Shout out to the women of Austin’s adidas/Team Rogue Elite

This last Saturday, the 2011 USATF (USA Track & Field) National Cross Country Championships were held in Seattle.  And it was a great day for Austin’s own adidas/Team Rogue Elite.

adidas/Team Rogue Elite (a/TRE) is an Olympic development training program founded by Steve Sisson (UT’s assistant coach for women’s cross country/track and field) and Ruth England.  It’s a non-profit organization whose mission is to create an Olympic-level competitive running team that “inspires and cultivates the physical health, emotional well-being and personal achievement of the youth of Austin.”  Clearly, they’re having some success.

There were a record 1,226 athletes from America’s top post-collegiate club teams, all of whom were vying for top honors (including bragging rights as the nation’s top cross country team, as well as a total prize purse of $30,000).

Chris Kimbrough, a long-time Austin-area standout, started the day off by winning the women’s individual master’s title in the 6K with a time of 22:12.

The team competed in the open women’s 6K, where they won their first ever team title over two-time champion Boulder Running Company.  The top finisher for a/TRE was Natalie Picchetti (a 1500m champion and former cross country All-American at Georgia), followed closely by Allison Mendez (former University of Texas runner).  The team took positions 12, 13, 14, 17, and 18 which combined for a total team score of 74 points, winning the event.

Allison Macsas placed 5th on the team and will go on to compete at the Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston on January 14, 2012.

If you see these ladies around town, give them a pat on the back.  Congratulations!

Photo Caption–adidas/Team Rogue Elite, from left to right:  Juliane Masciana, Ali Mendez, Dacia Perkins, Allison Macsas, Tia Kool, Kara June, Natalie Pichetti, Sarah Madebach