12 and 10K in 32:29 (sub-2:17 pace). After covering 15K in 48:57, he passed 20K in 1:05:25 and halfway (21.1K) at 1:09:01. At 25K his split was 1:22:06, still just under 2:18:30 pace. That pace was close to plan as the strategy was to conserve energy on the downhill first half, cover the hilly section of Heartbreak Hill (actually a series of hills) and finish the final 10K strong.
However, sometimes things don't go as planned, and Eddie ran into trouble on the hills. "I had a tough one today," he explained soon after finishing. "My legs did not respond well to the hills in the second half. I had to go to the medical tent at mile 24 as my hamstring was cramping. They assessed my condition said it was okay to keep moving, so I drank some more fluids and jogged to the finish."
Not wanting to DNF (Did Not Finish), Eddie gutted it out to cross the final timing mat at 2:39:10.
Even the world's greatest marathoner has an off day as Eliud Kipchoge was dropped in the hills and finished sixth in 2:09:23--the slowest time in his illustrious career, which includes two Olympic Marathon Gold Medals, the current world record and the only human to break two hours for the distance.
However, sometimes things don't go as planned, and Eddie ran into trouble on the hills. "I had a tough one today," he explained soon after finishing. "My legs did not respond well to the hills in the second half. I had to go to the medical tent at mile 24 as my hamstring was cramping. They assessed my condition said it was okay to keep moving, so I drank some more fluids and jogged to the finish."
Not wanting to DNF (Did Not Finish), Eddie gutted it out to cross the final timing mat at 2:39:10.
Even the world's greatest marathoner has an off day as Eliud Kipchoge was dropped in the hills and finished sixth in 2:09:23--the slowest time in his illustrious career, which includes two Olympic Marathon Gold Medals, the current world record and the only human to break two hours for the distance.
 Eddie and his wife Sydney. |  Prepping Fuel/Hydration Bottles |
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 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 17th 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.
In 2023 Weitzel has 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 of 2022 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.
In 2023 Weitzel has 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 of 2022 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
as of April 2, 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.
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Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel ran 29:38.96 to place 46th in the men's 10,000 meters at the Raleigh Relays on Friday night. Running in the third and fastest seeded heat at 10:35 pm, Weitzel ran 4:46.3 per mile in the very deep field. "Jason was very disappointed in tonight's performance," explained his coach Mike Caldwell. "His goal was to run a new personal best in the 28:40-45 range, but it just wasn't to be tonight. Everyone may have an off-night in athletics. We'll just roll with it and focus on his next competitive test."
After passing 3200 meters in 9:18.5, he was already slightly behind his goal pace and hit the halfway point in 14:35 (29:10 pace) and slowed some over the final 5K. Jason's Personal Best for the event is 28:59.57 which he ran at the Portland Track Festival last June. He is now scheduled to run a road 10K at the United Community Bank Reedy River Run on April 22, where he has placed second in both 2021 and 2022.
After passing 3200 meters in 9:18.5, he was already slightly behind his goal pace and hit the halfway point in 14:35 (29:10 pace) and slowed some over the final 5K. Jason's Personal Best for the event is 28:59.57 which he ran at the Portland Track Festival last June. He is now scheduled to run a road 10K at the United Community Bank Reedy River Run on April 22, where he has placed second in both 2021 and 2022.
 Pre-race. |  On the start line. |
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.
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.
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
as of March 4, 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 placed 14th and 16th, respectively, in the Gate River Run in Jacksonville, FL, which hosted the USATF 15K Championships once again. On a warm (72 degrees at start) and very humid (88 percent) Saturday morning, the conditions put a damper on fast times. Weitzel ran 47:30 and Garcia 47:49, which was well off their personal bests of 45:34 and 45:53. The race starts and finishes near TIAA Bank Stadium, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and includes two crossings of the St. John's River. The second crossing climbs (and descends) the Hart Bridge, also known to runners as the "Green Monster" for its elevation and placement during the final third of the race.
"The weather conditions were not conducive for fast times, but Jason and Eddie had good competitive efforts," stated the program's coach Mike Caldwell. "Eddie is preparing for the upcoming BAA Boston Marathon in mid-April and Jason is targeting the Ottawa Marathon in late May. Running against national level competition is always one of our goals and Gate River provided another opportunity to do that."
"The weather conditions were not conducive for fast times, but Jason and Eddie had good competitive efforts," stated the program's coach Mike Caldwell. "Eddie is preparing for the upcoming BAA Boston Marathon in mid-April and Jason is targeting the Ottawa Marathon in late May. Running against national level competition is always one of our goals and Gate River provided another opportunity to do that."
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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.
