Garcia Runs to National Record in Portland Track Festival

Eddie Garcia leading this group in his heat at the Portland Track Festival. Photo: Kin Spir.

ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Eddie Garcia returned to the track where he had set his personal best for 10,000 meters in 2019 and repeated a PB performance on Friday night in the Portland, OR suburb of Lake Oswego. Running in the second heat of the loaded 10,000, Eddie closed fast over the final 800m to post of time of 29:18.25. That eclipsed his personal best of 29:18.37. 

On a beautiful evening Eddie ran in the lead pack for the first 4000 meters before slightly falling of the leaders and passing 5,000m at 14:40. After some additional laps at a similar pace, he was able to respond over the final 2K and moved from 11th to 4th over the final 800 meters. His final 400 was 61.3 which was the fourth fastest final lap in the combined two heats. His final 5,000 was 14:38. 

The time was a new national record for the United States Virgin Islands, which Eddie represents in international competition. He also hold the records for the 5,000, Half Marathon and Marathon. Eddie was the Southeastern Conference champion at 10,000m in 2015 while competing for his alma mater, the University of Florida. 

His future plans are focused on the Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, MN on June 18. 

GTC-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 for the 2021 USATF Olympic Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase.  Also, the group set four South Carolina State road race records in 2020 (5K, 15K and Half Marathon).  The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 48-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), The ATI Running Academy, 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 Running (treadmill body weight support).  The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and  USATF.​