34TH ANNUAL BRIAN WATERBURY MEMORIAL ROCK TO PIER SIX MILE BEACH RUN

 

The City of Morro Bay Recreation & Parks Department named the Rock to Pier Run in honor of Brian, who had the idea of running on the beach from Morro Bay to Cayucos and founded the race in 1970. After finishing his athletic eligibility at Cal Poly, Brian found that there were no opportunities for post-collegiate athletes to continue competing because there werenÕt any races in San Luis Obispo County. Since he loved to run, he and Cal Poly teammate Terry Record decided to start their own race. The first Morro Bay to Cayucos Fun Run in the summer of 1970 drew 32 people with Terry crossing the line first and Brian third. The field the second year increased to 42 and included Ron Larrieu, a member of the 1964 U.S. Olympic team at 10,000M, and Cheryl Bridges, who would set a world record in the Western Hemisphere Marathon at Culver City in December of that year. In early 1974, Brian helped form the San Luis Distance Club. Terry had moved away so members of SLDC began assisting Brian in conducting the race. By 1977, it had grown to over 600 entrants from all over California and was attracting top runners from Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley. In 1986, the City of Morro Bay was looking for more recreational activities to sponsor and expressed an interest in adding races to its calendar of events. At that time, SLDC turned the race over to the city which has conducted it ever since as the Rock to Pier Run. Thanks to Andrea Lueker & Karen Sweeney of the Morro Bay Recreation Department for making this yearÕs race a wonderful memory of BrianÕs spirit.

 

Race Notes: The recognition of Brian helped draw a sizeable contingent of runners from SLDC -  current members, those from the past, and family members, Among those participating this year were some of the raceÕs earliest entrants included John Hogerheiden, who ran the first year in 1970, Lou Squazzoni (1971), Stan Rosenfield (1972), and Richard Reynaga & Jean Spierling (1973). . . Winner J.J. Duke is from Clovis and has run this race before. He started as the winner of the 14 & Under division in 1997 (24th O/A in 39:05), moved up to 5th by 1999 (32:51), was 4th in 2000 (33:22), 4th again in 2001 (32:50), and placed 3rd in 2002 (31:25) before winning by two minutes this year. He was a state meet finalist in the 3200 while in high school and is now at the University of Arizona. . . Linda Somers-Smith was a member of the U.S. Olympic team in Atlanta in 1996 and broke the womenÕs record by over two minutes, She will be representing the United States in the marathon at next monthÕs World Track & Field Championships in Paris as will race runner-up Jill Gaitenby. . . Seventeen club members picked up awards for placing in the top three of their age division. Complete results are at www.buzzwordproductions.com .

 

  1.

J.J. Duke/U of Ariz.

31:17

106.

Lori Hashim

44:33

340.

Rob Livick

56:07

  2.

Matt Ruane/1-SLDC

33:16

109.

Victor Brancart

45:08

348.

Winton Winslow

57:12

  6.

Scott Peterson/SLO

32:35

125.

Steve Coombs

46:17

354.

Frank Spada

57:36

  8.

Brent Griffiths/1-40+

34:12

126.

Connor Coombs

46:19

383.

Nick Riesz

58:55

10.

Linda Smith/1-F

34:53

137.

George McClintock

46:34

397.

Mary Stallard

60:22

12.

Jill Gaitenby/2-F

35:48

140.

Ron Swart

46:45

408.

James Phan

61:23

15.

Antonio Arreola

36:05

145.

Russ Raymond

47:00

415.

Stan Coombs

62:04

16.

Steve Boaz/1-45+

36:31

156.

Stan Rosenfield

47:33

416.

Bill Winstanley

62:04

19.

Kevin Cooper/3-40+

37:12

166.

Kaeti Ecker

47:51

421.

Steve Willison

62:43

20.

Paul Lee

37:24

175.

Chris Coombs

48:13

430.

Chris Shuck

63:13

21.

Frank Hutchinson

37:36

176.

Chris Connors

48:14

445.

Pete Dorn

64:07

22.

Charlie Joslin/3-45+

37:55

180.

Matthew Shuck

48:30

460.

Vikki Waterbury

65:02

25.

Vince Figueroa

38:24

189.

Will Jones

48:44

461.

Papa Bear Albright

65:19

36.

Brady Jones

40:12

194.

Saul David

49:05

491.

Ron Souza

67:57

38.

Gary Raymond

40:13

216.

Jason Dornish

49:44

521.

Lou Squazzoni

71:31

46.

Marty Budinger/

41:00

217.

Steve Dornish

49:48

545.

Lauren Coombs/SB

77:08

57.

Rob Sausedo

41:36

223.

Jim Willis

50:05

546.

Jean Spierling

77:10

59.

Neil Wilcox/1-60+

41:45

224.

John Hogerheiden

50:06

564.

Elaine Rosenfield

83:46

76.

John Tiffin/1-55+

42:47

230.

Richard Reynaga

50:30

581.

Stacey Breitenbach

93:39

82.

Bobbi Tomkins

43:25

249.

Diane Dixon

51:25

593.

Sally Coombs/S.B.

 1:40

88.

Dane Jones/2-55+

43:49

261,

Jim Murray

52:00

594.

Norma Coombs/Bak.

 1:40

92.

Ryan Cerf

44:06

284.

Ernie Petrich

54:10

595.

Laura Coombs/HB

 1:40

97.

Todd Everett

44:21

289.

Leslie Monaco

54:20

 

  ** 639 finishers **