Schwartz and Veith Lead Sam Adams Combined Events Invite After Day 1

Reigning Olympic High Jump Champion, Derek Drouin, in 4th place with 3940pts; tentatively sets Decathlon High Jump World Record with leap of 2.28m / 7'5.75"Santa Barbara, Calif. – Through the first day's events at the 6th Annual Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational, Lindsay Schwartz (USA / SBTC) and Hunter Veith (Wichita State) lead the Heptathlon and Decathlon competitions with 3528pts and 3991pts respectively. The Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational is held on April 7-8, 2017 at Westmont College's Thorrington Field in Santa Barbara, CA. The event is hosted by the Santa Barbara Track Club (SBTC).

• Results & Heat Sheets
• Events Timetable, Overview & History

DROUIN SETS THE BAR IN FIRST DECATHLON

The highlight of the first day came just after 4:00pm under cool, overcast conditions in the Decathlon High Jump, the 4th of five events on Friday. 2016 Olympic and 2015 World Champion in the High Jump, Derek Drouin (CAN), competing in his first Decathlon competition, cleared the height of 2.28m / 7'5.75" on his third and final attempt. While below is personal best of 2.40m / 7'10.5", the mark not only surpassed 2011 World Champion Jesse Williams' (USA / Nike Oregon Track Club) Thorrington Field facility record of 2.26m / 7'5", but also tentatively set a Decathlon World Record, which has stood for almost thirty years. In order for a Decathlon event record to stand, the athlete must complete the Decathlon scoring 7000pts or more. The current record of 2.27 / 7'5.25" is held by a pair of Germans, Rolf Beilschmidt and Christian Schenk, who hit the mark in 1977 and 1988 respectively. Drouin is currently on pace to surpass 7000pts with his 3940pts after day one; he is in 4th place overall in the competition.

ADDITIONAL DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS

• Schwartz Leads Heptathlon After Day 1: SBTC's Lindsay Schwartz is looking for her third Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational title and put herself in a good position to do so, leading the competition with 3528pts over Canadian Olympian Angela Whyte's 3455pts. SBTC's Chari Hawkins is in third with 3422pts.
• Veith Tops the Decathlon After Day 1: Wichita State's Hunter Veith took control of the Decathlon with a consistent showing across all five events. He leads Wichita State alum, Austin Bahner, who is a 4x Team USA athlete and USA Indoor Championship Heptathlon runner-up.
• Rickman Sets Meet Shot Put Record: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's Jacob Rickman, tossing the shot to a mark of 15.38m / 50'5.5", setting a meet record previously held by Decathlon World Record holder and 2x Olympic Champion, Ashton Eaton (USA / Nike Oregon Track Club) at 15.06m / 49'5" in 2016.
• Hopkins Sets Personal Best in Shot Put: SBTC's Tom Hopkins set a personal best in the day's exciting Shot Put competition with a toss of 13.40m / 43'11.75".

The Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational continues tomorrow with the community Youth Tri-Challenge and One Mile Run. The Decathlon will begin at 10:30am with the 110m Hurdles and the Heptathlon will begin at 12:30pm with the Long Jump.

Druin-HJ-Dec-2017

Nwaba 5th at Hypo Meeting in Olympic Preview

Barbara Nwaba top American at Gotzis, Austria at the most prestigious multi-event on the calendar outside the Olympic Games; Canadians Brianne Theisen-Eaton and Damian Warner win overall titles

Results: 42nd Hypo Meeting – Gotzis, Austria

IAAF News & Summaries

Gotzis, Austria—The world's best multi-event athletes descended once again on the small town of Gotzis, Austria for the 42nd annual Hypo Meeting, the most prestigious multi-event on the calendar outside of the Olympic Games. For Santa Barbara Track Club's Barbara Nwaba it was another great step on her road to Rio as she rallied on the second and final day of competition to finish 5th place overall after entering the 800m in 8th. While her total score of 6360pts was off her top mark, it was one of her best finishes against international competition.

Two other athletes who train in Santa Barbara in the Spring also found success on their own roads to Rio claiming titles in Gotzis. 2016 World Indoor Champion, Brianne Theisen-Eaton (CAN) won the two-day Heptathlon competition with 6765pts. The top three spots in the Heptathlon included Theisen-Eaton's world leading mark in 2016, a Latvian national record by Laura Ikauniece-Admidina (2016 World Championship bronze medalist) and a personal best by Germany's Carolin Schafer (2008 World Junior Champion). In the Decathlon, Damian Warner (CAN) won in a world leading mark of 8523pts.

Day 1 Summary

Nwaba got off to a good start with marks of 13.75 in the 100m Hurdles (1014pts) and 6'1.25" / 1.86m the High Jump (1054pts) putting her in 6th place overall after two events. She would hit a snag in her next event, the Shot Put, with a toss of 40'11" / 12.47, well clear of her strongest throws above 48 feet. Nwaba would rally in the final event of the day, the 200m, clocking 24.04 and completing Day 1 in 9th place with 3737pts.

Day 2 Summary

Nwaba would start off the last day of competition with a Long Jump of 19'7.5" / 5.98m slipping another two positions in the overall standings with 4580pts. Enjoying new found success in the Javelin in 2016, with rain descending on Gotzis, Nwaba was able to once again shine launching the spear 156'9" / 47.78m, jumping three spots overall to 8th place with 5397pts entering the 800m.

As one of the best Heptathletes in the world at 800m, Nwaba would set the pace winning the fourth and final heat in 2:10.08 just ahead of Theisen-Eaton's 2:10.98. Her mark would catapult here three more spots to 5th place with 6360pts and ahead of Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR), the 2012 World Junior Champion and 2014 World Indoor silver medalist who finished with 6304pts.

2016 Sam Adams Combined Events Day 1 Summary

Santa Barbara, Calif. – After Day 1 of competition Tyler Nelson (USA / UC-Santa Barbara) leads in the Decathlon with 3906 points and Nia Ali (USA) leads in the Heptathlon with 3642pts. Below, we've provided a summary of each event organized by time schedule. The 5th Annual Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational is held on April 1-2, 2016 at Westmont College's Thorrington Field in Santa Barbara, CA. The event is hosted by the Santa Barbara Track Club.

• Results & Heat Sheets
• Events Timetable, Overview & History
• 2016 Sam Adams Week of Events Overview

DECATHLON - 100M DASH

The day began with the Decathlon 100m dash won by Toshiki Sakamoto (JPN / Kanoya Sport University) in 10.90 seconds followed closely behind by Santa Barbara Track Club's Thomas Hopkins (USA) also crossing the line in under eleven seconds with a 10.93. They would score 883pts and 876pts respectively to rise to the top of the leader board in the ten-event, two-day competition.

HEPTATHLON - 100M HURDLES

For the women, the 100m hurdles kicked off the seven-event, two-day Heptathlon and was led by 2016 IAAF World Indoor Champion at 60m Hurdles, Nia Ali (USA), who posted a 12.94 and a big score of 1133pts. Ali's mark was a Sam Adams Combined Events record as well as a Thorrington Field record, previously held by Olympian Brianne Theisen-Eaton (CAN / NIKE Oregon Track Club). She had previously competed as a Heptathlete for the University of Southern California and her mark put her on pace to best her 5824pts personal record set in 2009 for the Trojans.

A loaded 100m Hurdles field also saw eight other women score over 1000pts. Jessica Flax (USA / Texas Express Track Club) and Chari Hawkins (USA / Santa Barbara Track Club) ran 13.28 (1083pts) and 13.30 (1080pts) respectively.

DECATHLON - LONG JUMP

In the Long Jump, guest athlete Damian Warner (CAN / NIKE), who trains in Santa Barbara prior to his outdoor season, leaped 7.52m (24'08) to win the event. Sakamoto jumped 7.13m (23'04.50") to secure his lead after two events with 845pts over Hopkins who finished third in the Long Jump with a mark of 7.06m (23'01.75") earning him 828pts.

HEPTATHLON - HIGH JUMP

Hawkins and Ali would lead the Women's High Jump clearing a height of 1.78m (5'10"), good for 953pts. Guest athlete Sharon Day-Monroe (USA / ASICS), a NCAA champion at this event in 2005 for the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs, used an abbreviated seven step approach as a pre-season warm-up, clearing 1.75m (5'08.75"). Day-Monroe is also a 2012 Olympian in the Heptathlon and a seven-time U.S. champion.

DECATHLON - SHOT PUT

The Men's Shot Put featured World Record Holder and reigning Olympic gold medalist in the Decathlon Ashton Eaton (USA / NIKE Oregon Track Club), who along with his wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton, leverage the Santa Barbara spring to train for their upcoming outdoor Track & Field season campaign. Eaton, a guest athlete in the competition, kicked off his outdoor season with a toss of 15.06m (49'04.75"), just an inch off his event record set in 2015.

Right behind him in the Shot Put was Santa Barbara Track Club's Derek Masterson (USA) who went for 15.00m (49'02.50") and Patrick Arbour (CAN / Ottawa Track Club) who threw it 14.92m (48'11.25"). Arbour after three events would lead the competition with 2329pts.

HEPTATHLON - SHOT PUT

Focusing on field events to kick-off her outdoor season, Day-Monroe won the Shot Put with a throw of 14.52m (47'07.75"). Amber Metoyer (USA / Texas Express Track Club) and Annette Fleming (GER / Santa Barbara Track Club) would round out the top three with throws of 13.91m (45'07.75") and 13.77m (45'02.50") respectively. Santa Barbara Track Club's Lindsay Schwartz (USA) also had a foot and a half personal best with a toss of 13.67m (44'10.25").

After three events Hawkins was in the lead with 2684pts in a competition separated by only six points amongst the top three. Ali was in second with 2680pts and Jillian Drouin (CAN / Sarnia) was in third with 2678pts.

DECATHLON - HIGH JUMP

In the Decathlon's 4th event Calvin Sullins (USA / Santa Barbara Track Club) and Josue Louis (USA) both jumped 2.00m (6'06.75") to earn themselves 803pts and jump up to 3rd and 4th place respectively in the competition.

UC-Santa Barbara's Tyler Nelson (USA) would be the overall leader with 3041pts, follwed by Arbour who had 3025pts.

HEPTATHLON - 200M DASH

To conclude the first day of the Heptathlon competition, Breanna Leslie (USA / ASICS) would win a close race in 24.17 over Ali's 24.20. Ali's 962pts would catapult her into first with 3,642pts. Hawkins who led through three events came across the line in 24.73 and would finish day one in second place with 3,596pts.

Rounding out the top three in the Heptathlon would be SBTC's Schwartz who would run a 24.32 and score 950pts bringing her within one point of her teammate, closing out day one with 3595pts.

DECATHLON - 400M DASH

Warner would take out the field in the last event of day one winning in 46.64. SBTC's Hopkins would have the second best time of the afternoon in 47.66. UCSB's Nelson set a personal best at 400m with a 48.92 to conclude a successful first day of competition, maintaining his position atop of the leaderboard with 3906pts.

The Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational continues tomorrow with community and youth track events beginning at 8:30am. The Decathlon will begin at 10:30am with the 110m Hurdles and the Heptathlon will begin at 12:30pm with the Long Jump.

Santa Barbara Track Club Unofficially Sets High Five World Record

Over 350 community members join SBTC's Tom FitzSimons, Jr. in setting a World Record for the most high fives in sixty seconds at Westmont College; event kicks off 2016 season for SBTC Youth Track and Olympic year for its professional Track & Field athletes From Santa Barbara Track Club

Facebook Photo Album

Over 350 community members from throughout Santa Barbara County joined the Santa Barbara Track Club (SBTC) on a beautiful Saturday morning at Westmont College to attempt a Guinness Book of World Records for the most high-fives given in sixty seconds. The current world record is currently 260 set in 2015 by Powell Brown, a Florida businessman.

The "High Five 400m Dash" was led by SBTC Decathlete, Tom FitzSimons, Jr., who not only organized the event, but was also the runner providing all the high fives. Starting just after 10:00am, FitzSimons, Jr. began his sixty second journey in lane 5 with participants spread out around the track in various groups waiting for him in lane six with there hands stretched out just above their heads.

The first high five went to SBTC's Executive Director, Josh Priester, followed by FitzSimons, Jr.'s fellow teammates. Getting out quickly the first 200m of the world record attempt he next received high fives from the Westmont Track & Field and Baseball teams as well as the greater Warrior community. Heading into the second turn, Santa Barbara community members, SBTC supporters and the UC-Santa Barbara Track & Field team propelled him into the home stretch where over 100 SBTC Youth Track kids and their families brought him to the finish.

Unofficially, 385 high fives were given to FitzSimons, Jr., which will set a new Guinness Book of World Records mark for the most high fives in sixty seconds. The SBTC will next supply multiple forms of videos and paperwork to get the record officially recognized.

SBTC Attempts High Five World Record

SBTC Elite athlete, Tom FitzSimons, Jr., attempts to eclipse current world record of 260 High Fives in 60 seconds on Saturday, January 23 at Westmont College; SBTC Open House welcomes all community members to kick-off the 2016 Olympic Year and Youth Track season. From Santa Barbara Track Club

On Saturday, January 23 at Westmont College, the Santa Barbara Track Club, led by Tom FitzSimons, Jr., will host the High Five 400m Dash to kick off the 2016 Olympic year with a world record attempt. However, this isn't your normal Track & Field world record—FitzSimons Jr. is looking to attempt to break the record for the most high fives set in sixty seconds, which currently stands at 260 by a Florida businessman, Powell Brown, in March 2015 according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

The entire Santa Barbara community is invited to take part in this free event. Festivities will get underway at 9:00am with an SBTC Open House to meet the athletes and learn more about its community programs, including the SBTC Youth Track program. Kids ages 7-14 will also be welcome to try events and compete in the High Five Youth Pentathlon.

World record attempt participants will be lined up around the Westmont Track at 10:00am. A raffle will follow shortly thereafter with prizes including SBTC gear, ABEO shoe gift cards, Recovery Packages from The LAB SB, Westmont College apparel, Team USA gear, Rabbit Running Apparel, Chipotle BOGO cards and other local business gift cards. Raffle tickets will be available for sale throughout the morning and kids participating in the High Five Youth Pentathlon will have the opportunity to win raffle tickets.

For more information visit: http://santabarbaratc.com/high-five-400m-dash/

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

• 9:00AM - Open House & Youth Pentathlon Challenge
• 10:00AM - World Record Attempt Organization
• 10:15AM - High Five World Record Attempt
• 10:30AM - Raffle Drawing

ABOUT SBTC

The Santa Barbara Track Club aims to create a progressive and cohesive Track & Field experience for members of our community from youth to masters as well as the development of Olympians and Olympic hopefuls alike. The professional athletes are composed of combined events athletes and middle distance athletes who also work within the community by serving as coaches and mentors to youth.  The coaching and personal training efforts of the athletes help to fund the continued growth of Santa Barbara as an international training hub as well as to promote cultural exchange and shared education.

Nwaba Rallies in World Championships to Set Two Personal Bests

After heartbreaking fall in 100m Hurdles on Day 1, Barbara Nwaba sets personal bests in the Shot Put and Javelin in the IAAF World Championships Heptathlon From Santa Barbara Track Club

• World Championship Heptathlon Results (IAAF)
• Complete World Championship Timetable with Local Viewing Times (IAAF)
• Complete Television & Live Streaming Schedule (LetsRun.com)

The Santa Barbara Track Club (SBTC) uses the phrase "Park It" to get through the grueling two-day combined events competitions. Excelling at speed, strength and endurance, getting through seven Heptathlon events is a test not only of physical, but mental fortitude. For Barbara Nwaba competing at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, her first major international championship, the phrase "Park It" would be of particular importance after a difficult fall in the 100m Hurdles, the first event of the Heptathlon.

Nwaba, who excels at the 100m Hurdles with a personal best of 13.38 set earlier this year at the Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational, lost out on valuable points by not completing the first event. However, in a show of resilience she went on to not only complete day one of the Heptathlon well, but notch a personal best in the shot put with a toss of 14.64m (48'0.5"). Her mark was good for fourth overall in the event of the 33 women competing.

On Day 2 of the World Championships Nwaba kicked things off with a good Long Jump of 6.08m (19'11.5") just six inches short of her best. She then followed it up with another personal best in the Javelin Throw, throwing the spear for the first time over 150 feet in her career going 46.59m (152'10"). While no longer in contention for a World Championship medal, Nwaba was rallying well on the second day of the Heptathlon heading into the final event.

With the 800m heats racing from lowest to highest Heptathlon point total, Nwaba was placed in Heat 1 along with another medal contender, Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR), who scratched out in the Long Jump earlier in the day. Taking the opportunity of the moment in Bejing's Birds Nest, site of the 2008 Olympic Games, Nwaba went for a big personal best crossing the half-way mark in just over 61 seconds. She slowed off the blistering first lap pace, but would hold strong to take the Heat 1 win in 2:12.20, a time which would have been close to a personal best just a year ago. Nwaba would place 5th overall in the 800m out of the 28 women still competing.

Viewers can watch the replay of the 800m Heptathlon final during coverage of Day 2's evening session at 10am PST on NBC and again at 4pm PST on Universal Sports. The IAAF World Championships continue through Sunday, August 30. Santa Barbara fixture, Ashton Eaton of the Oregon Track Club, will begin the two-day journey to defend his 2013 World Championship gold medal on Friday, August 28 (television coverage is in the evening of August 27 in the Pacific Time Zone).

OTHER SANTA BARBARA RELATED NOTABLES

• Scott Smith (USA - UCSB / Northern Arizona Elite) - Marathon, 28th place, 2:24:53
• Brianne Theisen-Eaton (CAN - Oregon Track Club) - Heptathlon, Silver Medal, 6554pts

SUPPORTING SBTC

As a non-profit organization, we rely on the support of donors and our community outreach programs. We're proud to have one of the only track clubs in the country in which our athletes play a vital role in giving back and mentoring youth through our SB Youth Track Club and its various local programs throughout the year. They do more than simply train in Santa Barbara. They create a positive impact in the lives of area youth while we as coaches and you as donors get to support and inspire the Olympic dreams of some of the United States top heptathlon and decathlon hopefuls. You are helping athlete's dreams come true!

As we prepare to head into the championship season and the 2016 Olympic year, we would greatly appreciate your support of these fine athletes within the Santa Barbara Track Club for their travel, living expenses and training needs. All donations are tax deductible and will go towards the athletes we support.

Donate Online or By Mail

ABOUT SBTC

The Santa Barbara Track Club aims to create a progressive and cohesive Track & Field experience for members of our community from youth to masters as well as the development of Olympians and Olympic hopefuls alike. The professional athletes are composed of combined events athletes and middle distance athletes who also work within the community by serving as coaches and mentors to youth.  The coaching and personal training efforts of the athletes help to fund the continued growth of Santa Barbara as an international training hub as well as to promote cultural exchange and shared education.

Nwaba Set for IAAF World Championships

Barbara Nwaba represents Team USA and the Santa Barbara Track Club in Beijing beginning, Saturday, August 22 (August 21 PST); SBTC athletes enjoy summer of success representing their country; Santa Barbara connected athletes also shine From Santa Barbara Track Club

• World Championship Heptathlon Results & Schedule of Events With PST Time Schedule (IAAF)
• World Championship Timetable with Local Viewing Times (IAAF)
• Complete Television & Live Streaming Schedule (LetsRun.com)

The Santa Barbara Track Club (SBTC), hosted at Westmont College, has been enjoying a thrilling summer with six athletes representing their country in 2015. They are led by 2015 USA Heptathlon champion, Barbara Nwaba, who will represent Team USA in Beijing, China at the IAAF World Championships beginning Saturday, August 22 (August 21 in the Pacific Time Zone).

Nwaba's Rise to the Top, Enters World Championships Ranked 5th

Nwaba's journey to stardom began down Highway 101 in Los Angeles where she became a prep standout for University High School. Joining the UC-Santa Barbara Gaucho squad under the tutelage of Coach Josh Priester (now SBTC Head Coach), she became a 4x NCAA All-American, 6x Big West Champion and set the Big West record in the Heptathlon. Three years from her 2012 graduation she became the first Gaucho in the program's history to win a USA Track & Field title winning the heptathlon at the 2015 Outdoor Championships in Eugene, OR.

In these three short years Nwaba has improved over 500 points in the Heptathlon becoming the 6th All-Time American in the event with 6500pts, which she achieved at the USA Championships in June. She will also enter the IAAF World Championships with the 5th best mark in the world this year and 11th best personal record in the field.

Heptathlon Event by Event (All-Times Listed PST)

DAY 1
• 100m Hurdles - 8/21 @ 6:00pm PST, Universal Sports: Nwaba PB = 13.38
• High Jump - 8/21 @ 7:20pm PST, Universal Sports: Nwaba PB = 1.87m (6'1.5)
• Shot Put - 8/22 @ 3:30am PST, NBC (Noon, tape delayed) / Universal Sports (4PM, tape delayed): 14.54 (47'8.5)
• 200m - 8/22 @ 5:15am PST, NBC (Noon, tape delayed) / Universal Sports (4PM, tape delayed): Nwaba PB = 23.76

DAY 2

• Long Jump - 8/22 @ 6:00pm PST, Universal Sports: Nwaba PB = 6.23 (20'5.25)
• Javelin Throw - 8/22 @ 7:50pm / 9:05pm PST, Universal Sports: Nwaba PB = 44.47 (147'5)
• 800m - 8/23 @ 4:40am PST, Universal Sports (10am, tape delayed) / Universal Sports (4PM, tape delayed): Nwaba PB = 2:07.13

SBTC Enjoys Summer of Success

It has been a banner 2015 season for the SBTC with six athletes representing their countries:

• Barbara Nwaba (USA) - IAAF World Championship Qualifier, Heptathlon
• Lindsay Schwartz (USA) - Thorpe Cup, Bronze Medalist, Heptathlon
• Lindsay Lettow (USA) - Thorpe Cup, 5th Place, Heptathlon
• Tom FitzSimons (USA) - Thorpe Cup Qualifier, Decathlon
• Derek Masterson (USA) - Pan American Games, 9th Place, Decathlon
• Keegan Cooke (ZIM) - All Africa Games Qualifier (September 4- 19, Brazzaville, Congo)

Santa Barbara Shines

A number of athletes who train in Santa Barbara year-round or in part have also excelled in 2015:

• Ryan Martin (USA - UCSB / ASICS) - 800m North American, Central American and Caribbean Championships (NACAC) Champion; 800m Pan America Games Bronze Medalist
• Scott Smith (USA - UCSB / Northern Arizona Elite) - Marathon, IAAF World Championships Qualifier (August 21, 4:35pm PST on Universal Sports)
• Ashton Eaton (USA - Oregon Track Club) - Decathlon, IAAF World Championships Qualifier; #1 Ranked in the World
• Brianne Theisen-Eaton (CAN - Oregon Track Club) - Heptathlon, IAAF World Championships Qualifier; #2 Ranked in the World
• Damian Warner (CAN) - Decathlon, IAAF World Championships Qualifier
• Lauren Johnson (CAN - Oregon Track Club) - 800m, IAAF World Championships Qualifier

SUPPORTING SBTC

As a non-profit organization, we rely on the support of donors and our community outreach programs. We're proud to have one of the only track clubs in the country in which our athletes play a vital role in giving back and mentoring youth through our SB Youth Track Club and its various local programs throughout the year. They do more than simply train in Santa Barbara. They create a positive impact in the lives of area youth while we as coaches and you as donors get to support and inspire the Olympic dreams of some of the United States top heptathlon and decathlon hopefuls. You are helping athlete's dreams come true!

As we prepare to head into the championship season and the 2016 Olympic year, we would greatly appreciate your support of these fine athletes within the Santa Barbara Track Club for their travel, living expenses and training needs. All donations are tax deductible and will go towards the athletes we support.

Donate Online or By Mail

ABOUT SBTC

The Santa Barbara Track Club aims to create a progressive and cohesive Track & Field experience for members of our community from youth to masters as well as the development of Olympians and Olympic hopefuls alike. The professional athletes are composed of combined events athletes and middle distance athletes who also work within the community by serving as coaches and mentors to youth.  The coaching and personal training efforts of the athletes help to fund the continued growth of Santa Barbara as an international training hub as well as to promote cultural exchange and shared education.

Thomas FitzSimons, Jr. 4th at USA National Championships

SBTC's FitzSimons, Jr. sets three personal bests to surprise national field for second year in a row; wins the 1500m by nine seconds to cap off Decathlon

Decathlon Scoring Table SBTC National Championship Central

Entering the 2015 USA National Championships ranked 8th in the Decathlon, Thomas FitzSimons, Jr. proved once again that he competes his best on the biggest stage. After a surprise podium finish in 2014, FitzSimons, Jr. used the 2015 event, held in Eugene, OR at the University of Oregon's historic Hayward Field, to set three personal bests and come close to four others in the two-day competition. He finished in 4th place with 7,685pts.

With the 100m dash kicking off the Decathlon on Thursday, June 25, FitzSimons, Jr. wasted no time in setting his first best with an 11.12 sprint down the home stretch. Competing well in the following four events, including jumping just four inches (7.07m / 23'2.5") shy of his best in the Long Jump, FitzSimons, Jr. finished day one with 3,877pts and in 8th place.

Day two started with FitzSimons, Jr. dipping under 15 seconds in the 110m Hurdles for the first time in his career notching a 14.95 wind legal mark. Two events later, he set another personal best in the Pole Vault with a 4.65m (15'3") leap moving into 5th position.

FitzSimons, Jr. needed to finish five seconds ahead of Mike Morgan in the final event, the 1500m, to move into 4th. Jumping to the lead right from the gun he led wire to wire winning the metric Mile in 4:17.75, over nine seconds ahead of second place and twenty-five seconds ahead of Morgan to claim 4th place in the Decathlon.

NIKE's Trey Hardee of Texas took home the 2015 Decathlon title with 8,725pts.

Additional Santa Barbara Notables

2012 UCSB graduate, Ryan Martin, qualified for the 800m finals on Sunday, June 28 @ 1:57pm. 2012 UCSB graduate, Derek Masterson, also competed in the Decathlon finishing 9th with 7,221pts. 2007 UCSB graduate, Amy Haapanen, competes in the Women's Hammer Throw on Saturday, June 27 @ 12:15pm

Nwaba 11th at International Hypo Meeting in Gotzis, Austria

SBTC's Nwaba sets personal best; wins 800m, final event of the day; Oregon TC's Brianne Theisen-Eaton wins title; SBTC's Lindsay Schwartz wins Oyonnax meeting in France From Santa Barbara Track Club, updated 6-1-15

Results: 41st Hypo Meeting - Gotzis, Austria

Coming off of a personal best Day 1 for Santa Barbara Track Club's Barbara Nwaba (USA), she concluded the two-day Hypo Meeting in Gotzis, Austria, one of the most celebrated Track & Field events in the world, with a personal best Heptathlon score of 6,342 points. She finished in 11th place in an international field, which coincides with the 11th best mark in the world in 2015 and is the leading American score heading into the USA Track & Field Championships in late June.

Nwaba also capped off her career day with a thrilling 800m victory, setting a personal best of 2:07.37 and netting her an additional $1000 in prize money. Nwaba now sits in 13th place on the all-time U.S. Heptathlon list having moved up two spots.

Oregon Track Club's Brianne Theisen-Eaton (CAN) who trains in Santa Barbara in the off-season won the meet with 6,808 points, a personal best, Canadian national record, world leading mark in 2015 and is the 15th best mark in the world All-Time.

Nwaba By the Numbers

Day 1

 100 Meter Hurdles: 13.55, 1043pts
 High Jump: 5’10.75″ / 1.80m, 978pts
 Shot Put: 47’7.25″ / 14.51m, 828pts
 200m: 23.82, 998pts (personal best)
 Day 1 Total: 3,847pts (personal best)

Day 2

Long Jump: 19'8.0" / 5.99m, 846pts
Javelin: 127'7.0" / 8.89, 646pts
800m: 2:07.37, 1003pts (personal best, event champion)
Day 2 Total: 6,342pts (personal best, 13th best U.S. All-Time)

Schwartz wins France (6-1-15 update) Also competing internationally the last weekend in May were SBTC's Lindsay Schwartz and Thomas FitzSimons Jr. The pair were invited to compete in an multi-events competition by the Oyonnax Track Club for their wins at the 2015 Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational hosted by the SBTC in April.

Schwartz won the women's Heptathlon with 5747 points on Sunday, May 31 capping off a successful weekend of international events for the SBTC Elite athletes.

Nwaba Has Personal Best Day 1 at Gotzis Hypo Meeting

SBTC's Barbara Nwaba in 7th at world-class meet; Oregon TC's Theisen-Eaton leads competition From Santa Barbara Track Club

Gotzis Results

After Day of 1 competition at the 41st Gotzis Hypo Meeting in Austria, one of the most celebrated Track & Field events in the world, Santa Barbara Track Club's Barbara Nwaba (USA) vaulted herself into the Top 10 placing herself 7th overall after a personal best day with 3,847 points. Oregon Track Club's Brianne Theisen-Eaton (CAN) who trains in Santa Barbara in the off-season leads the Heptathlon with 4,031 points over reigning Olympic Champion, Jessica Ennis-Hill (GBR) who sits in third with 3,928 points.

Day two of the Heptathlon competition resumes on Sunday, May 31.

Nwaba By the Numbers - Day 1

• 100 Meter Hurdles: 13.55, 1043pts
• High Jump: 5'10.75" / 1.80m, 978pts
• Shot Put: 47'7.25" / 14.51m, 828pts
• 200m: 23.82, 998pts (personal best)
• Day 1 Total: 3,847pts (personal best)

Other Notable News & Notes

• Theisen-Eaton's Day 1 score of 4,031pts is ahead of her silver medal winning performance at the 2013 IAAF World Championships as well as her overall Heptathlon personal best score, which she set in Gotzis in 2014.
• Ashton Eaton of the Oregon Track Club who trains in Santa Barbara in the off-season is out of the competition due to a lower back injury suffered during Shot Practice this past week.
• Santa Barbara Track Club's Lindsay Schwartz and Thomas FitzSimons, Jr. are also competing across the pond at a multi-events competition in Oyonnax, France.

Track Stars Gun For Gotzis

Santa Barbara–Trained Decathletes and Heptathletes Head to Austria for Hypo Meeting By John Zant, Santa Barbara Independent

Götzis is a quiet alpine village in Austria that makes international news every May as the host of a premier multi-event track-and-field competition called the Hypo Meeting. Just as the most promising racehorses are sent to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby, the highly trained humans known as decathletes and heptathletes converge on Götzis. This year’s meeting is Saturday-Sunday, May 30-31.

Santa Barbara is where Ashton Eaton trained this spring for his first appearance in the Austrian meet. A victory in the decathlon this weekend would be the culmination, rather than the beginning, of his own triple crown — the Oregon native won gold medals at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and the 2013 World Championships in Moscow — and it would also jump-start him toward this summer’s World Championships in Beijing and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Two other athletes who toiled throughout March and April at the Westmont College track are entered in the Götzis heptathlon: Canada’s Brianne Theisen-Eaton, who was runner-up in the 2013 worlds and subsequently topped that by being wed to Eaton, and former UCSB standout Barbara Nwaba, runner-up in last year’s U.S.A. Championships. Although she also won the heptathlon at the Thorpe Cup, a team competition between American and German multi-eventers, this weekend will put Nwaba on a prominent world stage. She hopes it’s a big step toward Rio.

Continue reading at: independent.com

Santa Barbara Track Club’s Nwaba, FitzSimons, Jr. win Sam Adams Combined Events Invite

Nwaba off to a great start this season with a 2015 world’s best performance; FitzSimons, Jr. records two personal bests on day two to take his first Sam Adams title. Santa Barbara, Calif. – The "World’s Greatest Athletes," Track & Field decathletes and heptathletes, completed another physically & mentally grueling two-day competition at the Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational presented by the Santa Barbara Track Club (SBTC) and Westmont College. SBTC’s own Barbara Nwaba and Thomas FitzSimons, Jr. ran, jumped and threw their way to titles with 6,292 and 7,791 points respectively. Nwaba’s score currently ranks her number one in the world in 2015.

Combined events competitions have a rich history dating back to the Ancient Greek Olympics and for present-day athletes, the 2015 edition of Sam Adams represents the start of the outdoor Track & Field season, which will culminate with the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China from August 22-30.

Day 2 in the Heptathlon

Nwaba entered day two with a strong lead in the competition after one of her best Heptathlon starts. In the Long Jump she lept to a near personal best 5.94m (19’06.00”) maintaining her lead and on pace to break 6,000 points; a great mark this early in the season. Teammates  Lindsay Schwartz (5.82m / 19’01.25”) and Lindsay Lettow (5.97m / 19’07.00”) also had a great series, maintaining their second and third place positions through five of seven events. While local resident Annett Fleming (GER), began to make a move into the top three.

In the Javelin, the second event of the day, Nwaba threw to 41.20m (135’02.00”), a bit off her best, but nonetheless remained in the lead through six events and on pace for a world’s best mark. Fleming set a personal best with a 51.58m (169’02.00”) toss that launched her into second place with one event to go.

Nwaba who is aiming to qualify for her first IAAF World Championship squad for Team USA, capped off the two-day competition with a massive four-plus second personal best 2:07.47 in the 800m. Her mark was a meet and stadium record. Nwaba’s 6,292 points in the Heptathlon is also currently ranked number one in the world.

Fleming coming off the energy of the Javelin, ran a 2:14.80 giving her 6,051pts, her first time over 6,000 points. Schwartz and Lettow finished third and fourth with 5,998pts and 5,929pts respectively.

Day 2 in the Decathlon

The men started their day with the 110m High Hurdles with guest athlete, Damian Warner (CAN), the 2013 IAAF World Championship bronze medalist setting a meet record in 13.51, just a tenth of a second off his personal best. Thomas Hopkins who led the competition after day one with 4,047 points, also ran well in 14.62, a best for him in only his third time competing in the event. FitzSimons, Jr. kept Hopkins close in the overall points race netting a personal best himself, crossing the line in 15.16.

Moving on to the second event, the Discus, FitzSimons, Jr. threw 40.40m (132’06.00”), his second personal best of the day, narrowing the gap between him and SBTC teammate, Hopkins, for the lead.

In the Pole Vault, an unfortunate series of misses for Hopkins, left him with a no height and put him out of the title race. While FitzSimons, Jr. tied his personal best of 4.60m (15’01.00”), continuing his record day through eight of ten events.

The Javelin, the penultimate event of the two-day competition, FitzSimons, Jr. continued to compete well tossing the spear 59.45m (195’0.00”) extending his lead with 6,949pts after nine events. University of Wisconsin athlete, Charlie Foss, was in second with 6,319pts.

After nine events he had 6,949pts and was on pace for a personal record with only the 1500m remaining. Running uncontested in one of his best events, FitzSimons, Jr. finished thirty seconds ahead of the second finisher at 1500m, with a 4:15.64, just five seconds off his personal best.

FitzSimons, Jr. recorded 7,791pts over the two-day competition, besting a personal record that he set en route to his bronze medal finish at the 2014 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Evening with the World’s Greatest Athletes Caps off Weekend

Celebrating the two-day competition and in support of the Santa Barbara Track Club, all competitors, coaches and community are invited to The LAB in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone Saturday, April 4 at 7:00pm. Join us for a fun evening with hors d’oeuvres, drinks, music, and raffles.

Evening With the World’s Greatest Athletes information:

http://santabarbaratc.com/2015-evening-with-the-worlds-greatest-athletes/

Complete Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational Results and information:

http://santabarbaratc.com/sam-adams-combined-events-invitational/

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Santa Barbara Track Club's Nwaba, Hopkins Lead Sam Adams Combined Events Invite

Olympians, Eaton, Theisen-Eaton & Day-Monroe set meet and stadium records; Santa Barbara Track Club off to stellar start; Saturday night celebration at The LAB welcomes community Santa Barbara, Calif. – “The World’s Greatest Athletes” kicked off another 2015 outdoor Track & Field season at the Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational presented by the Santa Barbara Track Club (SBTC) and Westmont College.

In the first day of the Heptathlon, SBTC’s Barbara Nwaba (USA), a UC-Santa Barbara graduate, leads the competition with 3,769 points. While SBTC's Thomas Hopkins, competing in his first ever decathlon, leads teammates Thomas FitzSimons, Jr., Keegan Cooke and Theodore Glasnow with 4,047 points.

Olympians Make a Mark in Santa Barbara

As part of the two-day competition a number of Olympians participated as guest athletes, including reigning Olympic gold medalist and Decathlon world record holder Ashton Eaton (USA). In Eaton’s first event of the day, The LAB Long Jump, he exploded off the line in his first attempt with an unfortunate scratch, but on his third attempt soared 7.93 (26’0.25”), a new meet and stadium record, showcasing an incredible level of fitness this early in the season.

Brianne Theisen-Eaton (CAN), the 2013 IAAF World Championship silver medalist in the heptathlon, also competed in select events beginning with a meet and stadium record in the 100m hurdles racing across the line in 13.26.

Also competing on day one was two time Olympian, Sharon Day-Monroe (USA), who tackled all four events finishing just behind Nwaba with 3,757 points. Day-Monroe, a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo alumni and NCAA champion, set a meet and stadium record in the Shot Put with a toss of 15.06m (49’05.00).

Day 1 in the Heptathlon

Of those athletes competing in the full two-day competition, a pair of SBTC athletes, Nwaba and Lindsay Schwartz (USA), lead the pack. Nwaba got off to a great start finishing right behind Theisen-Eaton in the 100m Hurdles in 13.38, a personal best. She also capped off the first day with a best in the 200m, winning in 23.94 into a -0.2 headwind. Nwaba finished day one with 3,769 points.

Schwartz set personal bests in the High Jump (1.75m / 5’08.75”) and the Shot Put (13.03m / 42’09.00”). She sits in second with 3,641 points.

Day two of the Women’s Heptathlon resumes tomorrow at 1:00pm with The LAB Long Jump.

Day 1 in the Decathlon

Hopkins, a 2014 Princeton graduate, joined the SBTC in the fall and completed day one of his first ever Decathlon in the lead with 4,047 points. Hopkins began the day with a 100m win in 10.94 seconds into a -1.5 headwind and capped it off with runner-up finish behind guest athlete Damian Warner (CAN) in the 400m crossing the line in 47.57 seconds.

Teammate, FitzSimons, Jr., had the best Decathlon day one of his career with consistent performances in all five events, finishing with 3,926 points. FitzSimons, Jr. also recorded a personal best in the Long Jump with a leap of 7.16m (23'06.00").

Day two of the Men’s Decathlon resumes tomorrow at 11:00am with the 110m Hurdles

Evening with the World’s Greatest Athletes Caps off Weekend

Celebrating the two-day competition and in support of the Santa Barbara Track Club, all competitors, coaches and community are invited to The LAB in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone Saturday, April 4 at 7:00pm. Join us for a fun evening with hors d’oeuvres, drinks, music, and raffles.

Evening With the World’s Greatest Athletes information: http://santabarbaratc.com/2015-evening-with-the-worlds-greatest-athletes/

Complete Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational Results and information: http://santabarbaratc.com/sam-adams-combined-events-invitational/

Social Media

#SamAdamsMulti Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/santabarbaratc Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/santabarbaratc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/santabarbaratc

World’s Greatest Athletes Showcased at Sam Adams Invite

World record holder & Olympic Champion Ashton Eaton returns to Santa Barbara along with fellow Olympians for April 3-4 competition; Saturday night celebration at The LAB welcomes all fans; free Youth Challenge on April 1 at Westmont College SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The fourth annual Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational - presented by the Santa Barbara Track Club (SBTC) and Westmont College - has assembled once again one of the best multi-event fields on U.S. soil, welcoming the “World’s Greatest Athletes” to kick off their outdoor Track & Field season.

• Complete Schedule & Fan Guide

Decathlon Highlights Returning to the American Riviera and highlighting the weekend’s festivities is Decathlon world record holder and the reigning Olympic champion, Ashton Eaton (USA) of the Oregon Track Club. Eaton will compete in select events in his first outdoor competition of the 2015 season as he gears up for the IAAF World Championships held in Beijing, China later in the year.

Also competing in the two-day Decathlon competition is Damian Warner (CAN), the 2013 IAAF World Championships bronze medalist. Warner, along with Eaton, are no strangers to Santa Barbara, spending a few weeks each spring to prepare for their outdoor track & field campaigns.

First time competitors include both the present and the future of world Decathlon competitors:

• Pascal Behrenbuch (GER), 2012 European Champion.
• Jeremy Taiwo (USA), University of Washington graduate and a member the United State’s 2013 IAAF World Championship team.
• Curtis Beach (USA), U.S. High School Decathlon record holder, 2012 NCAA Indoor Heptathlon champion.

Heptathlon Highlights Brianne Theisen-Eaton (CAN), the 2013 IAAF World Championships silver medalist and 2012 Olympian returns as the top Heptathlete competing in select events over the two-day competition. Theisen-Eaton was a seven-time NCAA champion for the Oregon Ducks. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduate and two-time U.S. Olympian, Sharon Day-Monroe, will also compete in select events on day one of the competition.

Santa Barbara Track Club’s own and UC Santa Barbara alumni, Barbara Nwaba, will open up her 2015 campaign as she eyes her first World Championship team later this year. Nwaba enters the season as the 2nd ranked American in the heptathlon behind Day-Monroe.

Rounding out the top four athletes is Chula Vista Olympic Training Center’s Kiani Profit who enters the season ranked fifth in the U.S. after her 2014 efforts.

Celebrating the World’s Greatest Athletes: Saturday, April 4, 7:00pm @ The LAB The SBTC welcomes the entire community to celebrate the conclusion of the Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational and help kick-off the remainder of the year for all the athletes. The event will begin at 7:00pm at The LAB in the Funk Zone and have Hors d’oeuvres, drinks, music and raffles. A $10 suggested donation is encourage to help support the SBTC.

SBTC Youth Challenge: Wednesday, April 1, 5:00pm @ Westmont College The Santa Barbara Track Club Youth Challenge is a free event for youth ages 14 and under. Come out and see who will be named Santa Barbara’s Greatest Kid! There will be instruction by Olympic and World Championship medalists followed by a run, jump & throw competition. No pre-registration is necessary.

About the Santa Barbara Track Club The Santa Barbara Track Club aims to create a progressive and cohesive Track & Field experience for members of our community from youth to masters as well as the development of Olympians and Olympic hopefuls alike. The professional athletes are composed of combined events athletes and middle distance athletes who also work within the community by serving as coaches and mentors to youth.  The coaching and personal training efforts of the athletes help to fund the continued growth of Santa Barbara as an international training hub as well as to promote cultural exchange and shared education.

The LAB and Santa Barbara Track Club Partner to Provide Unique Training Opportunity

Cutting edge sports performance facility based in Santa Barbara’s funk zone connects Olympic hopeful athletes with community coaching and services. SANTA BARBARA, Calif - (March 5, 2015) - The LAB, an innovative training facility focused on improving human performance through cutting-edge research and techniques, has partnered with the Santa Barbara Track Club (SBTC), an Olympic Development Track & Field athlete center and Youth Track Club hosted at Westmont College. The partnership will combine the unique services offered at The LAB such as comprehensive physical assessments and performance evaluations, whole body cryotherapy, physical therapy, and massage therapy along with the training services of national and international class athletes and coaches.

“The LAB was founded to provide world-class services to professional athletes and weekend warriors alike in Santa Barbara. By packaging services with partner organizations like the Santa Barbara Track Club, we offer our community training opportunities that are unmatched in Southern California,” stated Dave Odell, a founding partner of The LAB.

Through this partnership, SBTC’s world class Track & Field athletes will have access to a range of services provided by The LAB, providing them the tools necessary to compete for Team USA and vie for an Olympic bid in 2016 and beyond. The LAB is offering a unique addition to their membership program that provides access to all services at The LAB in combination with private coaching services from the SBTC.

“Developing athletes to compete for their countries and make a run at the Olympics takes an enormous support system. Not only is having access to The LAB’s world class facilities a major part of helping the SBTC athletes achieve their dreams, but engaging the Club in coaching all levels of athletes creates an environment that is much bigger than one person’s dream, ” commented STBC Executive Director, Josh Priester.

Dr. Marcus Elliott, Founder and Director of the Peak Performance Project (P3), a partner of The LAB, further explains, “the Olympic hopefuls at the SBTC get great coaching and training techniques from Coach Priester. At The Lab we understand that an athlete’s ability to assimilate quality training is limited by the speed and quality of the athlete’s recovery. Our work at The Lab fills the often neglected void between the specialized training sessions. Rest, Recovery and Regeneration.”

More information about the partnership and to inquire about a Lab membership or other services please visit www.santabarbaratc.com or www.thelabsb.com.

About The LAB The LAB is a science-based sports-performance facility which places an emphasis on restoring, regenerating and rebuilding the human body. The LAB offers care from the best-in-class physical performance and wellness professionals in Santa Barbara. Services include comprehensive assessments and individualized training programs, whole body cryotherapy, physical therapy, massage therapy, yoga, pilates, and much more.

About the Santa Barbara Track Club The Santa Barbara Track Club aims to create a progressive and cohesive Track & Field experience for members of our community from youth to masters as well as the development of Olympians and Olympic hopefuls alike. The professional athletes are composed of combined-events athletes and middle-distance athletes who also work within the community by serving as coaches and mentors to youth.  The coaching and personal training efforts of the athletes help to fund the continued growth of Santa Barbara as an international training hub as well as to promote cultural exchange and shared education.

www.SantaBarbaraTC.com

Twitter @SantaBarbaraTC ● Instagram @SantaBarbaraTC ● Facebook.com/SantaBarbaraTC

Social Media Hashtag: #santabarbaratc

SBTC Elite Claim Half of Podium at USA Track & Field Indoor Championships

SBTC rookie Thomas Hopkins and Veteran Thomas FitzSimons finish 3rd and 4th in heptathlon BOSTON, Mass – After the first day of competition, which saw SBTC's Barbara Nwaba and Lindsay Lettow claim podium finishes, 2nd and 4th place respectively, the SBTC men followed suit adding two more to the list of 'nation's best'.

SBTC rookie Thomas Hopkins, a 2014 Princeton University graduate, competed in his first multi's national championship scoring 5,543pts and a 3rd place finish. While SBTC veteran Thomas FitzSimons followed up on his surprise 3rd place finish at last year's Outdoor National Championships with a 4th place finish and 5,484pts at this weekend's Indoor National Championships.

The podium finishes represented an astounding half of the national championship multis podium, making a resounding statement as to the quality and character of the SBTC squad.

"The SBTC is celebrating its first anniversary and I couldn't be any more proud of how far our squad has come in such little time," commented SBTC Head Coach, Josh Priester. "We received our new SBTC uniforms the day before the competition and the cohesion and excitement all our athletes displayed made a strong statement in Boston."

2015 USATF Indoor National Championships Boston, MA, February 27 - March 1, 2015

WOMEN'S PENTATHLON 1) Sharon Day-Monroe, 4654pts, Asics, $5000 2) Barbara Nwaba, 4389pts, SBTC, $3000 3) Kaylon Eppinger, 4317pts, World Athletics, $1500 4) Lindsay Lettow, 4218pts, SBTC, $750

MEN'S HEPTATHLON 1) Jeremy Taiwo, 6273pts, unattached, $5000 2) Austin Bahner, 5526pts, Shocker TC, $3000 3) Thomas Hopkins, 5513pts, SBTC, $1500 4) Thomas FitzSimons Jr.,  5484pts, SBTC, $750

Nwaba & Lettow Place 2nd & 4th at USATF Indoor Championships

SBTC Elite women place three in the top-10 to kick-off weekend; Men will start three in the two-day heptathlon competition. BOSTON, Mass – Today Barbara Nwaba, Lindsay Lettow and Lindsay Schwartz competed against four-time Pentathlon champion and American indoor record holder Sharon Day-Monroe. Nwaba finished the competition with a total of 4,389 points for the Silver medal behind Day-Monroe. SBTC newcomer Lettow, finished 4th with a total of 4,218 points. In her second year competing with the SBTC, Schwartz finished 7th with 4,071 points.

For the men, Thomas FitzSimons, Jr., Thomas Hopkins and Ted Glasnow are competing against a young field in the indoor heptathlon. Hopkins is making a name for himself with SBTC as he leads the team into Day 2 of competition with a 3rd place standing. FitzSimons, Jr. is coming off of a breakthrough season with the SBTC after a 3rd place podium finish at last year's USATF Outdoor Championships. He is currently in 6th place followed by Glasnow in 7th. Day 2 of the Heptathlon will begin at 10am EST on Saturday, February 28.

2015 World's Greatest Track & Field Clinic Photo Gallery

Thank you to everyone who participated today. Special thanks to our coaches and athletes. [tboot_column_wrap] [tboot_column size="6"]

Oregon Track Club

• Coach Harry Marra
• Coach Mark Rowland
• Coach Nick Johnson
• Harun Abda
• Mohammed Aman
• Ashton Eaton

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• Brianne Theisen-Eaton
• Elijah Greer
• Lauren Johnson
• Charles Jock
• Tyler Mulder
• Andrew Wheating

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[tboot_column_wrap] [tboot_column size="6"] Santa Barbara Track Club & Guests

• Coach Josh Priester
• Tom FitzSimons
• Tom Hopkins
• Lindsay Lettow
• Barbara Nwaba

[/tboot_column] [tboot_column size="6"]

• Dr. Ernest Ferrel, M.A., D.C., C.C.S.P.
• Lindsey Hall (University of Montana / USA)
• Angela Whyte (University of Idaho / Canada)

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Santa Barbara Track Celebrates its Inaugural Year

The Santa Barbara Track Club’s inaugural year of providing programs for local youth, the community and elite athletes was an incredible success. SBTC Youth Track & the Community

• 43 joined the SBTC Youth Track team coached by SBTC Elite athletes
• At local Track & Field meets the team had 5 top-three performances, 2 individual champions, and a Girls 4x100m Championship team.
• The Spring Track Clinic welcomed children from the Boys & Girls Club of Carpinteria and the greater Santa Barbara area to provide an opportunity to learn Track & Field skills from Olympic Champion and World Record Holder, Ashton Eaton. Additionally, this clinic featured Olympians from Canada and France.
• Over 500 have taken part in SBTC All-Comers Track & Field meets, school visits, school jog-a-thons and other sporting events.

SBTC Elite

• Barbara Nwaba earned the silver medal at the USA Championships, scoring 6,307 points in the Heptathlon, which is the 14th best mark in United States history. Barbara went on to represent Team USA at the prestigious Thorpe Cup against Germany, where she took home the gold medal and set a meet record.
• Thomas FitzSimons Jr. surprised the Decathlon field at the USA Championships earning a bronze medal with 7,645 points.
• Lindsay Schwartz won SBTC’s Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational, which featured 78 athletes from six countries. Representing the United States, Lindsay won a silver medal at the Pan American Combined Events meet in Canada.
• The SBTC women also captured the West Region USA Track & Field Championship title as they defeated over 25 teams including the historic Santa Monica Track Club.

The SBTC has also launched two new giving opportunities in addition to traditional donations - the SBTC Registry and SBTC Store. Your donations go to support our youth programs and the dreams of all our future Olympians!

Priester taking new Santa Barbara Track Club to elite territory

By John Dvorak, PresidioSports.com A Gold Medal at the Thorpe Cup, two athletes on the podium at the USA Track & Field Championships, hosting the world-record holder in the decathlon… it’s been that kind of year for the newly formed Santa Barbara Track Club.

At the reigns is Josh Priester, a multi-events coach with the vision of establishing Santa Barbara as an elite training destination for some of the world’s best track & field athletes.

“We are providing a home for young women and men to pursue their lifelong dream of competing for Team USA as well as other countries,” Priester said. “Perhaps some of our athletes will even realize their ambition of competing in the Olympic Games.”

One of those athletes is Barbara Nwaba, a former UCSB athlete who placed second at the USA Track & Field Championships in the heptathlon in June. Nwaba, a prospect for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, continued a strong summer with a record-setting victory in Germany last week at the Thorpe Cup.

Continue reading at: www.presidiosports.com