BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS

The ladies of Prado Racing Team wrapped up the fall season with a win at the 2012 Dirt Dog Series Championship. The women repeated as USATF-SD Dirt Dog XC team champions on November 10 at Mission Bay Park, topping Adidas Movin Shoes, 19–24. Even though the conditions were not ideal, with winds and humidity, the women still managed to win the 8K race. The women’s scoring five placed within one minute of one another: Jenna Munguia placed 6th with a time of 31:05, Marie Schaper 7th with a time of 31:11, Hilary Corno 8th in 31:18, Caela Timinsky 11th in 31:57, and Kristin Schleicher 12th in 32:00.

Samathan Espindola rounded off the rest of the PRT ladies with a time of 32:28, followed by Gina Merchant with a time of 33:29, Kelcie Wieman at 34:54, and Jordana Henderson in a respectable time of 35:32.

The victory at Club Championships was the culmination of a season with many strong team performances, including wins at the Wild Duck 5K in Guajome Park on August 25, at the Balboa Park 4-Miler, and at the Cougar Challenge on October 25 (the latter in a field ranging from college freshmen to dominant amateur athletes).

The highlights of the season were not just from team performances, however. Kristin Schleicher ran the Cal Internaional Marathon, capping off an incredible year with a PR of 3:02:12. Schleicher had also run a half marathon at the Primo’s Run for Education in Danville, CA, with a PR of 1:24:26. A few weeks before that, Marie Schaper finished 6th at the Rock ’n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon in 1:21:01, a personal best this season. The most impressive win this season, though, came from Hilary Corno, who “ jumped into” the Long Beach Marathon to try to qualify for the Boston Marathon. She not only qualified, she won with a time of 2:55:32!!

The women of Prado Racing Team looked strong from start to finish, with only a few women injured this season. Every runner has stepped up and run in a way that shows her continuing passion for the sport. The women seek direction, advice, and inspiration from one another. From the first runner to their last, every woman counts and can carry the team. The women kick off the spring season with the Carlsbad Half Marathon on January 27, 2013!!