Club History

Formed in 2001, Castro Valley Track Club began as a recreation running youth program, but evolved quickly into a competitive track, field , and cross country year round program. Both the youth track and field and cross country schedules culminate in the National Junior Olympic Meet, where we have competed annually since 2002. While our focus is youth, we also increasingly train and compete at adult and master's level.

Our Mission

• Our focus is the athlete first, winning second.
• We strive to give positive feedback to our athletes, building their self esteem and performance.
• We believe in realistic goals agreed upon by the athlete and the coaching staff, with regular feedback from training and competition accomplishments. We expect regular, serious training from our athletes.
• We believe in building in FUN to our practices.
• We want our athletes to support one another.
• We strive to support Castro Valley's fine public school track programs by providing the best possible supplemental training and competition venues.
• We work with the middle school and high school coaches to avoid possible conflicts with their school training and competition schedules.
• All our youth athletes must also join, train with, and compete for their school track and field team.

ABOUT THE PACIFIC ASSOCIATION

(Castro Valley Track Club is team #0010)

The Pacific Association is a member association of USA Track & Field (USATF). Its geographical boundaries stretch from the California-Oregon border on the north to San Luis Obispo in central California on the south. Our east boundary stretches just beyond Reno, Nevada.

The Pacific Association oversees and administers region-wide programs for all ages in track and field, long distance running, and race walking. Our largest component are youth (ages 18 and under), who compete in all three of these sports disciplines. We support them with regional events that lead up to national Junior Olympic competitions.

The Pacific Association sanctions and provides liability insurance to approximately 300 athletic events in our region annually.

The Pacific Association is the largest of all the USATF associations with about 5,000 athlete members and over 125 member athletic clubs. Our annual budget of almost $250,000 is by far the largest of all the USATF associations.

The PA plays an important role in the production a number of locally held national championship events such as the Olympic Track & Field Trials, the NCAA Division 1 Track & Field Championships, the 50-km US Trail Run Championship, and Youth Track & Field and Cross Country championships.

By joining the Pacific Association you will:

• Support the sports disciplines listed above and their athlete development programs
• Receive a membership in the national USATF Association
• Be eligible to compete and score points in the many Pacific Association and National USATF championship competition
• Have the opportunity to become a certified track & field, distance running, and/or race walking official
• Receive member benefits that include event participation insurance, a subscription to California Track & Running News, a subscription to Fast Forward (the national USATF quarterly magazine), and more!

PA/USATF Mission Statement

1. To develop sub-elite and emerging elite athletes, and to provide them with an opportunity to rise to national and world-class levels, and to ultimately be successful in international competition, including the Olympic Games.
2. To offer organized competitive programs in which ANY Pacific Association individual member or Pacific Association member club may compete and rise to the level of their own potential and best efforts.
3. To offer organized competitive programs in which Pacific Association member clubs may compete against each other in the spirit of good sportsmanship.
4. To offer an opportunity for local USATF sanctioned and certified events to support the above stated goals, and be valued partners of the associationâ€Ts programs, by participating as Pacific Association Grand Prix Championships and/or Grand Prix Circuit events.

MORE ABOUT USA Track & Field (USATF)

What is USA Track & Field ?

USATF is the national governing body for long distance running, race walking and track and field. This means it is a rule-making and enforcing organization. Without rules athletes are unable to compete fairly, achieve standards or set records. USATF is also heavily involved developmental programs for youth athletes and post-collegiate elite athletes. It is the only long distance running, race walking and track and field organization recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations).

USA Track & Field Mission Statement

USA Track & Field's mission is to continue its leadership role as the world's pre-eminent national governing body in athletics from the grassroots to the elite level. USA Track & Field will provide opportunities for athletes of all ages to pursue excellence in long distance running, race walking, and track and field in the USA . Through a nationwide membership of more than 2,500 clubs, schools, colleges and universities, and other organizations interested in track and field, long distance running and race walking, USATF promotes programs of training and competition for men, women, boys, and girls of all ages; protects the interests and eligibility of its some 60,000 member-athletes; and establishes and maintains the sports' rules of competition. USA Track & Field is comprised of 57 member Associationsâ€"with each representing a geographic area as defined in USATF's bylaws.