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March 2 – GTC Running Series & Corporate Shield Awards/GTC Meeting
Originally scheduled for February 2, but postponed to March 2 due to winter weather conditions Hampton Park Baptist Church, State Park Road Register for meeting and BBQ Dinner here: https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/Greenville/GTCAwardsMeeting  1. How are plans for next week’s Green Valley Road Races coming along? MC: Plans for the 49th Green Valley Road Race are complete and we’re looking forward to race day! Weather looks good and our hoodie giveaway turned out great. I’m excited to see everyone Saturday, February 7th. 2. How many years have you been the race director for this event? This is my fourth year as race director. It’s a privilege to be allowed to direct the race and to have the support of a professional organization in the Greenville Track Club. I’ve learned a ton, made lots of friends, and it’s been so gratifying to help enable runners to have a great and memorable race experience. 3. What makes the GVRR unique? GVRR is not your every day flat race. Along with the Paris Mountain Road Race, it’s one of our two most challenging races. There’s a place on all of our running calendars for flat, fast, PR courses. There’s also a place for more scenic and challenging courses. One thing about GVRR is that whenever you’re struggling you can look up, left, right and see beautiful landscape all around you. GVRR also has a tradition of the best giveaways. In my 4 years, we’ve given out Columbia vests, adidas pullovers and this year we have an awesome Next Level branded hoodie. While many races cheap out on the giveaways, we push back against the disposable society by providing durable garments that will last and look good for years. GVRR also has developed a strong donor culture. Last year between the runners’ donations and my woodworking studio’s match we donated $1,732 fro the Arthritis Foundation. This year we’re raising funds for Upstate Forever.  4. You are also a craftsman and have produced some unique and interesting awards for GTC races. How did that come about? I am a woodworker as well as an engineering consultant when I’m not volunteering with GTC. Several years ago we started making some of the race awards from wood. As a runner I really appreciate a good quality finishers medal. And on the rare occasions when I placed, I really appreciated a handmade unique item. It’s kind of a woodworker/race director beatitude: treat runners how I want to be treated.
5. What are some of your most memorable award creations? My awards, like my medal hangers, have evolved a lot over the years. I keep working to level up. I still have one of my first medal hangers. Yikes. They’ve come a long way. I recently invested in a much better, pro level laser and am excited to see where that can take my creations. I’m already very impressed with what it can do with photos. In addition to the engraving quality, we’ve evolved shapes over the years. From squares, to singlets, to shoe shaped - this years’s GVRR will feature hexagons matching our hexagonal logo. Here attached are some of my favorites along this road.
February 1 – 2026 USATF Masters Track & Field SE Region Indoor Championships
at Tryon NC International Venue Register: https://usatfmasters.org/upcoming-masters-track-and-field-events/2026-usatf-southeast-region-masters-indoor-championships/ February 7 – 49th GTC Green Valley 10-Mile & 5K Road Races Trailblazer Park, Travelers Rest Race Director: Michael Caputo [email protected] Register or Volunteer: https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/TravelersRest/GreenValleyRoadRace
March 2 – GTC Running Series & Corporate Shield Awards/GTC Meeting Originally scheduled for February 2, but postponed to March 2 due to winter weather conditions Hampton Park Baptist Church, State Park Road Register for meeting and BBQ Dinner here: https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/Greenville/GTCAwardsMeeting March 21 – Milliken Earth Run 5K (Cross Country) Roger Milliken Center – Spartanburg Race Director: Beth Trenor Register or Volunteer: https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/Spartanburg/EarthRun
April 18th – United Community 48th Reedy River Run 10K (premier race) and 5K Downtown Greenville Race Director: Mike Caldwell [email protected] Register or Volunteer: https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/Greenville/ReedyRiverRun
On a chilly and somewhat damp Saturday morning 819 of the 906 registered runners finished the 47th edition of this annual race that kicks off the running calendar year for the 53-year-old Greenville Track Club. Greenville's James Quattlebaum, the currently ranked number one in the South Carolina Road Race Rankings, led a fast group around the 5K course and finished with a new course and event record of 14:07. Simpsonville's Alyssa Bloomquist repeated her winning performance from 2025 as she crossed the finish line in 17:14. Thanks to race director John Hart and all of the outstanding volunteers that made this event happen and to race sponsor the Greenville Journal.  Greenville Journal Run Downtown 5-K (47th) Greenville, SC, USA; Saturday, January 17 Distance: 5 km, USATF-certified (SC22050BW) and record-eligible Finishers: 819 (up from 735 in 2025) Weather: Cold and damp WOMEN 1. Alyssa Bloomquist, 35, Simpsonville, SC, 17:14 [retains title] 2. Victoria Hammersmith, 34, Greenville, SC, 17:57 3. Esther Atkins, 39, Simpsonville, SC, 18:27 MEN 1. James Quattlebaum, 30, Greenville, SC, 14:07 CR* 2. Noah Fisher, 23, GTC-ELITE, Greenville, SC, 14:09 3. Ryan Drew, 28, GTC-ELITE, Greenville, SC, 14:12 4. Jason Weitzel, 29, GTC-ELITE, Greenville, SC, 14:20 5. Eduardo Garcia , 33, GTC-ELITE, Greenville, SC, 15:08 *Course record; previous 14:12, Jason Weitzel, 2023 For complete results please visit https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/52475#resultSetId-622414;perpage:100 and https://runsignup.com/Race/Photos/SC/Greenville/RunDowntown for photos.
Thanks to all of those who attended our January meeting on Monday evening at Capri's Italian Restaurant on Pelham Road. It was a great turnout to kick off 2026. It was great to get to know more about our GTC-ELITE athletes and enjoy some delicious food, too.
 We will kick off 2026 with our GTC January meeting on MONDAY January 5 in a new location at Capri's Italian Restaurant (115 Pelham Rd). You will not want to miss the opportunity of meeting and learning more about our GTC-ELITE athletes as they prepare for the new year.
Eduardo Garcia - 2024 Olympian in the Marathon and multiple national record hold for the US Virgin Islands Jason Weitzel - 2 x Qualifier for USA Olympic Team Marathon Trials with a marathon best of 2:11:44, which is the world best for a Type 1 Diabetic Jack Mastandrea - 2 x Qualifier for USA Olympic Team Marathon Trials with a marathon best of 2:14:01 Ryan Drew - mile best of 3:58.32 and road mile of 3:56.7 Noah Fisher - debuted at Half Marathon with outstanding time of 1:04:21 Camille Egbula - 800-meter best of 2:04 and recently opened her post-collegiate career with a 2:49 at 1000-meters Patrick Lyell - 1500-meter best of 3:42.8 and mile best of 4:03 We will have a panel discussion with these athletes and then provide an opportunity for questions and photos. There will also be a drawing for a pair of ASICS footwear from Fleet Feet Greenville and other items. This is a great opportunity to meet and learn more about each of these highly accomplished Greenville athletes and enjoy some Italian food.  GTC Members and others: Our club is pleased to announce the first indoor track and field meet in its 54-year history: The 2026 USATF Masters Southeast Region Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (Mill Spring, NC) is schedule for the Saturday evening on January 31 and on Sunday, February 1. It will showcase the brand new and state of the art. Mondo surface 200-meter banked track. In order to participate, you must be a USATF member. If you're not currently a member, you can join the USATF by going to Join USATF This process will involve selecting your specific state association based on your current residence. You'll also have the opportunity to select your specific USATF Member Club. That's important because otherwise you will be unable to represent your club in the meet. If you are wanting to belong to an association outside of your state, you will likely need to contact that state's USATF association. If you are a current USATF member, but have previously showed your affiliation as "Unattached" you will likely have to contact your state association membership chair to get it changed. However, that may depend upon your specific state of residence. Tryon International is located approximately a 60 minute drive from Greenville. There are restaurants and lodging available on the property, too. Please sign up and join the fun! Register for Meet
 Jack Mastandrea and Jason Weitzel following the California International Marathon in Sacramento, CA Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel and Jack Mastandrea both ran huge personal bests on Sunday morning in the California International Marathon in Sacramento, CA to qualify for the 2028 USA Olympic Team Marathon Trials.
For more info and details please visit: www.gtc-elite.org  We are proud to announce our 2026 Greenville Track Club Officers and Board of Directors, effective as of January 1, 2026. We also wish to express our sincere appreciation to our current (2025) and past Officers and Board of Directors and volunteers. The Greenville Track Club is a volunteer organization and relies on volunteers to continue its mission of producing and promoting an annual schedule of events for running and fitness enthusiasts. In addition to producing multiple running events throughout the year, GTC continues to promote health and fitness through running with our Youth, Masters and ELITE programs.  Founder and President Bill Keesling with GTC-ELITE Olympian Eduardo Garcia GTC Board of Directors for 2026President Bill Keesling [email protected]
Vice President Ken Wempe [email protected] Treasurer Lauren Starks [email protected] Secretary Joy Bailey, [email protected] Past President Jim Roberts 864-238-6850, Strategic Planning Mike Caldwell, 503-329-6453 Founder & Community Development Director Bill Keesling, [email protected] Webmaster Mike Caldwell, [email protected] Communications Camille Egbula [email protected] Equipment Coordinator Mark Sejman, [email protected] Membership Mark Sejman [email protected] Running Series Director Bobby Richmond, [email protected] Youth Running Program Ashley Lavelle [email protected] Masters Running Program Joe Hammond & Ken Wempe GTC ELITE Program Mike Caldwell Volunteer Coordinator (open) At Large Director 1 Ashley Lavelle, [email protected] At Large Director 2 John Olson, [email protected] At Large Director 3 Ellen Abarotin, [email protected] At Large Director 4 Joe Surber, [email protected] At Large Director 5 Joe Hammond, [email protected] At Large Director 6 Bill Blask, [email protected] At Large Director 7 Sandi Hardaway, [email protected] At Large Director 8 Ruth Albright [email protected] At Large Director Emeritus 1 Lola Amcher, [email protected] At Large Director Emeritus 2 Ed Boehmke All Comers Track Meet Director(s) June (Ian Whatley & Susan Heiser-Whatley) July (Jim Roberts, Gabe Unger and Michael Burchett) Corporate Shield Director Cherie McCain , [email protected] Greenville Journal Run Downtown Race Director John Hart, [email protected] GTC Southeastern Open/Masters Indoor Championships Meet Director Ed Boehmke Green Valley Road Race Director Michael Caputo, [email protected] Paris Mountain Road Race Director Matt Thomas [email protected] Paris Mountain Trail Run Race Director Mike Burchett, [email protected] Red,White & Blue Shoes 5k Director Mickey McCauley, [email protected] United Community Reedy River Run Director Mike Caldwell 503-329-6453 SC Open & Masters Director Jim Roberts, 864-238-6850, [email protected] Memorial Day Mile Director John Hart, [email protected] Spinx Run Fest Race Director Mike Schmitz, [email protected] Sunrise Run Race Director Tim Stewart, [email protected] Santa Run Race Directors Bill Blask & Jose Villa [email protected] USA Track & Field Representative Mickey McCauley, [email protected] |
