'Perfect race' lands CU frosh national title
Pasciuto claims junior championship, berth in world meet
By Michael Sandrock, For the Camera
February 13, 2005
VANCOUVER, Wash. — Liza Pasciuto never won a state title as a high school runner in southern California. In fact, she had never broken the finishing tape in a race before Saturday's USA junior cross country championships held here on a grassy course at the Fort Vancouver Historic Site.
Pasciuto, a University of Colorado freshman, made her first major victory a significant one, winning the junior championships by running what her coach, Mark Wetmore, termed "a perfect race."
"My biggest win before this was at the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) sectional race," said Pasciuto, who earned a trip to next month's IAAF World Championpships in St. Galmier, France. "My workouts have been awful, but the first 21/2 laps felt so easy. I picked up the pace and felt good at the end. I like cross country."
The U.S. championships were held under cloudy skies and intermittent drizzle. The 6K junior race was the third of the morning, and by the time the juniors started, the 2K course was already muddy around the turns. Pasciuto was part of a pack of 13 that ran together on the first of the three laps. She was still in the pack on the second lap, but was always near the front.
Around the final lap Caitlin Chock, who trains with Alberto Salazar's Oregon Project, took a lead but Pascuito caught her before the final hill, roughly 400 meters from the finish, getting a gap that she extended to the finish.
"I'm happy," said Pasciuto, who placed 13th in the NCAA cross country championships last November to help the Colorado women win the national title. "Compared to the hills I ran in California (as a prep) and to hills in Colorado like Mags (Magnolia) and Gold Hill, that last hill was not bad. I have been training with Renee (Metivier) and every run is hard, so I thought I could do well today. Talking with Chris (Pannone) coming here, we were both so excited to be running at sea level."
Pasciuto clocked 21 minutes, 50.1 seconds, with Erin Bedell of Plano, Texas, second in 22:03.9 . Chock ended up fifth.
Said Wetmore, "Liza ran a perfect race. She waited and then closed strong. It is a big accomplishment to make the World team, and to win this race is even bigger. She will continue training for May and June (and the Big 12 and NCAA track championships); this race and Worlds are fun races to have along the way."
When asked afterwards the reasons for her freshman success, Pasiuto gave Wetmore credit for her steady progress, saying, "I had good high school coaches, but coach Wetmore has been incredible. He is so intelligent in his training."
Dooley, Castro medal
Dave Dooley's gold medal and Rich Castro's bronze led the Boulder Road Runners to their fourth consecutive 50-59 national club team title Saturday. The masters race, for all men 40 and over, preceded the women's junior race.
The Road Runners won by 22 points. Other team members included Scott Winston, Bruce Zimmerman, Rich Holston, Rocky Riviera, Jim Christoph and Carl Mohr.
"We feel very good about our win," said club president Castro, who ran his best race in years. "I think we represented Boulder well." ... Another top local finisher was Lance Denning of the Running Republic of Boulder. He placed fifth in the 40-49 category.