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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 ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel remains ranked second in the most recent South Carolina Road Race Rankings, published this week by Bill Marable. It was the twelfth consecutive month that he has been ranked only behind Greenville's James Quattlebaum, who was the 2019 and 2021 South Carolina Long Distance Runner of the year His teammate, Mackenzie Lowe, 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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ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE welcomes Eduardo "Eddie" Garcia back to the post-collegiate, Olympic-development program. Eddie first joined the program in March of 2018 after a collegiate running career at the University of Florida, where he was the Southeastern Conference (SEC) champion at 10,000 meters in 2015. After relocating to Greenville from the Sunshine state, Eddie improved his times and ran a then-personal best of 2:18:50 at the 2019 Houston Tenneco Marathon. He was named South Carolina Long Distance Runner of the Year in 2020 after setting SC State records at the Half Marathon distance twice. He also placed 12th in 2019 Pan American Games Marathon (2:19:12) in Lima, Peru
He represented ASICS GTC-ELITE until July 2021, when he resigned to devote more time for his upcoming wedding to his now wife, Sydney. He then ran for McKirdy Trained until his recent decision to rejoin his former program. In late 2021, Eddie ran a personal best of 2:17:45 at the California International Marathon and then represented the US Virgin Islands over that distance at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, OR.
"We are pleased that Eddie has decided to return to our program," stated Director/Coach Mike Caldwell. "We had presented Eddie an open invitation to come back if and when he had that inclination. He had trained with and competed with us for almost three and-a-half years and was an integral part of our program. He understands our training and life philosophies and should be a good fit immediately. He and Jason (Weitzel) should both benefit from being able to train at an enhanced level together."
He represented ASICS GTC-ELITE until July 2021, when he resigned to devote more time for his upcoming wedding to his now wife, Sydney. He then ran for McKirdy Trained until his recent decision to rejoin his former program. In late 2021, Eddie ran a personal best of 2:17:45 at the California International Marathon and then represented the US Virgin Islands over that distance at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, OR.
"We are pleased that Eddie has decided to return to our program," stated Director/Coach Mike Caldwell. "We had presented Eddie an open invitation to come back if and when he had that inclination. He had trained with and competed with us for almost three and-a-half years and was an integral part of our program. He understands our training and life philosophies and should be a good fit immediately. He and Jason (Weitzel) should both benefit from being able to train at an enhanced level together."
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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ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel ran a personal best of 48:34 at the USATF 10-Mile Championships in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN on Sunday morning. 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. He had recently placed 12th in the USATF 10K Road Championships on September 17th in the Great Cow Harbor Run in Northport, NY.
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.
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. He had recently placed 12th in the USATF 10K Road Championships on September 17th in the Great Cow Harbor Run in Northport, NY.
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.
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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.
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.
Laura will be fondly remembered as a best friend, nurturing mother, big sister, athlete, coach, mentor and environmentalist.
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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 (striped singlet) at 5K in Great Cow Harbor 10K |
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
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
- 29:40 - Jason Weitzel, 12th (2022) *USATF 10K Champs
- 29:49 - Adam Freudenthal, 6th (2014)
- 30:16 - Mark Leininger, 6th (2016)
- 30:16 - Eddie Garcia, 9th (2018)
- 30:47 - Mark Leininger, 6th (2015)
- 30:52 - Victor Pataky, 11th (2019)
- 31:02 - Adam Freudenthal, 8th (2013)
- 31:15 - Tyler Morse, 13th (2017)
- 31:16 - Austin Steagall, 9th (2016)
- 31:27 - Victor Pataky, 15th (2018)
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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.
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.
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.
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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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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.
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.
 |  Jason Weitzel with the Michelin Man. |
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.
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:
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:
- Get to know other aspiring professional runners.
- Meet coaches and athletes from professional training centers.
- Determine what type of representation, if any, would be best.
- Learn about elite race recruitment and criteria for receiving travel expenses and prize money.
- Understand USATF rules governing professional running along with opportunities to represent the U.S. in international competition.
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.
 Mackenzie Lowe |  Jason Weitzel |
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.
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
as of July 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.
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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.
