5th Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational Hosted by SBTC Kicks off Olympic Year

April 1st and 2nd competition returns World record holder & Olympic Champion, Ashton Eaton, for season debut as well as three World Championship medalists; FREE Youth Clinic on March 30; ‘Road to Rio’ symposium with Olympic athletes to conclude the week’s festivities on April 3 SANTA BARBARA, Calif. –  The 5th Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational hosted by the Santa Barbara Track Club (SBTC) will once again assemble one of the best multi-event fields on American soil to kick-off the Olympic year. The two-day competition will be held April 1-2 at Westmont College with the men  competing in the Decathlon and women in the Heptathlon, which are composed of ten and seven disciplines respectively.

Playing host to the “World’s Greatest Athletes”, the Men’s Decathlon will feature  2012 Olympic champion and world record holder, Ashton Eaton (USA) and Canadian national record holder Damian Warner. The two athletes are favored to be on the podium in the Rio Olympic finals later this summer. In the Women's Heptathlon, IAAF World Championship medalists Brianne Theisen-Eaton (CAN), and reigning U.S. Outdoor Heptathlon Champion, SBTC’s Barbara Nwaba (USA) highlight the field of competitors.

“The SBTC and Westmont College are happy to host the combined events Olympic season debut at the Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational,” commented Josh Priester, Executive Director of the SBTC and Assistant Coach at Westmont College. “With the support of Westmont and the Santa Barbara community this event has been elevated to an international level competition in just five years. In celebration of the 5th anniversary we are happy to announce the addition of the inaugural Sam Adams community and youth events.”

In addition to the elite competition, the SBTC will host a number of community events throughout the week:

March 30: Santa Barbara Youth Track & Field Clinic

Featured athletes from the Sam Adams Invite will also once again host the Santa Barbara Youth Track & Field Clinic on Wednesday, March 30 at 5:00pm. The clinic is a FREE event for all children ages 7-14 made possible by Bryant & Sons, Ltd. and will take place at Westmont College’s Thorrington Athletic Field. No pre-registration is necessary for this event. For more information visit: http://santabarbaratc.com/sbtc-youth-clinic/

April 1-2: Inaugural Sam Adams Community Races

Open and Masters athletes are invited to compete in the Inaugural Sam Adams Community Races being held on Friday and Saturday April 1-2 on the same track as their favorite Olympians and Olympic hopefuls. Events being offered include the Open 5K, Open Mile and the Open Javelin.  Registration is $20 and includes a Sam Adams Invite collectible t-shirt. The deadline to register is Friday, March 25, 2016.  For more information visit: http://santabarbaratc.com/sam-adams-youth-community-races/

April 2: Inaugural Youth Triathlon Challenge and Youth 1 Mile run

Two youth-oriented events will also highlight the competition on Saturday, April 2—the Inaugural Youth Triathlon Challenge and Youth 1 Mile run. The Youth Triathlon Challenge will include the 100m Dash, Long Jump and Jr. Javelin/Softball Throw, events that are aimed at putting to the test the skills which were taught at Wednesday’s FREE clinic. The Youth Challenge and Youth 1 Mile run has a maximum field of 100 children. Registration is $15 and includes a Sam Adams Invite collectible t-shirt. For more information visit: http://santabarbaratc.com/sam-adams-youth-community-races/

April 3: Road to Rio Symposium

The Sam Adams week of events will conclude on Sunday, April 3 at 5:00pm at the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion with a “Road to Rio” symposium sponsored by local fitness apparel brand Rabbit, featuring Olympian guest speakers who both train in and call Santa Barbara home. We invite attendees to get up close and personal with your favorite Olympians in an intimate setting and hear them share their personal experiences of their Olympic journey. Guest speakers include:

• Ashton Eaton - 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist & World Record Holder, Decathlon
• Brianne Theisen-Eaton - 2015 World Championship Silver Medalist, Heptathlon
• Jeff Farrell - 1960 Olympic Gold Medalist, Swimming
• Barbara Nwaba - 2015 U.S. Champion, Heptathlon

VIP and General admission tickets are now available for sale.  For more information on the “Road to Rio” symposium visit: http://santabarbaratc.com/road-to-rio-2016/.

All proceeds from the Sam Adams Invite week of festivities supports the Santa Barbara Track Club, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. For sponsorship inquiries please contact Justine Diaz at justine@bringbackthemile.com.

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 Track & Field 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 Wins 2016 U.S. Indoor Title

Santa Barbara Track Club women take three of four podium spots; nine total SBTC athletes mark largest qualifying team at U.S. Combined Events Indoor Championships; Nwaba set to compete at IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland, OR in March; SBTC welcomes new athletes and expands programming for 2016 CRETE, Neb.—The 2016 USATF Combined Events Indoor Championships, hosted by Doane College on February 25-27, marked the first major test for Santa Barbara Track Club's (SBTC) athletes with their eye on Rio de Janeiro, site of the 2016 Olympic Games. Competing in the pentathlon, a suite of five events versus the traditional seven that marks the heptathlon competition during the outdoor season, SBTC's women, led by Barbara Nwaba, made a splash earning three of the four podium spots.

Nwaba, who is gearing up to represent the U.S. at the IAAF World Indoor Championships on March 18 in Portland, OR, earned her second U.S. title and set a personal record of 4,415pts in the Pentathlon on Saturday, outlasting Kaylon Eppinger by over 100pts. SBTC's Chari Hawkins, one of the squad's most recent additions, set a personal record of 4,225pts to finish with a bronze medal, while just three points behind, SBTC's Lindsay Schwartz took the final podium position with 4,222pts, also a personal record.

On the Men's side, Tom Hopkins finished in 8th place with 5,424pts to lead SBTC in the Men's Heptathlon competition.

In all, nine athletes represented the SBTC at the U.S. Combined Events Indoor Championships, qualifying the largest team to kick off the 2016 season. With the exception of Nwaba who will compete at World Indoor Championships, the next competition for the SBTC combined events athletes will be the 5th Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational (Sam Adams Invite) in Santa Barbara on April 1-2. The Sam Adams Invite will mark the first major outdoor competition for some of the World's Greatest Athletes on their Road to Rio, including reigning Olympic gold medalist in the Decathlon, Ashton Eaton.

SBTC Expands Beyond Combined Events, Adds Community Programs

The SBTC welcomes Benjamin Kirkwood, Jr., a Santa Barbara local High Jumper who has already jumped over 7'0ft. in 2016 and will represent the SBTC at the USATF Indoor Championships in Portland, OR on March 11-12. The team also welcomes Lexi Youngberg, a sprinter and 2016 Paralympic hopeful (T43); Youngberg represented the U.S. at the World Championship in 2015.

The SBTC has also added new community programs in 2016. These include:

• Youth Track @ Carpinteria HS
• Master Track
• Adult Group Training in partnership with Alaris Fitness

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.

Santa Barbara Track Club Goes Global, Acts Local

Zimbabwe national record holder Keegan Cooke competes at this weekend's African Games; SBTC Youth Fall Season begins Monday with record participation; SBTC visits Santa Barbara County schools to promote physical fitness From Santa Barbara Track Club

For Coach Josh Priester's professional athletes it has been quite the summer of success and travel as athletes competed not only throughout the United States, but also Canada, China and Germany. Keegan Cooke, a Zimbabwean citizen, will add one more country to the athlete's summer passport as he represents his country at the 11th African Games in Brazzaville, Congo.

Cooke, who competed for the University of Arizona Wildcats before becoming a member of SBTC, will begin the two-day competition on Sunday, September 13. He is the Zimbabwe national record holder in the Decathlon with 7315 points, which he set in April at the Mt. SAC Relays Combined Events Invitational.

• 11th African Games Official Website & Results
• 11th African Games Webcast

SBTC Youth Fall Season Begins

With the summer winding down internationally, SBTC's focus returns to its community with the SBTC Youth Track season beginning on Monday, September 14. Coached by SBTC's professional athletes, including USA Track & Field Champion, Barbara Nwaba, the SBTC Youth program is geared towards ages 7-14 and is hosted at Westmont College.

While an incredibly fun experience at all ages, SBTC Youth also achieved great competitive success in the Spring of 2015 earning the most Gold Medals (19) and also the most Medals & Ribbons (58) of any other Youth Club at the Santa Barbara All-County Championships.

Visit the SBTC Youth page for more information and to register.

SBTC in the Community

SBTC athletes will also be visiting schools throughout the year, participating at jog-a-thons, move-a-thons, physical education classes and more! To schedule a SBTC visit at your school, please email info@santabarbaratc.com.

And stay tuned for the second annual SBTC Fall-Comers Track & Field meet at Westmont College! Tentatively scheduled for the second weekend of November, this meet is open to athletes of all ages and abilities. Go for a new personal best or try your hand at new events. All track events will be electronically times. SBTC will post more information as soon as the date is made official.

Beijing Reflections: Barbara Udoezi Nwaba

By Norm Zÿlstra, Throwholics.com My post meet reflection on the 2015 Beijing World Championships.

My first World Championships went as follows.

I had a decent hurdle race to start off the heptathlon, running a 13.59, a tenth off what I ran at USA Nationals. I was really hoping for a [personal best] since I felt great in practice and was running fast. However I knew there were six more events I had left where I could improve and put together a big score…

Unfortunately this is all a tall tale. I would have been ecstatic if things had actually went this way. The truth is I take seven steps to the first hurdle but on the opening day of Worlds I let myself take eight steps instead, jumping off the wrong leg. I tried to recover in between hurdle one and two but I was too bunched. I hit hurdle two with my lead leg and went down, smacked the track hard and rolled into lane two. I could not believe this was happening to me. Before I could even think I got back up, ran over hurdle three and four, and hit hurdle five. Down I went again and this time all I could do was stare down the track in complete shock of what had just happened. My hopes of a podium finish were over. To put things in perspective when I ran 13.49 at USAs it was worth 1052 points. 25 seconds would have given me a whopping 4 points. Somehow they clocked me finishing at 59 seconds. Only I didn’t finish the race and nor did it matter. I walked off the track in disbelief. Pain on my face, tear stricken, and feeling immensely disappointed I wanted to be anywhere but inside the Bird’s Nest.

Luckily for me I have an awesome group of people in my corner. The support I received from my coach, family and friends really helped me get through the next six events. And not only get through it but really enjoy my time out there like I should. When my coach said, “Now let’s make it your goal to feel comfortable out there because you never quite looked yourself,” and my mother said, “Dry your eyes, don’t worry. You walked away with no injuries.” Barbara+Nwaba+Ekaterina+Voronina+15th+IAAF+AGXREDnORRAlIt really put into perspective just how awesome of an opportunity I was in and that I could not let it go to waste. I was officially getting ready for Rio 2016 and what better environment could I ask for?

Continue reading at: www.throwholics.com

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.

Santa Barbara TC's Nwaba Wins 1st U.S. National Title in Heptathlon

Nwaba earns first IAAF World Championship berth; scores 6,500pts, the 6th U.S. all-time Heptathlon mark and ranked 5th in the World in 2015; SBTC's Lettow also breaks 6,000pts finishing in 5th place

Heptathlon Scoring Table SBTC National Championship Central

Since 2012, Barbara Nwaba has been the runner-up at the 2012 NCAA Division I Championships, 2014 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and the 2015 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships. She would reverse this streak at the 2015 USA Championships in Eugene, OR with a personal best 6,500 points, dethroning the two-time reigning champion and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo alumna Sharon Day-Monroe for the title.

This is Nwaba's first national title and her 6,500 points in the Heptathlon ranks 6th in the U.S. all-time as well as currently ranking her 5th in the world. She also qualified for the IAAF World Championships, which will be held in Beijing, China from August 22-30, 2015.

SBTC's Lindsay Lettow also had a career day breaking 6,000 points for the first time with 6,023pts and a fifth place finish. Lindsay Schwartz would fall just 29 points shy of a best finishing in 8th place with 5,969pts.

Heptathlon Day 1

The first day began with two personal bests by Schwartz & Lettow in the 100m Hurdles, 13.55 and 13.56 respectively while Nwaba remained just a tenth of a second off of her best with a 13.49, notching 1,052pts for the event.

In the High Jump, Lettow leaped to her second personal best of the day with a 1.76m (5'9.25") leap. Nwaba maintained her form with a 1.82m (5'11.5") jump, two inches off her career best.

Saturday's competition concluded with Nwaba racing to a 23.76 personal best in the 200m, closing the gap with Day-Monroe to 20 points headed into the final day of the Heptathlon. Schwartz also set a personal best in the 200m with a time of 24.06. Schwartz and Lettow concluded day one in 6th and 8th respectively.

Heptathlon Day 2

After what had been unseasonably warm temperatures in Eugene for the Decathlon and first day of competition in the Heptathlon, temperatures in the low 70s welcomed the athletes for Sunday's events. Perhaps enjoying the similarity to Santa Barbara's cooler June weather, Nwaba took to the skies in the first event of the morning with a personal best of 6.23m (20'5.25") in the Long Jump; a seven inch personal best and the first time over 20 feet for her. The jump would move Nwaba 36 points ahead of Day-Monroe with two events remaining in the Heptathlon.

In the Javelin, Nwaba tossed the spear 43.48m (142'8"), just five feet off her best, maintaining a slim 8 point lead over Day-Monroe heading into the final event, the 800m. Lettow also performed well setting a personal best of 42.63m (139'10) in the Javelin.

At 800m, an event Nwaba has excelled at recently, dropping four seconds off her best since 2014 and seven seconds since 2012, needing to finish ahead of Day-Monroe to take her first U.S. National title. She would lead from the gun with Day-Monroe on her shoulders and pulled away from the field in front of the loud Hayward Field grandstands, crossing the tape in a personal best 2:07.13 and scoring 6,500pts for the two-day competition.

Lettow would race to another best finishing in 2:11.90, catapulting herself to a 5th place finish and personal best 6,023pts; the first time for her over the 6,000pts barrier. Schwartz finished in 8th with 5,969pts, just 29 points shy of her personal best.

Additional Santa Barbara Notables

2012 UCSB graduate, Ryan Martin, finished 5th at 800m in 1:46.04 2007 UCSB graduate, Amy Haapanen, finished 10th in the Hammer Throw with a mark of 65.20m (213'11")

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

SBTC Sends 4 Athletes to the USA Track & Field Championships

USA Track & Field Championships Updates

6/28: Santa Barbara TC’s Nwaba Wins 1st U.S. National Title in Heptathlon 6/26: Thomas FitzSimons, Jr. 4th at USA National Championships USA Championships Results Decathlon Scoring Table Heptathlon Scoring Table

Barbara Nwaba leads the SBTC contingent as the second ranked heptathlete in the United States

From Santa Barbara Track Club

Beginning Thursday, June 25, SBTC athletes enter one of the most important competitions of the season with the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, OR determining Team USA squads for the IAAF World Championships, Thorpe Cup and other opportunities to represent the United States in 2015.

At the 2014 national championships Barbara Nwaba finished 2nd with 6,307pts in the Heptathlon, a personal record at the time. Qualifying only days prior to the national championships, Thomas FitzSimons, Jr. also reached the podium, surprising the field with a third place and 7,645pts in the Decathlon.

The two-day Heptathlon and Decathlon competitions will take place Thursday, June 25 - Sunday, June 28 at the University of Oregon's historic Hayward Field.

SBTC Athlete Bios at USA Championships

• Barbara Nwaba - Heptathlon (UC Santa Barbara '12) - Ranked 2nd in Heptathlon field
• Lindsay Schwartz - Heptathlon (South Alabama '13) - Ranked 8th in Heptathlon field
• Lindsay Lettow - Heptathlon (Central Missouri '12) - Ranked 9th in Heptathlon field
• Tom FitzSimons , Jr. - Decathlon (Mount Saint Mary's '12) - 4th Place at 2015 USA Championships

Follow SBTC on Television & Live Stream on the Web (look for the orange and blue tinted uniforms)

Webcast / Television (All Times are PST) SUNDAY 6/28

• 8AM PT - Racewalk - LIVE on USATF.tv
• 10:20AM - 12PM PT - All Events - LIVE on USATF.tv
• 12PM - 3PM PT - LIVE on NBC (Online here) [Check local listings] (Field Events will be LIVE on USATF.tv)
• 3PM PT - THE COOL DOWN - on USATF.tv

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 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/

Social Media

#SamAdamsMulti

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/santabarbaratc

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/santabarbaratc

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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

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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.