OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT – Gang of Five, Directors
A Division of the Asics Aggie Running Club
Directors: Kevin Searls & other gang of 5 members Linda Sommers-Smith, Kara June, Carlos Siqueiros, and Sergio Reyes.
The Asics Aggie Running Club has a 25+ year tradition of assisting distance runners’ reach their competitive running goals by providing a structure that allows significant improvement in their post collegiate careers. Over these 25 years, the Asics Aggie Running Club has helped hundreds of underdeveloped athletes become nationally competitive in cross-country, track, road and marathon racing. Unlike other post collegiate programs, the majority of the athletes associated with the Asics Aggie Running Club were not nationally competitive in college or high school. The Asics Aggie Running Club can help you improve your performance and reach your goals!
Mission Statement:
To provide motivated and emerging distance athletes with a support structure to help them attain nationally competitive distance running performances in cross country, track and marathon racing.
The Olympic Development Program (OD Program) is divided into two tiers, each of which has its own qualification standards, with associated support tied to the level of achievement with each 6-month qualification period.
Specifics:
To qualify for the Asics Aggies OD program there are three requirements to be met first before you can be considered for the program. You must be a member of the Asics Aggie RC in good standing, you must meet a time/performance requirement and you must meet the participation requirement. Once these have been met, you can submit an application to the Gang of 5 for consideration of acceptance into the Asics Aggie OD program.
To be eligible for the Asics Aggie OD Program you must first be a member in good standing with the Asics Aggies. This requires 4 things on your end:
- You must have your club dues paid for the current year.
- You must have a current PA/USATF card and be registered as an Asics Aggie (club #111)
- You must race in the official club issued Asics Aggies Uniform.
- You must race head to toe in Asics products.
Qualifying races include the official OD schedule of events listed in this document. Qualifying standards achieved in non-listed meets or races may qualify if approved by the OD Program coordinator.
You must complete the participation portion of the OD requirements. This means racing 2 PA championship events in both the Spring (1/1-6/31) and the Fall (7/1-12/31), plus make yourself available for the Bay to Breakers Centipede as well as participate in the PA XC championships. First and foremost we are a CLUB and we have team requirements. The events listed above help foster a strong team ethic and are important to our sponsor Asics. In turn, they are important to us. If you want to take advantage of the perk of entry into these selected track meets, you will need to fulfill your part of the team commitment requirement.
Performance Standards:
| Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
| |
Men: |
Women: |
|
Men: |
Women: |
| *800m: |
1:49.00 |
2:07.00 |
*800m: |
1:54.00 |
2:13.00 |
| 1500m: |
3:45.00 |
4:22.00 |
1500m: |
3:50.00 |
4:35.00 |
| Steeple: |
8:45.00 |
10:15.00 |
Steeple: |
9:00.00 |
10:30.00 |
| 5000m: |
14:00.00 |
16:15.00 |
5000m: |
14:30.00 |
17:00.00 |
| 10000m: |
29:00.00 |
34:00.00 |
10000m: |
30:15.00 |
35:30.00 |
| Half-Marathon: |
1:05:30 |
1:17:00 |
Half-Marathon: |
1:07:00 |
1:19:00 |
| Marathon |
2:18:00 |
2:42:00 |
Marathon |
2:22:00 |
2:47:00 |
| |
| Cross Country: |
Cross Country: |
| Top 3 finish overall at PA XC Champs |
Top 15 finish overall at PA XC Champs |
| Top 10 USATF XC Club Nationals |
Top 50 USATF XC Club Nationals |
| Top 15 at USA XC Champs |
|
- Additional requirements exist beyond time standard for the 800m distance.
- 5000m standard is for a track time performance only.
- 10000m standard is track or road, but must be non-aided, certified, road course
- Half Marathon must be certified, non-aided course
- Marathon - Certain courses are ineligible for consideration (i.e., St. George). Please check with the ODcoordinators for the listing of eligible courses.
See the Cross Country page for important information about qualifying for nationals.