asics Greenville Track Club-ELITE - a post-collegiate, Olympic-development program
established 2012
established 2012
During this time of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic non-essential operations are basically restricted or limited -- including running competitions. So we will use this "social distancing" period to learn a little more about our ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE athletes. This blog is about Victor Pataky. Q: Why did you move to Greenville?
VP: I moved to Greenville to join the ASICS GTC-Elite program. Greenville itself also attracted me because it is a great place to live! Q: What about the Greenville Track Club-ELITE program was most important in making your decision to join? VP: During the two years after I graduated from college I trained alone most of the time. Having teammates that keep me accountable and pushing me to my best day in and day out was the biggest reason I decided to join. Q: What do you like the most about GTC-ELITE? VP: I enjoy my teammates! They always keep me company on runs and push me to be my best. We all have very similar goals and we all want the best for each other. It’s great being surrounded by like-minded people. Q: Have you experienced improvement in your running since joining the program? VP: Yes! My training has been more consistent and I have a new PR in the 3000m Steeplechase. Q: Which competitive distance are you focused on? VP: In the fall/winter I focus on the marathon. In the spring/summer I focus on the 3000m Steeplechase. Q: What is your favorite place in GVL to take friends or family? VP: I love to take friends and family to Conestee Park. There are a lot of hiking trails that are very scenic! A close second is Timmons Park. It’s pretty tucked away but has a mountain bike trail, a really fun disc golf course, and pickle ball courts! Q: What is your favorite eating establishment in GVL? VP: Without a doubt, it has to be Sushi GO. It’s the best sushi place in town and it has a large variety of Japanese cuisine. Go check it out!! They do delivery at the moment! Q: How is your training with the program different than what you experienced previously or in college? VP: The training theory and methodology is very similar to what I had been doing in college and post-collegiately. The biggest things that have changed are more consistent workouts/weekly volume, and the emphasis on ancillary work. Q: Which model of ASICS footwear is your favorite for training? For racing? VP: The GEL Nimbus is my go-to shoe for just about any training run. On the roads I enjoy racing in the Tartherzeal. For track I use the Cosmoracer LD spikes. Q: When you cook, what is your favorite meal? VP: This is a hard one… I love cooking and cook just about every meal at home. Anyone that has lived with me while I’ve been in Greenville knows that I’m that guy that watches cooking videos in my freetime. If I am cooking for myself, a really fancy steak dinner is great. Recently I have been challenging myself to cook without using anything for reference. It’s a lot of fun and, so far, has not disappointed! My favorite meals to cook are ones that I share with others. Usually I make Hungarian or Thai food (for example Chicken Paprika or Tom Ka) if I invite my friends over for dinner. Most have never had Hungarian or really authentic Thai so it’s always fun. Cooking and meals to me are about bringing people together and enjoying everyone’s company. Q: What was your major in college and why were you interested in that field of study? VP: I have a Bachelors of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience (BNS) and a minor in Psychology. I also completed the Pre-Physical Therapy track. I honestly did not know what BNS was until the very end of my freshman year. My Pre-PT advisor is a BNS professor and basically peaked my interest when we were deciding what I should major in and which major would help me the most with what I wanted to do. BNS lined up with the Pre-PT requirements so it naturally was the best way to go at the time. I really enjoyed the classes and found the subject interesting. It’s very cool to be in a sophomore level class and have the answer to one of your questions be “No one knows yet, so you can go find that out!” Q: Where are you employed and what is your current position? VP: I am the Director and Coach of the GTC-Rabbits Youth Program. It has been a fantastic experience to start this program and give back to the community. I always look forward to the practices and everyone that knows me well can attest that I brag about the kids a lot! For more details about Victor's performances please visit VICTOR PATAKY.
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During this time of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic non-essential operations are basically restricted or limited -- including running competitions. So we will use this "social/physical distancing" period to learn a little more about our ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE athletes. This blog is about Annie Rodenfels. Q: Why did you move to Greenville?
AR: I moved to GVL to pursue a professional career in running with ASICS GTC-ELITE! That was, pretty much, the main reason. Of course, I also really liked the area and how active and outdoorsy it is. Greenville has been a great place to live an train so far (except when the humidity gets crazy in the summer). Q: What about the Greenville Track Club-ELITE program was most important in making your decision to join? AR: For me, there was several main factors that contributed to my decision. The first was financial support—I found that the benefits at GTC-Elite far outweighed most other groups similar to it. Secondly, I choose the program because of the opportunities it offered me—travel and access to competitive, professional meets, quality training, etc. I feel like the program maintains a good balance of being a place where you can truly consider yourself a professional—it gives you the opportunities and access to everything you need to reach the level you want to reach in running, and because of my big goals that was really important that I wouldn’t just outgrow the program. Q: What do you like the most about GTC-ELITE? AR: I like the balance that I can have in my life at GTC-Elite. I do feel it is important to take myself seriously as a professional runner and to reach out and give 100% to my goals, but I don’t feel like I am constrained to just running here. I am able to have balance in my life because of how flexible Mike and Laura are, with my jobs in the community, and the larger community of the Greenville Track Club. I can pursue running as seriously as I want, but also still function as a normal person and pursue my other passions alongside running if I want. Q: Have you experienced improvement in your running since joining the program? AR: I have! I’ve been fortunate enough to PR in almost every race I have raced thus far in my time at GTC-Elite. I’ve seen a 40-some second PR in my indoor 3000m, a small PR in my 5k, and a mile PR (as well as picking up some new distances like a one-time 8k race). Of course, I was looking to improve a lot during this upcoming track season, but unfortunately, due to the coronavirus my breakout season will have to wait. Q: Which competitive distance are you focused on? AR: I am focused on the 3000m steeplechase almost exclusively. I’d really like to knock down my 5k PR and mile/1500m PR’s as well, but I think I can go the farthest with my steeplechase—additionally, it is my favorite event. Q: What is your favorite place in GVL to take friends or family? AR: I love taking visitors to the downtown (water) falls. I think it’s absolutely beautiful and run past the falls every chance I get. It is certainly a big stop on Annie’s Tour of Greenville. Q: What is your favorite eating establishment in GVL? AR: Without a doubt, Biscuit Head. Albeit I haven’t tried many of the other Greenville establishments due to limited time (I’ve only been here 9 months) and the undeniable fact that despite being a bad cook I never eat out really, but I really really love Biscuit Head. It has something to do with the fact that my favorite food is breakfast and that the jam bar (and orange juice?!) is to die for. Q: How is your training with the program different than what you experienced previously or in college? AR: There are a few key points in the training that definitely do vary from my training in college, but I don’t feel like they are ultimately very different. I do run more mileage than I did in college, and I get to double now (which I both love and hate at the same time). In terms of workouts, in college we focused more on hammering workouts pretty quickly and did less work. At GTC-ELITE, I’ve found that I’m doing more mileage and less hammering but am also doing more workouts overall and more consistently. I think this is just due to the major difference between the college season and the professional season. In college, it’s a race to get in shape and stay in shape in a small amount of time, whereas in professional running it’s a long run of gaining fitness. The lifting/ancillary work is also different than what I did in college. Here it is more focused on specific movements and pre-rehab, while in college it more closely resembled ‘normal’ lifting and emphasized power over strength. However, at GTC-ELITE my lifting is much more consistent and encompassing than it was in college. Not to mention that now I just get to go outside to my backyard to do my lifting. :) Q: Which model of ASICS footwear is your favorite for training? For racing? AR: Beyond any doubt, my favorite ASICS shoes are the Glide Rides. I would wear them all day, everyday if I could (and I do). For racing, I like the Gun lap spikes. They are lightweight (my kinda shoe) and springy, and have a nice mesh-like upper that works ideally for steeple. Q: When you cook, what is your favorite meal? AR: I am easily the worst cook on the team and I am not ashamed to say it (mostly). Cooking endeavors of mine have included baking a quiche in a graham cracker crust accidentally and setting a pan on fire. However, when I am successful in my cooking, I enjoy making Asian cuisines—pad thai, General Tsos chicken with udon noodles, etc. Honestly, I’d usually just rather eat Victor’s (Pataky) authentic Hungarian or Thai food when he cooks that. Q: What was your major in college and why were you interested in that field of study? AR: I majored in Psychology with a minor in gender studies at Centre College. I was interested in psychology because I enjoyed the blend of humanities and STEM that come with the major. You get to both be scientific but also utilize anthropology and sociology in your evidence and research. I like to study human behavior and the reasons behind it. I minored in Gender Studies because feminism and social justice like-anthropology work is my passion. I am incredibly interested in the ways we act as we do, especially in regards to gender and gendered work. All my passions combined cause an extreme interest in gendered work and women in sports, which I’ve done some basic undergraduate research in for classes before. Q: Where are you employed and what is your current position? AR: I am currently employed as a Corporate Wellness Coordinator at Joy Real Estate and a high school Cross Country/Track and Field Coach at Greenville Tech Charter High School! For more details about Annie's performances please visit ANNIE RODENFELS.
During this time of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic non-essential operations are basically restricted or limited -- including running competitions. So we will use this "social distancing" period to learn a little more about our ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE athletes.
Our first post is about Joe Niemiec, who competed in the USA Olympic Team Trials marathon on February 29 in Atlanta, GA. Q: Why did you move to Greenville? JN: In October, 2018 my wife, Jasmine, and I moved here from Michigan with our two children (at that time) so I could join the Greenville Track Club-ELITE program. Q: What about the Greenville Track Club-ELITE program was most important in making your decision to join? JN: I thought it was my best chance at being able to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials and I liked the idea behind less miles and more strength. Q: What do you like the most about GTC-ELITE? JN: I enjoy the people I’ve met and having access to the FIT Garage. Both of these have enabled me to become a better runner. Q: Have you experienced improvement in your running since joining the program? JN: Absolutely. The times speak for themselves. I went from being injured to a 2:26 and then to a 2:17:23 marathon within 12 months. Also pr’d in the 10k. Q: Which competitive distance are you focused on? JN: Marathon Q: What is your favorite place in GVL to take friends or family? JN: Swamp Rabbit Cafe Q: What is your favorite eating establishment in GVL? JN: White Duck Taco. Plenty of room for kids to run around giving adults some space. It’s like free babysitting and the tacos are way too good. Q: How is your training with the program different than what you experienced previously or in college? JN: A huge focus on supplemental training and not so much on overall mileage. This differs from my college experience, because in college mileage was king. I think for me personally building up overall body strength has made me a more durable runner which is key during a marathon buildup. Q: Which model of ASICS footwear is your favorite for training? JN: The GEL Nimbus. I do long runs, easy runs, and workouts in them and they hold up really well. Q: When you cook, what is your favorite meal? JN: I’m a sous vide guy so a good steak with potatoes and greens. Yea. Get in my belly. Q: What was your major in college and why were you interested in that field of study? JN: Electrical Engineering. I grew up taking things apart and fixing them and as I got older engineering gave me the opportunity to get paid to do just that! Q: Where are you employed and what is your current position? JN: TBD. I am currently on the job hunt. For more details about Joe's performances please visit JOE NIEMIEC.
The South Carolina Road Race Rankings as of March 1, 2020 were announced today. ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE athletes Eduardo (Eddie) Garcia and Andrea (Annie) Rodenfels remained atop of their respective men's and women's rankings. Photos above show both athletes in their most recent competitions. Annie won the Main Street Mile in conjunction with Columbia, SC's Governor's Cup running festival. Eddie won the Governor's Cup Half Marathon and set a new SC state record of 1:05:27. Their teammates, Cristina McKnight (3rd) and Joe Niemiec (7th) were also among the rankings. Both of those athletes competed in last weekend's USA Olympic Team Trials Marathon in Atlanta (which does not effect the state's rankings). Current SC Road Race Rankings
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 and three qualifiers/two participants for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA. The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 48-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate, the Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Boston Bill Sunglasses, 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, DorsiFlex and Synergy Performance (mental performance). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
  Cristina McKnight ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Cristina McKnight ran to a 49th place finish with a new personal best of 2:40:29 over an undulating course in the 2020 USA Olympic Team Trials Marathon on Saturday afternoon. Running in only her second marathon, after debuting in December 2019 at Sacramento's California International Marathon, McKnight passed the halfway mark (13.1 miles) in 1:18:18 before slowing to a positive second-half split of 1:22:11. Her finishing time was 12 seconds faster than her initial marathon. Her 49th place bested her pre-race seed of 128th by a huge margin. There were 390 women finishers of the 510 qualifiers (2:45:00 or better) of which 444 started. Her teammate, Joe Niemiec had a tough day as he struggled to a time of 2:27:50, which was well off his qualifying time of 2:17:23 at last month's Chevron Houston Marathon. He finished 123rd of the 226 starters and 175 finishers and bested his seeding of 126. "This was not a PR day. This was not a good day. This was honestly a bad day on paper. But I am so proud I finished. I defeated my body on a day it didn’t want to perform," Joe explained following the race.  Joe Niemiec He elaborated, "Today was a grind...hills, wind, and a body that fought back every time I tried to push...by mile 7 I had my first cramp...I kept driving and took my shot over the next 7 miles coming through half on sub 2:20 pace...but around 15 my body was toasted...everything that worked for Houston seemed to have no affect in ATL...like a bacteria that becomes resistant to antibiotics my mind and body were immune to all the tricks I used in Houston...the next 3 miles I cried and yelled and fought through core cramps that throttled me back to 6 flat pace...I wanted so badly to drop out...but I passed my cheer squad and my wife pointed to her heart and reminded me to run from the heart...this was the lowest point of the race...after seeing that I switched my mindset to survive and finish...I came too far not to run down that damed finish chute...towards mile 20-22 I actually started building momentum again but as soon as I approached 5:30 my core would get so cramped it almost brought me to a walk...and so it went till the last 800 meters where I decided I would kick till the end...at that point I was in 126th. My bib number. I was able to pass three guys in the last stretch which brought me to 123."
ASICS GTC-ELITE director Mike Caldwell summed up the day, "Our program goal is always qualifying and competing in national championship and the Olympic Trials. Today, we had two of our marathon rookies compete after qualifying in either December of 2019 or last month (January). To be able to recover from those qualifying efforts and show up here in Atlanta on a fairly difficult course due to the undulating hills and then battle some very gusty winds is definitely a victory for our athletes and program." 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 and three qualifiers for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA. The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 48-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate, the Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Boston Bill Sunglasses, 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, DorsiFlex and Synergy Performance (mental performance). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.  February 29, 2020 - Atlanta, GAASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Joe Niemiec and Cristina McKnight will toe the starting line on February 29th in downtown Atlanta, GA for the 2020 USA Olympic Team Trials Marathon. Both meet the qualifying standards for one of the most prestigious events in US running after relocating to Greenville to join the post-collegiate, Olympic-development program. The current weather forecast is sunny and cool with a high of 46-degrees. Starting times: men at 12:08 and women at 12:20 pm.  Cristina McKnight during California International Marathon. McKnight, who did not compete at the collegiate level while studying at Michigan State University, was accepted to the program with a personal best of only 1:18:41 for the half marathon (not quite meeting the program's qualifying standard of 1:18:00). She has since improved to 1:16:04. After she and her coach Laura Caldwell mutually set a goal of running her first marathon under the qualifying standard of 2:45:00, they targeted the California International Marathon in Sacramento, CA. In early December, 2019, Cristina debuted at the marathon distance with a time of 2:40:41, and placed 11th among women. That qualified her for the Atlanta event, where she is seeded 128th among the 513 women qualifiers and 463 actual "declared" entrants. In 2018 Niemiec contacted the ASICS GTC-ELITE coaches about the possibility of "qualifying for the Trials." After visiting Greenville and interviewing with the coaches and athletes, Joe decided to relocate from Michigan to chase his dream. With abundant support from his wife, Jasmine, they moved with their two young children south. (They welcomed their third child a little over a year ago.) Although he had some success at the USA 25K Championships, Joe had not run an actual marathon. He picked the 2019 Bank of America Chicago Marathon to be his first. After running at a Trials qualifying pace for 25K, he slowed considerably over the last 10K and finished in 2:26:46--well off the 2:19:00 needed to qualify for the Trials. Joe and his coaches then decided to run the Chevron Houston Marathon in mid-January, which would be the final opportunity to qualify. The revised plan was to fully recover from Chicago first and then use a shorter build-up for Houston. Joe was able to increase his fitness due to some increased-volume workout sessions and a few marathon-specific long runs. On January 19th, Joe achieved his dream as he ran 2:17:23 in Houston, placing ninth overall and being the second American finisher. He is seeded 126th for the Atlanta Trials in a field of 242 "declared" entrants of the 265 qualifiers.  Joe Niemiec finishing 2020 Chevron Houston Marathon. (photo by Jack Thompson/Runner's World) Highlighting Atlanta's Olympic history and legacy, the course for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon will take athletes on a tour of some of Atlanta's most important attractions and neighborhoods. Competitors will begin their race in front of Centennial Olympic Park – the crown jewel of the 1996 Atlanta Games – and head down Marietta Street toward Peachtree. They will proceed three miles north on Peachtree until they pass the intersection of Peachtree and West Peachtree, then turn around and head back down Peachtree in the opposite direction, loop through Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood and return to downtown. The runners will complete this loop three times before heading on a 2.2 mile final loop that runs under the Rings and Torch structure from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, goes by the Georgia Capitol building and passes by the sports stadiums that house the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta United FC. They will then reach the welcome sight of the finish line inside Centennial Olympic Park.  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 and three qualifiers for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA. The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 48-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate, the Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Boston Bill Sunglasses, 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, DorsiFlex and Synergy Performance (mental performance). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
 Eddie Garcia (78) taking the early lead. On a sunny, but cold, Saturday morning ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Eddie Garcia ran 1:05:25 over a hilly course to win the Lexington Medical Center Governor's Cup Half Marathon in Columbia, SC. He returned to the state's Capitol city after winning the MCG Long Run 15K three weeks ago to post a similar winning result. The Atlanta Track Club's Robert Stone was second in 1:08:00. Garcia's pace was a quick 5:00 per mile and earned him a nice payday. The overall winner's award was $1250 with additional $300 bonus for first American and $300 for first South Carolinian. He also earned the 2020 Road Runners Club of America South Carolina State Half Marathon championship. It was a personal best by 12 seconds for the former Southeastern Conference 10,000-meter champion while a student at the University of Florida. Eddie is currently ranked first in the South Carolina Road Race Rankings. The time also eclipsed the South Carolina State Record for the Half Marathon (by a SC resident), which was held by Charleston's Michael Banks at 1:05:50 in the 2014 Governor's Cup.  photo: JEDIrunnerphotography 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 and three qualifiers for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA. The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 48-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate, the Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Boston Bill Sunglasses, 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, DorsiFlex and Synergy Performance (mental performance). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
 ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Annie Rodenfels ran 4:54 to win the Lexington Medical Center Governor's Cup Main Street Mile in downtown Columbia, SC on a cold and windy Friday evening. She earned $500 for her efforts. Rodenfels' current, and former collegiate, teammate Victor Pataky placed second in the men's division with a time of 4:26. He finished two seconds behind the Atlanta Track Club's James Dwyer (4:24) and earned $400. Both Rodenfels and Pataky are graduates of Kentucky's Centre College. The race had previously been held in the month of May, but was moved to February in conjunction with Saturday's Lexington Medical Center Governor's Cup Road Races (Half Marathon and 5K). The temperature after sundown dropped to under 40 degrees with gusting winds.  Rodenfels winning Main Street Mile photo: JEDIrunnerphotography 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 and three qualifiers for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA. The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 48-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate, the Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Boston Bill Sunglasses, 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, DorsiFlex and Synergy Performance (mental performance). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE athletes Eddie Garcia and Annie Rodenfels are the new leaders in the South Carolina Road Race Rankings announced today. Garcia won the MCG Long Run 15K in Columbia, SC last Saturday after placing third in The Greenville News Run Downtown 5K in January. Those were his first races since placing 12th at the Pan American Games Marathon with a time of 2:19:12 last July in Lima Peru. In the Columbia race, Eddie finished 27 seconds ahead of Rock Hill's Jonathan McGinnis, who is second in the current rankings. Rodenfels won the women's title at The Greenville News Run Downtown 5K with a time of 16:44, where she bested the former rankings leader Alyssa Bloomquist. Bloomquist ran a personal best of 16:54 in that event and is now ranked second in the standings. Rodenfel's teammate, Cristina McKnight, is ranked third following her SC State 15K record (52:47) at the MCG Long Run. Bloomquist, McKnight, Joy Miller (4th in rankings) and Esther Atkins (5th) are all qualifiers for this month's USA Olympic Team Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA, which illustrates the current talent level. Garcia's teammates, Joe Niemiec (7th) and Victor Pataky (9th) are also among the top ten men. Garcia, Niemiec, James Quattlebaum (3rd), Cole Atkins (6th) are also 2020 Olympic Trials Marathon qualifiers.
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 and three qualifiers for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA. The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 48-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate, the Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Boston Bill Sunglasses, 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, DorsiFlex and Synergy Performance (mental performance). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.
 All smiles for Cristina McKnight and Eddie Garcia ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Eduardo Garcia and Cristina McKnight both were victorious at the MCG Long Run 15K on a cold Saturday morning in Columbia, SC. Garcia broke away from Harrison Kirigwi just before the 6-mile mark, after running the fifth mile in 4:34. His finishing time of 46:32 (4:59/mile average) was 27 seconds clear of runner-up Jonathan McGinnis (46:58). Kirigwi was third in 47:07.
McKnight's time of 52:47 broke the South Carolina State record for 15K. The previous record of 53:50 was set way back in 1988 by Megan Othersen. McKnight's time is also a record for the ASICS GTC-ELITE program, besting Dyan Hassett's 53:07 from 2015. Her record-setting effort earned her a $200 bonus in addition to the $500 winner's purse. Joy Miller, a qualifier for the upcoming USA Olympic Team Trials Marathon, as is McKnight, placed second in 53:58. Garcia's time was also a program record, besting Ryan Root's 47:30 from 2017, and also earning Eddie $500 for his win. 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 and three qualifiers for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA. The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 48-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate, the Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Boston Bill Sunglasses, 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, DorsiFlex and Synergy Performance (mental performance). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF. |
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