1990 - 1994
1990 - 1992
(Eileen Brennan-Erler, President 1990 & Irene Herman, President 1991-92)
In 1990, we had the good fortune to hire Mike Fanelli to coach our rapidly growing team. The workouts returned to San Francisco and became more diversified by focusing as much on track distances and cross country as on road races. We also expanded the team to include triathletes who taught some of us the value of cross training to balance our running. During this time, we also found a generous sponsor in Hoy's Sports and secured Kezar Stadium as our new training home. The coaching staff was rounded out with the addition of Kevin Cruikshank as an assistant coach and physical fitness consultant, and April Powers as our co-coach.
In 1992, the depth of the Impala talent was evident when the third Olympic Marathon Trials were attended by five Impalas-- out of only 120 qualifiers nationwide! These five included Lynn Nelson, Diana Nelson-Fitzpatrick, Lisbet Engberg, Laurie Binder, and Janine Aiello. In addition, the Impala Team experienced an Olympic first by sending our first qualifier for a distance other than the marathon, with Carol Keller running in the 3000 meter trials.
During the same year, our coach Mike Fanelli was selected to coach the Eikeden Relays in Japan, and our own Jen Thatcher O'Reilly represented the Impalas in that important, selective international event. We also sent a team to the National Cross Country Finals in Kenosha, Wisconsin and placed 8th among very strong national level competition. Shirley Matson and Nadine O'Connor finished 1st and 2nd at the National Masters Track & Field Events in the 400 meters. Liz Spurr illustrated the diversity of the Impalas by competing in the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii. Kate Sweetman and Liz qualified and competed in the National Triathlon Championships. We also had two members participating in Ultra Events; Suzanne Williams and Dina Kovash. By the end of 1992, the Impalas had our historical best showing in the Pacific TAC Standings, placing 1st in the Open Division, 1st in the Senior Division, and 2nd in the Masters Division. Meanwhile, the size of the Team grew exponentially to a roster of 80 members.
(Eileen Brennan-Erler, President 1990 & Irene Herman, President 1991-92)
In 1990, we had the good fortune to hire Mike Fanelli to coach our rapidly growing team. The workouts returned to San Francisco and became more diversified by focusing as much on track distances and cross country as on road races. We also expanded the team to include triathletes who taught some of us the value of cross training to balance our running. During this time, we also found a generous sponsor in Hoy's Sports and secured Kezar Stadium as our new training home. The coaching staff was rounded out with the addition of Kevin Cruikshank as an assistant coach and physical fitness consultant, and April Powers as our co-coach.
In 1992, the depth of the Impala talent was evident when the third Olympic Marathon Trials were attended by five Impalas-- out of only 120 qualifiers nationwide! These five included Lynn Nelson, Diana Nelson-Fitzpatrick, Lisbet Engberg, Laurie Binder, and Janine Aiello. In addition, the Impala Team experienced an Olympic first by sending our first qualifier for a distance other than the marathon, with Carol Keller running in the 3000 meter trials.
During the same year, our coach Mike Fanelli was selected to coach the Eikeden Relays in Japan, and our own Jen Thatcher O'Reilly represented the Impalas in that important, selective international event. We also sent a team to the National Cross Country Finals in Kenosha, Wisconsin and placed 8th among very strong national level competition. Shirley Matson and Nadine O'Connor finished 1st and 2nd at the National Masters Track & Field Events in the 400 meters. Liz Spurr illustrated the diversity of the Impalas by competing in the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii. Kate Sweetman and Liz qualified and competed in the National Triathlon Championships. We also had two members participating in Ultra Events; Suzanne Williams and Dina Kovash. By the end of 1992, the Impalas had our historical best showing in the Pacific TAC Standings, placing 1st in the Open Division, 1st in the Senior Division, and 2nd in the Masters Division. Meanwhile, the size of the Team grew exponentially to a roster of 80 members.
1993 (Irene Herman, President)
This was a year of continued growth and success for the Team, and many personal challenges and changes for Team members as well. In 1993, Karen Cox, one of our founding members, moved to Nevada City and wrote a wonderful recollection of the "old" days, and how our Team has grown. Luckily, Karen continues to visit us occasionally, and supports us in the Tahoe Relays as well.
The racing scene was very dynamic in 1993, starting with the Big Sur 5k. Pat English and Shirley Matson were first in their age divisions and Chris Boyd and Carol Keller were second and third in the open division. Shirley also set a new age record in the fifty-plus Stanford 8k in 29:36, and also came in first in the infamous Dipsea Race, making headlines in the Sports section of the Chronicle. Impalas also took to the track in competition, with 12 members participating in all-comers meets. For the first time in history, Impalas placed first in the Open track division-- in addition to our successes on the roads. Vicki Bigelow, in the Seniors division, set a new age record at the Los Gatos Master Championship in the 800 meter in 2:41:06.
Diana Fitzpatrick had an amazing race at the Humboldt Half Marathon, reclaiming the course record, after giving birth to her first child, Katie, in 1992. She had originally set the course record in 1991, had it taken away in 1992, but came back to reclaim the record on one of the Impala's favorite courses.
Impalas also made their mark in triathlon competition. Peggy Lavelle competed at the Ironman in Hawaii and won her age group in the Northern California Duathlon Series. Kate Sweetman placed first in the Northern California Duathlon Series, placed 6th at Ironman Japan and most impressively placed 5th in her age group at Ironman Hawaii. In addition, seven Impalas competed at the Danskin Triathlon in San Jose, and other triathlons and open water swims in Northern California.
Impalas once again "flexed their muscle" nationally when the Cross Country Team went to Missoula, Montana for Nationals, competing hard against the Aggies and other nationally ranked teams. We also had a very strong showing locally at the Race for the Cure 5k, where Sandy Patterson ran an incredible 2nd place, Jeannie Sapienza was 3rd, and Sue Johnston, Irene Herman, and Pat Falsone were among the age group winners. This year’s race was especially meaningful to us, since one of our long-time members was running as a "survivor" after her treatments for breast cancer.
For our Christmas present, Moving Comfort responded positively to Irene Herman’s letter requesting sponsorship for the Team. Since then, Impalas have received free racing uniforms and discounts on additional athletic apparel year-around.
1993 was Coach Fanelli's 3rd and last year as our coach, and we gave him a sendoff suitable of the large mark he made on our Team. The Fanelli Finale was well attended, with many humorous memories relived. The cake inscribed "Thanks for the Second Best Times of Our Lives" seemed to sum it all up. Mike moved to Arizona, but we still strongly feel the ties between our Team and this inspirational coach.
This was a year of continued growth and success for the Team, and many personal challenges and changes for Team members as well. In 1993, Karen Cox, one of our founding members, moved to Nevada City and wrote a wonderful recollection of the "old" days, and how our Team has grown. Luckily, Karen continues to visit us occasionally, and supports us in the Tahoe Relays as well.
The racing scene was very dynamic in 1993, starting with the Big Sur 5k. Pat English and Shirley Matson were first in their age divisions and Chris Boyd and Carol Keller were second and third in the open division. Shirley also set a new age record in the fifty-plus Stanford 8k in 29:36, and also came in first in the infamous Dipsea Race, making headlines in the Sports section of the Chronicle. Impalas also took to the track in competition, with 12 members participating in all-comers meets. For the first time in history, Impalas placed first in the Open track division-- in addition to our successes on the roads. Vicki Bigelow, in the Seniors division, set a new age record at the Los Gatos Master Championship in the 800 meter in 2:41:06.
Diana Fitzpatrick had an amazing race at the Humboldt Half Marathon, reclaiming the course record, after giving birth to her first child, Katie, in 1992. She had originally set the course record in 1991, had it taken away in 1992, but came back to reclaim the record on one of the Impala's favorite courses.
Impalas also made their mark in triathlon competition. Peggy Lavelle competed at the Ironman in Hawaii and won her age group in the Northern California Duathlon Series. Kate Sweetman placed first in the Northern California Duathlon Series, placed 6th at Ironman Japan and most impressively placed 5th in her age group at Ironman Hawaii. In addition, seven Impalas competed at the Danskin Triathlon in San Jose, and other triathlons and open water swims in Northern California.
Impalas once again "flexed their muscle" nationally when the Cross Country Team went to Missoula, Montana for Nationals, competing hard against the Aggies and other nationally ranked teams. We also had a very strong showing locally at the Race for the Cure 5k, where Sandy Patterson ran an incredible 2nd place, Jeannie Sapienza was 3rd, and Sue Johnston, Irene Herman, and Pat Falsone were among the age group winners. This year’s race was especially meaningful to us, since one of our long-time members was running as a "survivor" after her treatments for breast cancer.
For our Christmas present, Moving Comfort responded positively to Irene Herman’s letter requesting sponsorship for the Team. Since then, Impalas have received free racing uniforms and discounts on additional athletic apparel year-around.
1993 was Coach Fanelli's 3rd and last year as our coach, and we gave him a sendoff suitable of the large mark he made on our Team. The Fanelli Finale was well attended, with many humorous memories relived. The cake inscribed "Thanks for the Second Best Times of Our Lives" seemed to sum it all up. Mike moved to Arizona, but we still strongly feel the ties between our Team and this inspirational coach.
1994 (Irene Herman, President)
We began this year under the leadership of a young and talented coach, Mike McManus. Mike was well known in the running community, a former employee of Hoy’s Sports, Dipsea hero, an elite athlete, high school and college coach, and coach for the SF Triathlon Club. In March, April Powers, our co-coach, began to feel the call of competition again, and decided to get herself back into racing shape. We recognized April at a picnic at McNear’s Beach where Impalas swam, ran, and kayaked. During the remainder of the year, we struggled with big changes marked by major shifts in membership.
Luckily, Mike’s leadership and enthusiasm coupled with Kevin Cruikshank’s ongoing assistance, kept the boat steady, and the Team managed to compete very favorably in the Pacific Association’s Grand Prix events in all three age divisions. The Seniors Team traveled to the Lilac Bloomsday 12k for a Nationally recognized competition, where Eve Pell set a new age record for 56 year olds. Other outstanding Seniors were added to our roster in 1994, including Lou Walters, Barbara Brady, and Jane Colman, as well as outstanding Masters runner, Beckie Simmie-Kesecker. 1994 again marked a strong Impala Cross Country Team showing, with Carol Keller leading the way at the Championships in Portland, Oregon.
