ojai blog - news and events in the Ojai community

The Ojai Post

in case you haven't noticed... i'm doing all of my blogging over at The Ojai Post...

Meet The Champion Ojai Masters Swim Team

press release from a reader... congrats, team!

OJAI MASTERS SWIMMERS PLACE FIRST IN SO. CAL.

The Ojai Masters Swim Team, coached by Rick Goeden, came away with the first place trophy at the Southern California Regional Swimming Championships in Santa Clarita. Competing against 21 other teams, 42 Ojai swimmers from 25 through 89 years of age bested the field. Ojai’s final point total was 1897, almost twice that of second place Long Beach with 953.

For about 10 years, Ojai and Santa Barbara were a combined team and won many championships. This is the first time Ojai has won the championship as a single team. Ojai’s domination of the meet was attributed not only to the fast swims posted by many swimmers, but also to its depth. In relay competition, Ojai fielded teams in age groups all the way up to 80 and over.

Ojai’s Jennie Taylor, the most senior swimmer of the meet, won two events and received standing ovations after many of her swims. She competed on the 80-plus relay with Eleanor Brown, Boyd Ford and Bill Mors. The time posted would have placed them fifth in the nation in 2006. Many Ojai relay teams posted times that would have placed them in the 2006 National ‘Top Ten’. Results for the 2007 Top Ten relays will be announced later this year.

Three Ojai swimmers, Mitnee Duque, Rich Sojka and Eleanor Brown won the high-point award in their respective age groups.

Coach Rick Goeden contributed to the team effort by winning three events and swimming on several winning relays.  Goeden commented “For a small town such as ours to compete with 21 other teams that draw from a much bigger area is an amazing accomplishment.” He also noted “an incredible camaraderie that most coaches can only dream of.”

Swimmers who contributed to first place relay wins were Christel Rogero, Donna Whitman, Camilla Denton, Barbara Wood, Laurie Edgecomb, Tina Drennan, Sheri Ann Cate, Katherine Erickson, Nancy Voyer, Courtney Harris, Franco Campana, Bryan Tally, Kerry Ellison, Peter Christl, Beck Selzer, Grant Wilson, Richard La Plante, Harry Delatre, Peter Lawrence, Brock Bernstein, Jim Beckett, and Bill Wechter.

Ojai also has a junior swim team for children. For more information on Masters or Junior Swim Teams, call coach Rick Goeden at 646-6884.

Other Ojai swimmers who won individual events in their age group were:
Laura Schreiner, 50 free, 50 butterfly, 100 free.
Sara DelVecchio, 100 I.M., 200 breast, 50 breast
Kitty Johnston, 100 butterfly, 200 breast, 200 I.M.
Jermaine Britton, 50 free, 100 free
Carole Borland, 50 breast, 100 I.M.
Scott Wilson, 50 free, 100 back
Kelley Van Houten, 100 back
Sue McMahon 1000 free

Rolling Blockade Through Ojai

from the Ojai Chamber...

Your day and/or business may be temporarily affected by the Amgen “Tour of California” bike race on Saturday, February 24th.  Stage 6 of the race travels from Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita.  The City of Ojai is preparing to close city roads from approximately 12:15 to 12:30 p.m. via a rolling blockade.  For additional information, visit www.AmgenTourOfCalifornia.com

The Ojai Post

The Ojai Post is a community blog, featuring Ojai residents from all walks of life writing about the unique Ojai experience. Ojai is a special place, not just for its geography, flora and fauna, small-town architecture and rich native American history - its also because of the people - talented, creative souls who tend to walk to the beat of their own drummer and carve their own path through life. Check in for daily musings, rants, Ojai news and greater goings-on from the place some call Shangri-La.

Looks like I picked the wrong day to quit launching websites.  Happy March 1, Ojai.

Ojaians in the news

This in from Troy:

Nordhoff High video production teacher and Ojai resident James Caliri created a commercial for United Airlines, which was shown right before half time at the Super Bowl.  Check out the Dragon ad.

Ojaians?  Is that right?  Leave other possibilities in the comments...

The Ojai Network

A little something I've been working on - the Ojai Network.

Lance Armstrong surprises Ojai

The Lemire Memorial Grand Prix was held in Ojai on Sunday, and none other than Lance Armstrong, winner of six consecutive Tour de France races, showed up.

Visiting Los Angeles, Armstrong asked a friend if there were any races going on, and was put in touch with the Grand Prix organizers.  Armstrong is tuning up for a run at a seventh straight title.  He finished 15th in the 90-minute criterium race.

Said Ojai resident Joan Welborn, who got Lance Armstrong's autograph before the start, "That is something that I can take with me to my deathbed.  My friends go to France to watch him race in the Tour, and I didn't even have to leave Ojai."

Ojai Bike Race: Garrett Lemire Memorial Grand Prix

Downtown Ojai will host a bike race on April 10.  More than 800 riders are expected for the Garrett Lemire Memorial Grand Prix, which is being held in honor of Ojai native Garrett Lemire, a young cyclist who was killed in a bike accident during the Tucson Bike Classic two years ago.  The VC Star has more (free reg.req.).