These four girls were told that their brilliant 3rd place finish in the California state mile relay final in 1978 would be honored with a European trip that led to the formation of Arete West. From right to left, Jenny Davison, Jenny Baumsteiger, Lisa Vukicevich and Lori Saia. Thus the beginning of the "Arete West Story".
All time records of personal achievement can be found by clicking right HERE.
The meetings before training sessions are a vital time for philosophy as well as administrative information. They are NOT optional
These girls went 1 through 6 against San Rafael in cross country, and with 5 of them going on the earliest Arete trips. They won the North Coast Section AAA for three straight years, too.
the Arete flag accompanies the Drake track team to the invitational meets; the track at Drake was named, "Arete Track"
Bear Valley run in Marin provides early introduction to possible Arete travelers
Eric Lee went on the Arete 2003 adventure and placed fifth in the California state 800 meter finals. His time of 1:52 was the second fastest in county high school prep history.
This ancient Volkswagen links those of the earliest years to a newer "1970" model today. Do not under-estimate the power of this vehicle. With or without the starting blocks on the front bumper, this symbol lives for those who risked and played on the Drake high school track.
Amy, Amber of Jenny of mid-1990 Drake teams complain after K-Bell 800 meter race of the treatment they experienced from aggressive female competition. The athletic prepares the young people for the rugged Arete West travel experiences
Dory Weston went from a tremendous "come through" and victorious anchor leg in the county mile relay final as an inexperienced freshman in high school, to a five foot clearance in the high jump as a senior, being a part of Arete '99 and then in 2011 to a student assistant on Arete XVII. Dory is currently the executive secretary of Arete West.
Yes, a "Terra Linda" uniform. Arete sometimes has students from other high school on the trips. This one, Jen Ponig, went on Arete '95 and '99, then hosted Arete 2005 in Lebanon. She is a dynamic part of the Arete West story. In her high school running days she placed 7th in the division four state finals. When the "Independent Journal" asked Mr. Taylor before a county cross country final what athlete was likely to win, he offered and they printed, "it will be the Jen Ponig story".
Ponig won by virtually a 1/2 a mile.
This one, two 220 win over Tam secured the league pennant. Morgan Banks and Tessa Hulls had already won events, but with a short rest they came back and not only took the top two positions in the 220, but were well into their celebration before the top Tam sprinters finished.
Check out the Volkswagen
Drake girls are running 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, only Robyn MacSwain can handle them over the cross country distances. They won the North Coast Section "Redwood Empire for three straight years and are clearly the best Drake team ever. Ms. MacSwain is now working with Mr. Taylor as an assistant coach at Drake. The world swirls in fascinating and unexpected ways
A young Gigi Geoffrion became the star of the league in her freshman cross country season. She had a number of victories on the first Arete trip to Europe. One night she won in Basle over 800m with a 2:21 clocking, one morning alongside Lake Geneva she ran the 1500m in a time that converted to about 5:15 for the mile.
Mr. Taylor's son, Jess, became an outstanding mile and half mile runner at Drake. An injury prevented further development at Cal (Berkeley).
Gretchen of Arete '87 enjoyed jumping over 17 feet in high schoo. Here she flies through the air at the famous Arcadia invitational
Allison Banks set the Drake long jump record and ran on the 4 x 100m school record 4 x 100m relay team
Arete swept this 800m race in Switzerland on the '87 trip. The winner in 2:02 on a 300m track was Paul Dachauer, one of Drake's "all time" distance runners. Erik Foehr, a fine half miler, finished second. That looks like a heavy John Mahl in third.
One of the most dramatic finishes in Drake track history was the anchor leg by Dory Weston in the county finals. Her best 400m time was above 70 seconds. Mr. Taylor placed her on the anchor, hoping that the likes of Katie Bernarding would give us such a lead that Dory could hold off the other runners who would not be aware of her vulnerability. Dory came through with a 65 time and Drake won still another county mile relay title. "Go Dory".
Lori Saia was appropriately the first Arete veteran to be honored by admission into the Marin Athletic Foundation"Hall of Fame" for county high school athletes. Lori qualified for the state finals twice over 88O yards and ran that tremendous anchor leg in 1978 as Drake placed third in the state mile relay. No Marin relay team has ever finished higher!
Kirsten, Allison, Alyssa, Jenny and Nina were five of the girls who enabled Drake to win all of their league meets from 1986 to 1989, four straight years.
"The Babe", Jim O'Sullivan, clears 7 feet for the first time at Santa Rosa in1989. Nobody from Marin has ever reached this height. And Jim cleared 7 feet three times that year.
When Richie, largely due to injuries didn't make the 2000 U.S. Olympic team, he told Mr. Taylor he would coach the Drake boy's cross country team. They won the NCS division IV title, then placed 7th in the state. Three of the lads, as well as Richie, are Arete veterans (e.g., Will Bret on left in 1999, Steve O'Mara next to Richie, 2001, and Rory Kuykendal, up front, in 2001.
