The PRT Open Women’s team turned the tide this cross country season by reclaiming the USATF San Diego-Imperial Dirt Dog XC team title at the November 10th Championship race. The team victory was icing on the cake of a stellar season, establishing the PRT ladies as the premier competitive racing team in the San Diego area.
All smiles after the Cuyamaca 6k: A few of the PRT Open Women’s team (including a few of our stellar master’s women—Charisa and Amy). From left to right: Bridget Nolan, Liz Ryan, Nicole Jaffke, Kristin Schleicher, Erin Menefee, Charisa Clarkson, Fiana Kumm, Amy Halseth, and Kelsey Nielsen.
Wild Duck 5k
One of the largest team turnouts of the regular racing season was at the Wild Duck 5k race on August 17th in Guajome Park. The PRT Open Women went 1-2-3 led by Mary Schneider in 17:31, followed by Fiana Kumm in 18:04 and Erin Menefee in 18:16.
Getting Crazy at the Crazy 8’s 5k
The rain couldn’t stop the PRT Open ladies from dominating the competition at the Crazy 8’s 5k at Rancho Bernardo Park on September 28th. The ladies were led by Mary Schneider with another individual win as she dipped under 17 for the first time in 16:56, followed by a strong performance by Sofie Schunk placing 2nd in a fine time of 17:37. Erin Menefee placed 5th in 18:00, Kelsey Nielsen in 18:37, Liz Ryan in 18:53, Bridget Nolan in 18:57, Karla Khalifa in 18:57 taking 8th-11th places, and Kristin Schleicher in 13th place in 19:32.
The PRT Open Women’s Team after a rainy Crazy 8’s 5k. From left to right: Karla Khalifa, Mary Schneider, Kelsey Nielsen, Bridget Nolan, Sofie Schunk, Kristin Schleicher, Erin Menefee, and Liz Ryan.
PRT Open Ladies Takes Home the Dirt Dog Team Title
The open ladies crushed the competition at Tecolote Shores on Sunday, November 10th and reclaimed their team title in the final race of the Dirt Dog season: the USATF San Diego-Imperial Association Team Championship 6k race. The ladies went 1-4 and were led by Mary Schneider, who blazed through the course in 22:42, followed by Erin Menefee in 23:11, Sofie Schunk in 23:26, and Liz Ryan in 23:40. Mary, Erin, and Sofie claimed the top three places in the 2019 Dirt Dogs XC series overall standings as well. Mary had a tremendous season racing undefeated in her first Dirt Dogs XC racing experience in San Diego.
Mary Schneider and Sofie Schunk in action at the San Diego- Imperial USATF Association Cross Country Championships.
The Future is Bright
The team showed incredible depth throughout the 2019 Dirt Dogs XC season, and looks to have a large impact in the upcoming road series and on the track in 2020. During the 2019 season PRT also welcomed several fresh faces to the roster that made an immediate impact: Mary Schneider, Kelsey Nielsen, and Nicole Jaffke. Mary led the PRT women and finished the season undefeated, securing the overall open title while setting personal bests along the way. Kelsey raced in several meets and turned in a strong performance at the Crazy 8’s 5k with a time of 18:53. Nicole, a former Marquette University pole-vaulter turned distance runner, set personal bests in several distances this season.
Returning runners Erin Menefee, Sofie Schunk, Fiana Kumm, and Liz Ryan had fine seasons with notable performances throughout the season, with Erin taking home the open “W” in the Cuyamaca College 6k with a 21:51, Fiana raced to a new PR and a runner-up performance in the Cuyamaca College 6k in 22:05, and Sofie turned in a speedy time at the Crazy 8’s 5k in Rancho Bernardo Park with a 2nd place finish in 17:37. Liz made a comeback from an injury and gained steam throughout the season with a 4th place finish at the championship race. In February, Liz will be representing PRT along with Marie Zanderson and master Hilary Corno at the US Olympic Trials in Atlanta, Georgia.
For more information on final teams + individual standings, click the following link to learn more about the notorious USATF San Diego-Imperial Dirt Dog Cross Country series.
To stay in the know with day-to-day team happenings and performances, follow PRT on Instagram @pradoracingteam or at facebook.com/pradoracingteam.