Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Balkman could make it three straight with a Dammit win

By Dick Sparrer

It's tough, it's grueling, it's competitive.

And all of that only makes the accomplishment of Jason Balkman even more than impressive.

Balkman, the former Lynbrook track and cross country star who now runs for Stanford, has won the rugged Los Gatos Dammit Run two years in a row.

And when the competitors take off for the 25th running of the tough 5.0-mile climb up to Lexington Revervoir and back on Aug. 22, he'll be trying for an unprecedented third straight.

Balkman claimed his second straight Dammit title last summer when he hit the finish line on the track at Los Gatos High almost a minute and a half ahead of his nearest rival, Marc Beauchemin. Balkman covered the five miles in 28:03.61 with Beauchemin second in 29:25.34. Javier Naranjo was a close third in 29:38.85.

Shaluinn Fullove was last year's women's champ, finishing first in 34:27.64. Elizabeth Nast was second in the women's division in 35:11.15.

Judi Shade, Shirley Church, Joy Johnson, Greg Burke, Carlos Saldivar and Dick Yaeger are among the top age group competitors expected to return to the Dammit this weekend. All of them were age division winners last summer.

The race Saturday will start tamely enough on the track at Los Gatos High, 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.

Runners will race down the trail next to Los Gatos High School's lower field, past the Old Mill and across Main Street to make the climb up to Lexington Reservoir. Runners will cross the face of the dam and head back down the hill to College Avenue, and race back to the finish line on the Los Gatos track.

Race-day registration will begin at 6:30 a.m., and the starting gun will blast at 8:30 a.m. All finishers will receive ribbons, and 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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