Glendora Track and Field

Darin Zabel: Head Coach/Jumps – is in his second year GHS after an eight year hiatus.  He was previously head track coach and assistant basketball coach from 1993-2001.  Growing up in West Covina, Darin attended Damien High School, competing in football, basketball and track, where he was CIF champ in the long jump and 2nd in the triple jump.  While at UC Davis, he competed in track and basketball – his best finish was a 9th place in the long jump in the NCAA Div II championships. Darin is a P.E. teacher at GHS and a mortgage broker for Equistar Funding Corporation, and lives with his kids Dominic and Sophia in Glendora.

Chris Carlson: Hurdles – returns for his fourth year at GHS. Chris grew up in Yelm, WA, and played varsity soccer, cross-country and track, advancing to the Washington State Meet his junior year in the 300 hurdles. At Azusa Pacific University, he moved into the multi-events and was the two-time national champion in the decathlon in 2001 and 2002, as well as a thirteen-time NAIA All-American. After graduation, Chris was an assistant track coach for several years at APU. After three years as a Physical Education teacher in the Glendora Unified School District, Chris transitioned to work this year as an Assests PA at Universal.  He and his wife Kim (an 11′8″ pole vaulter!) and their kids Sydney, Andrew, and Emma live in Glendora.

Mike Caro: Throws – is in his fourth year with the Tartan throwers. Mike was a multi-sport athlete in his home town of Bronson, Michigan. He focused on the hammer throw at Siena Heights (MI) University, where he was a five-time NAIA national qualifier and three-time NAIA All-American, culminating in the NAIA championship in 2003. He holds the hammer record for both his college and his conference and continues to compete in open competitions. In addition to his coaching at GHS (he is also wrestling head coach and a field hockey assitant) Mike is an independent strength and conditioning coach (Contact: trainingwithmike@hotmail.com), with certifications from the NCSF, NASM, and NSCA, and a substitute teacher. Mike lives in San La Verne.

Kaitlyn Geiman: Distance Assistant – This is Kaitlyn’s third year on the GHS staff, after competing for the Tartans in the distance events. She is a junior at Azusa Pacific University.

Alan Gutierrez: Sprint/Relays Assistant – attended his hometown Burbank High where he competed in track and football, where he still holds school and league single season rushing records.  In our sport, Alan competed in sprints, jumps and throws!  A graduate of Azusa Pacific University, Alan lives in Azusa and is the Area Director for the non-profit organization Young Life, working with Junior High and High School students in Glendora and the surrounding communities.  This is Alan’s third year with the team.

Ben Mejia: Distance Assistant – in his fourth year with the GHS runners, is a native of Mexico and grew up in Garden Grove. He went on to compete with distinction at Santa Ana College, where he finished third in the 10,0000 meters at the California State Junior College Championships, and he continues to compete with the Chino Hills Flash running team, where he is also the director of youth coaching.  Ben is a jack of all trades, working, among other things, as a painter and a salsa dance instructor, and he lives in Chino Hills.

Bob Ramsey: Sprints and Relays – Bob is in his fourth year at GHS, was a sprinter and football player in his competitive days, and holds a Level 1 USA Track and Field Coaching Certification. He is also an assistant coach on the GHS Cross Country team.  He teaches at Azusa Pacific University and is the Teaching Pastor at Garden Grove Friends Church. Bob grew up in Arcadia/El Monte and now lives in Glendora with his wife Wendy and their daughter Kaite (a soph at GHS).  Their son Chris, a GHS track alumnus, is a college freshman in Connecticut.

Don Sumner: Distance – Coach Sumner is in his fifteenth year coaching the distance runners at GHS, where he also heads up the 2009 CIF Champion and State runner-up Boys Cross Country program. Prior to coming to GHS, he headed up the distance program for the Southern California Road Runners youth track club for many years. Coach is the foundry manager and safety director at Magparts, an aerospace contractor in Irwindale. The father of three adult sons, Don lives in Chino Hills.