Blanco, Rohloff are defending Dammit champs
By Dick Sparrer
Gary Blanco and Julie Rohloff did it last year. And they will likely return this weekend to try to do it again.
Do what? Run to victory when the annual Dammit Run returns to Los Gatos for the 28th straight year.
Blanco was the overall winner in 27:50.21 last summer and Rohloff topped the women's field in 33:50.02, and they'll be trying to make it two straight on Aug. 18 when the runners take off at 8:30 a.m. at the Los Gatos High School track for the rugged climb up to Lexington Reservoir and back.
Another competitive field is expected again this year for the traditional event. But one thing's for sure-- it's certainly no walk in the park. And anyone who has made the dusty climb to the face of Lexington Dam and back knows it.
Debbie and Alicia Follmar know it, but they're both expected to run again this weekend. The Saratoga mother-daughter team each won age division titles last year.
Judi Shade and Joy Johnson are other Dammit veterans expected back to defend their age group titles.
In men's competition, Michael Mathews, Jim Christensen and Steve Lorenz are each Dammit vets who should return after solid performances a year ago.
Dammit age group winners a year ago included:
Men's-- Open, Brian Harrington; 13-and-under, Kyle Cronin; High school, Eddie Alaniz; 30-34, Blanco; 35-39, Christian Wagner; 40-44, Christensen; 45-49, Dan Anderson; 50-54, Greg Burke; 55-59, Lorenz; 60-64, John Peterson; 65-69, Jerome Lewis; 70-and-over, Dennis Egley; Heavyweight, Sean Melchianda.
Women's-- Open, Lisa Kelly; 13-and-under, A. Follmar; High school, Rosalinda Castanedo; 30-34, Kim Hammett; 35-39, Rohloff; 40-44, Athena Philippides; 45-49, D. Follmar; 50-54, Sandy Sanchez; 55-59, Shade; 60-64, Sandra Vaurs; 65-69, Barbara Robben; 70-and-over, Johnson.
As races go, this is a tough one. And race organizers caution Dammit entrants about the extreme conditions they may face on the trail.
"This course is rough, hot, rocky, dusty, with very steep uphill terrain and narrow trails," the race flier warns. "Don't underestimate its difficulty--this is not a race for the faint of heart or the timid."
The race will start tamely enough on the track at Los Gatos High School, and it will finish in the same location. But in between, runners had best be prepared for the rocky, dusty trip into the foothills to Lexington.
Race-day registration will begin at 6:30 a.m., and the starting un will blast at 8:30 a.m.
The preregistration entry fee is $10 ($30 with a T-shirt), and the fee is $20 on race day ($40 with a T-shirt). T-shirts alone are priced at $20 and will be sold at the track on race day or in advance at Athletic Performance, 55 W. Main St., or at the Runners Factory, 51 University Ave.
All finishers will receive ribbons, and awards will go to the top finishers in each age group. The West Valley Track Club will provide computerized results.
Proceeds from the Dammit go to benefit the Los Gatos High School Track Repair Fund.
For more information, call 354-7365 or 395-4311.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
