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Jan 11, 2007

Welcome to the Club: A New Track Club Aims to Draw Distance Runners

Mesa, AZ — The nation's newest post-collegiate running club - which will compete as the Wingfoot Finish Running & Racing Club (Wingfoot Finish) - is in the early stages of what it hopes will be a highly successful project.

Clyde Resendez, 34, has decided to take on the challenge of filling a niche that doesn't really exist for post-collegiate runners.

The former head cross country and track coach at Mesa Community College, spent the past several years coaching the Thunderbirds at Mesa College before deciding to start the club.

"Not everyone can make the Olympic team, yet there are many that take their running really serious but have no options after college. Others simply enjoy the sport, comradery and team aspects of running," Resendez said. " Once the athletes use up the college elegibility they are left in the dark. I simply want to create an environment that will provide further education and guidance to anyone who is excited about the disipline of distance running."

Resendez ran competitively for the Northern Arizona University, Grand Canyon University, Pima Community College, and Sunnyside High School from 1986 to 1995. He has had over a decade of experience as a high school and collegiate coach.

Along with the competitive club, Resendez will feature online coaching. "We quickly realized that not everyone can meet at the same place at a scheduled time. We can remove the time restraints and geographic boundaries by making use of the internet and thus allowing more runners to avail themselves of a valuable resource."