Ramblings by Steve Taylor...: September 2011

Friday, September 30, 2011

Richmond Competes at the 2011 Paul Short Invitational

Beth Kelly, Nicol Traynor and Coach Lori Taylor walk to the start line for the Open Race at the 2011 Paul Short Invitational hosted by Lehigh University. A total of over 2500 athletes competed in the college/university and high school races. (Tom Prentice photo)

DeFonce Running Down Time at Richmond

Current Richmond senior Andi DeFonce, shown dropping the hammer on her competition at the 2011 Atlantic 10 Conference Championships, was featured in a recent article from The Daily Harrison. DeFonce recently ran the Spider Alumni Open over 1 minute faster than last year and helped the Spiders to victory over William & Mary.

Andrew Benford Selected to USA Team for Izumo Ekiden (Izumo, Japan)

Andrew Benford,
shown en route to a 5th place finish
at the 2011 Cow Harbor 10K
in Northport, NY on September 17th,
will compete on the USA Team
for the Izumo Ekiden Relay in Japan on October 10th.

BENFORD TO RACE IN JAPAN FOR TEAM USA...

Collegiate 10,000 meter Standouts Matt Llano, Jon Grey Join Team USA Minnesota

Matt Llano (UR '11) will continue his professional running
career as a member of Team USA-Minnesota. (Dan Petty Photo)

Andrew Benford, who earned All-America honors
in the 3K Steeplechase for the University of Richmond
this past spring (2011), placed 5th in the
2011 Great Cow Harbor 10K in Northport, NY
on September 17th.

(Northport, NY) Richmond Assistant Coaches Andrew Benford and Jon Molz joined recent graduates Jon Wilson and Amy Van Alstine on Saturday (September 17) for the 2011 Great Cow Harbor 10K in Northport, NY.

Jason Skipper has showed much improvement this fall.
He lead the Spiders in the first
two meets of the season.
This past weekend he placed 2nd
in the William & Mary Inv. running 25:08 for 5 miles

RichmondSpiders.com:

Richmond Spiders Win William & Mary XC Invitational

Sophomore, Jill Prentice returned to the Spiders lineup
this past weekend. An NCAA 5K East Region
Championships qualifier last spring,
Prentice ran a meet record 17:37 to lead the Spiders
to victory over William & Mary and Hampton.

20 Questions with...Stephanie Paradis

Throughout the 2011 season we will be bringing you either a set of 20 questions from a Spider cross country squad member or an article focusing on a student-athlete from this year’s team.

In our first crack at 2011, RichmondSpiders.com talked with Junior Stephanie Paradis (Leesburg, VA) who won the Spider Alumni Open on September 3rd leading the Spiders to victory over William & Mary (Here is a link to her video interview following the race.):

A great day of racing for the U.S. Mountain Running Team at the
2011 IAAF World Mountain Running Championships...
Richmond Spider sophomore Ryan Lee (center above) led the U.S.
junior men's team with his 11th place overall finish
in the World Championship race.

2011 World Jr Mountain Running Championships (Day 4-Opening Ceremonies)

The 2011 USA Mountain Running Team and Staff for the
27th running of the IAAF World Mountain Running Championships
in Tirana, Albania.
(USMRT Photo)

2011 World Jr Mountain Running Championships (Day 3-U.S. Embassy/Course Preview)

The 2011 US Mountain Running Team took time to pose for a team photo outside the US Embassy in Tirana, Albania. Richmond Spider athletes Ryan Lee and Billy Fayette (back row) along with Clare Moretz (3rd from right) joined US Team Leaders and teammates who had the opportunity to meet with US Ambassador Arvizu.
(Photo compliments U.S. Embassy)

The U.S. Mountain Running Team will compete in the 27th World Mountain Running Championships in Albania on Sunday, September 11. Today (Friday) they visited the US Embassy and spent time with Ambassador Arvizu and also previewed the World Championships race course.

Here are the locations people can follow along the USA Team:
Coach Taylor’s Twitter go HERE
US Mountain Running Team (USMRT) Twitter go HERE
Coach Taylor’s Blog go HERE
US Mountain Running Team (USMRT) Blog go HERE
US Mountain Running Team (USMRT) Facebook page go HERE

Here is a short post we received from University of Richmond Sophomore, Ryan Lee regarding their first full day in Albania:

"We had the course preview in the morning today so we did our short fartlek workout this afternoon. The course was really cool. It’s supposed to be mid 90's on Sunday and I'm pretty sure it hasn't rained here in 20 years based on how dusty it is, so the course/race is going to be pretty hot and dusty since it’s all on gravel/ dirt. The course is really cool though. The first half of the uphill isn’t too bad, and then it’s the steepest thing I’ve ever seen, but only lasts for about 600 meters. The first 400M of the race or so is open gravel road then single track all the way to the top, including the steepest part which is a staircase pretty much. It then opens up at the top for about 200M until it’s very, very steep single track for about 400M-500M before the rest of the downhill which is more gradual and on a gravel dusty road where we will absolutely fly. That completes the loop and then it’s back up again to repeat for lap #2. The race is going to be a lot of fun and should be exactly what we prepared for. Even on the preview after we crested the top and were a little winded, after that short open flat at the top we were ready to roll downhill which should be the case Sunday. As for the fartlek Billy and I both felt really really good so that’s also a good sign. I wrote this pretty quick because we are about to go out to get some food for race day but I’ll send the pictures of the course preview tonight when we get back. Go USA!!"----Ryan Lee

VISTING THE U.S. EMBASSY IN TIRANA, ALBANIA:

Members of the of the U.S. Mountain Running team pictured here chatting with U.S. Embassy officials. (Photo compliments U.S. Embassy)

Statement from the U.S. Embassy: “The Embassy received a visit from the US Mountain Running Team that is here in Albania to compete in the 27^th World Mountain Running Championships held in Tirana on September 11^th. 33 countries will be competing and the US Team is hoping to defend its Men’s Silver Medal from 2010 and win medals with the women’s and junior teams as well. We wish the best of luck to the 20 members of the US team who will be competing and hope they have an injury free competition!” ---U.S. Embassy-Tirana

“Thank you Ambassador Arvizu, Niles Cole and the rest of your staff for your hospitality. This visit really helps motivate the team for Sunday’s race. Go USA!"---Richard Bolt-Team USA Staff

Members of the of the U.S. Mountain Running team pictured here chatting with Ambassador Arvizu about the team, the sport, and Albania. (Photo compliments U.S. Embassy)

Another photo of members of the of the U.S. Mountain Running team pictured chatting with Embassy officials about the team, the sport, and Albania. (Photo compliments U.S. Embassy)

Ambassador Arvizu receives a gift of a team cowbell (a mountain running symbol), hat, and medal from US team leader and USATF representative Nancy Hobbs at U.S. Embassy, Tirana Information Resource Center.
(Photo compliments U.S. Embassy)

A photo of the U.S. Embassy in Tirana, Albania. (Photo compliments U.S. Embassy)

WORLD MOUNTAIN RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS RACE COURSE PREVIEW:

The 2011 World Mountain Running Championships start line. (Ryan Lee Photo)

The race course narrows quickly...(Ryan Lee Photo)

...and becomes steep, narrow single track. This is mountain running! (Ryan Lee Photo)

Billy Fayette climbs into the sun as the course reaches 40% incline. (Ryan Lee Photo)

The steepest part of the course is single track with steps carved into the mountain side.
It's dry, dusty and hard packed dirt. (Ryan Lee Photo)

The course had a special guest on the course preview...(Ryan Lee Photo)

I'm not sure how they got by this guy...Can anyone say "andale". (Ryan Lee Photo)

The course climbs for great views of Tirana. (Ryan Lee Photo)

The city of Tirana, Albania. (Ryan Lee Photo)

The top of the climb...Far below at the bottom you will find the start. (Ryan Lee Photo)

Spiders runners Ryan Lee and Billy Fayette pause at the top of the race course for a photo with Tirana, Albania in the back-drop. (Ryan Lee Photo)

Billy Fayette at the top with Tirana, Albania in the background. (Ryan Lee Photo)

More of the single-track race course. Here the course is flat before the steep drop back off the mountain. (Ryan Lee Photo)

A little further across the top of the mountain you pass an abandoned building before starting the descent. (Ryan Lee Photo)

Billy Fayette in the edge of the photo looking at part of the steep, technical running descent...(Ryan Lee Photo)

More of the descent...Here you see the fastest part of the course. (Ryan Lee Photo)

The finish line of the 2011 IAAF World Mountain Running Championships. (Ryan Lee Photo)

Ryan Lee photo, so who's knee is this? Welcome to mountain running. (Ryan Lee Photo)

(R-L) USA Junior Team (under 20) members Clare Moretz, Lara Shegoski and Krisztina Dearborn take a photo at the hotel. (Ryan Lee Photo)

University of Richmond freshman Clare Moretz with the Adriatic Sea in the background...(Ryan Lee photo)

The mountains outside Tirana.

The tram overlooking Tirana.

Albanian money...the Lek. (Ryan Lee photo)

Thursday, September 8, 2011

2011 World Jr Mountain Running Championships (Day 2-Settling at Hotel in Albania)

Paul Kirsh (USA Jr Team Leader) with the 2011 USA Jr Mountain Running Team at dinner in their resort hotel in Albania. Team members arrived and got in a short run before dinner. (R-L) Paul Kirsh (USA Jr Team Leader) with Junior Team members Oliver Bear Don't Walk, Ryan Lee, Clare Moretz, Krisztina Dearborn, Lara Shegoski and Billy Fayette. (USMRT Photo)

Here are the locations people can follow along the USA Team:
Coach Taylor’s Twitter go HERE
US Mountain Running Team (USMRT) Twitter go HERE
Coach Taylor’s Blog go HERE
US Mountain Running Team (USMRT) Blog go HERE
US Mountain Running Team (USMRT) Facebook page go HERE

Dinner on the flight from NYC to Milan. (Ryan Lee Photo)

Milan Airport (Ryan Lee Photo)

While in Milan they got a little gelato...It was not as good as DeLuca Gelato here in Richmond.
(Ryan Lee Photo)

"Hello Tirana, Albania"...we have touch down. (Ryan Lee Photo)

Billy Fayette walking into the hotel where the 36 national teams competing will stay. (Ryan Lee Photo)

The swimming pool at the hotel/resort the team is staying in Durres, Albania. (Ryan Lee Photo)

View from the hotel beach...(Ryan Lee Photo)

View towards the Adriatic Sea from the hotel as the sun sets. (Ryan Lee Photo)

Here are photos compliments of the USMRT Staff:

Ryan Lee (center-USA shirt) and Lara Shegoski, Krisztina Dearborn, Kasie Enman, Jared Scott and Megan Lund-Lizotte at the 1st USA team meeting (USMRT Photo)