For Immediate Release
12-09-07

LTC TEAM FIFTH AT NATIONALS,

JOSH OLSEN, RICH KLAUBER ALL-AMERICAN

        Lawrence, Kansas.  The Litchfield Track Club Young Men’s (17-18) team  placed fifth overall at the USATF National Cross-Country Championships held Saturday at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence , Kansas.

        Close to 3,000 runners competed in age-groups ranging from 10& Under to 17&18. Runners made the Nationals by qualifying in association and Regional meets.

        The 5k race was won by Team Provo of Utah with 70 points, followed by Federal Way TC of Washington with 71, and the West Coast Gazelles of California with 72. Litchfield’s total score was 150 points. A total of 9 teams were in the scoring with 173 runners total for the race.

        The LTC, made up of runners from Thomaston, Litchfield, Wamogo and Sooth Windsor, was led by All- American performances by Josh Olsen in 13^th place (16:37.55), and Rich Klauber in 17^th place (16:44.38). They were followed by Jeremy Schmid (66^th, 17:35.08), Kyle Courtney (67^th, 17:36.29), Eric Normandin (80^th, 17:51.33), Chris Athas (140^th, 18:44.74), and Robby Breakell (152^nd, 19:21.59). For Olsen, it was the second year in a row running All-American. He placed in the top ten last year in the 15-16 Division in Spokane, Washington.

        The LTC also fielded a team in the Intermediate Boys (15-16) Division for the first time. They placed 13^th out of 16 teams with a score of 312 points.

Leading the team of Thomaston and Litchfield runners was Gabe Olsen (97^th), Jon Duncan (105^th), Colin Gannon (150^th), Tim Johnson (161^st), and Spencer Daniel (183^rd) overall in a field of  280 runners.

        Individually, the LTC had runners compete in several age groups. In the Midget Girls (11-12), Sabrina Olsen placed 137^th out of 278 runners, and in the Midget Boys Division, Quentin Hoey  placed 145^th out of 269 finishers.

        The Young Women’s Division (17-18) had Jacqueline Ajello finishing the 5k course in 67^th place and Amira Bochicchio placing 72^nd in their first National competition.

        This was the largest team the Litchfield Track Club has had qualify for a National Championship since 1991 when 34 runners competed in Sandy, Oregon. The 10& Under Boys team won a National title in Irvine, California in 1986 while the Youth Boys team placed second in both  1989 (Raleigh, NC) and 1990 (Omaha, Nebraska).