Erika Aklufi ran in a very elite group of women yesterday in the Dodge Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathon in downtown Los Angeles running a respectable fifth place in a time of 1:20.39. Erika’s competitors included the winner, Olympic medalist and American Record holder Deena Kastor who ran 1:11.48, Olympian Linda Somers-Smith who at the age of 50 defies her age by placing second in a time of 1:15.17 and sub-2:40 marathoner, Cheryl Smith who ran 1:17.12 for third place.

The course was a rolling-flatish course that started and finished at the Staple Center.

For complete results, click here.

The Janes went to Elysian Park this past Saturday to run in the hilly 5k ECO Run. The ECO Run is part of the Southern California XC Grand Prix Series – one of the final two races of the series before the final on November 5th – and the Janes dominated. Erika Aklufi came in second in a time of 16:54, Cambria third (17:12.88), Kim Ramirez was fourth (18:09.16), Emily Mitchell-Kreutner was fifth (18:21.27) Sam Jones was sixth and (18:28.22)Amanda Marks (18:52.50) was seventh.

Karla Alburez, from Nike Run LA Team, won in a time of 16:44.31.

For complete results, click here.

Emily Mitchell-Kreutner finished 5th overall and 2nd woman at this past Sunday’s Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco. She ran the hilly course in a time of 1:25.30. Sarah Montez was 28th overall running a time of 1:32.28.

Holly Hagerman, from Utah, was the first woman running 1:24.46. Nike elite athletes, Shalene Flanagan, Kara Goucher, Sarah Schwald and Joan Benoit-Samuelson also ran in the race running together coming in between 1:33-1:34.

For complete results, click here.

The Janes went out to the infamous Mt SAC cross country course this past Sunday to compete in the Free Spirit Invitational. The Invite is part of the Southern California USATF Cross Country Grand Prix Series. Cambria Wu led the Janes by winning the race in a time of 18:04.60 over the 2.9 mile hilly course. Tania, who won the day before at the Cal Poly Invite, filled in for a sick Jane to complete the team, came in 2nd in a time of 18:13.86. Tania was followed by Colleen Joyce who was 3rd overall in a time of 18:46.43, Sam Jones (5th, 19:23.59) and Krishna Curry (8th, 21:00).

Cambria leads the series with 49 points, one point better than Nike Run LA’s Karla Alburez’ 48 points. Jenny and Tania are tied for the 3rd overall spot with 47 points. They are followed behind by Colleen (45 points), Sam (42 points), Erika (41 points) and Kim (41 points). Krishna has only run one race and has 21 points. Tania also leads the masters division with 50 points to Grace Padilla’s 25 points who is in second place.

For complete results, click here.

Tania fights for position on the hilly course.

Tania Fischer was the lone Jane who went up to compete in the Cal Poly Invitational this past Saturday. Tania, who is the head coach for both the boys and girls cross country teams at Santa Monica High School, takes her teams on a road trip to Cal Poly each year. Before the high school races go off, Tania competed in the college/open race that morning.

Tania won the race in a time of 18:33.2 over the hilly 5000 meter course, 15 seconds over the 2nd place woman, Bridie McCarey from the Cal Poly Alumni Team.

For complete results, click here.