Bob Larsen Recipient Of The ‘Pathfinder Award, USATF Hall of Famer Martha Watson Set to Present Award

**Photo of Meb Keflezighi and Coach Bob Larsen** Photo credit Dulce Joachin.

**Photo of Meb Keflezighi and Coach Bob Larsen** Photo credit Dulce Joachin.

Bob Larsen, a track and cross country cross coach who helped reshape U.S. distance running over the course of his career, has been selected as the recipient of the ‘Pathfinder Award’ at the 21st Village Runner 4th of July 5K presented by UCLA Health Systems, in Redondo Beach, California.

       The ‘Pathfinder Award’ will be annually presented to an individual in the distance runner/track and field community who has blazed his or her own path in a groundbreaking fashion.  Like Coaches Bill Bowerman, Percy Cerruty, Bob Timmons, Jumbo Elliott, Frank Gagliano, Mihaly Ingloi and Joe Vigil, Larsen created his own path to success in coaching.    Martha Watson, who made four U.S. Olympic teams as a long jumper/sprinter, will present the award to Larsen.
       Larsen coached the UCLA men’s track & field team to two NCAA Outdoor track and field titles (1987/1988).  He recently coached UCLA distance legend Meb Keflezighi to a first-place finish at this year’s Boston Marathon. Meb was also victorious with the help of Larsen at the 2009 New York Marathon.
      Under the tutelage of Larsen, Keflezighi captured an Olympic marathon Silver Medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.  At the same Olympics, Larsen helped coach Deena Drossin Kastor to the Olympic Bronze Medal in the women’s marathon.  This was the best marathon showing in U.S. history.
       Larsen has won 11 Pac 10 Titles and Coach of the Year Awards, nine in track and two in cross country.   He has received four National Coach of the Year Awards, three in track and one in cross country.
        Larsen was perhaps the top junior college distance coach ever, winning seven State titles while at Grossmont CC.  Larsen founded the Jamul Toads Track Club, nurturing great runners including Terry Cotton, Ed Mendoza, Kirk Pfieffer, Dave Harper, Tom Lux, Glenn Best, Dale Fleet, Dave Harper and Thom Hunt.
       Larsen’s six-decade career has also included inductions into the Mt. SAC Relays Coaches Hall of Fame, the California Community Colleges Track and Field- Cross Country Hall of Fame, the Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame. In 2005, Larsen received the Bill Bowerman Award from the National Long Distance Running Hall of Fame and the H. Browning Ross Memorial Award from USA Track & Field.
       Larsen grew up on a farm in Minnesota before his family moved to San Diego.  Larsen was an outstanding distance runner at Hoover HS in San Diego and won the city mile championship. In college, he was a cross country and track captain his senior year at San Diego State.
       Larsen is the subject of a documentary film still in production called “City Slickers Can’t Stay with Me: The Bob Larsen Story.”  Martha Watson, presenter of the “Pathfinder Award,” attended Long Beach Poly High School and then competed for the famed Tennessee State “Cindergals”.  She made 4 Olympic Teams as a long jumper/sprinter.  She held the American Record in the long jump, both indoors and outdoors.  She made two more Olympic Teams as a manager.  She also is a member of the US Track & Field Hall of Fame.  She presently is the LJ/TJ coach for Shadow Ridge HS in Las Vegas.
       The Village Runner 4th of July 5K presented by UCLA Health Systems highlights the 5K Run/Walk. The race begins on Independence Day at 8 a.m. in the Riviera Village, Redondo Beach, California. Prior to the start of the race there will be the Red, White and Blue Costume Contest with prizes awarded for the best and most unique, running costumes.  Following the 5K, there will be the Firecracker Dash races for children 12 and under.  These races begin at 9:30 a.m. More general details and information about how to register can be found by clicking on the event link at www.villagerunner.com. The race is $35 for adults and $30 for children.
       Land Rover South Bay, the exclusive vehicle sponsor of the race, will provide the pace car for the event. Rock & Brews, the renowned restaurant chain co-founded by KISS rock & roll stars Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, will host the post-race party at its location which is within walking distance of the finish line. The Sound 100.3 FM is the presenting media sponsor.  Clif Bar will be the official energy bar for the race.  TheRemedyPharm is a continuing race supporter.
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