LAFAYETTE, Calif. – In observance of the 15th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001, and the heroism of those whose response will never be forgotten, California rugby joined the 9/11 Heroes Run held Sunday at Lafayette Reservoir, where a contingent of Golden Bears participated in the event created by the Travis Manion Foundation.
Associate Head Coach Tom Billups and student-athletes Nathan Becker, Sam Cusano, Robert Paylor, Thomas Robles, Karl Thornton and Russell Webb ran the race in support of the cause for veterans, survivors, first responders and their families, and Cusano was the top finisher . Their entry was sponsored by SRS Real Estate Partners and Andrew Lindsey, the 2006 Cal national champion and All-America captain who works as an Urban Specialist for the San Francisco-based firm.
“It’s a privilege to sponsor Cal rugby at this event, always special to reconnect with my team,” said Lindsey, “and on behalf of SRS Partners, it’s an honor to bring recognition to all of America’s heroes.”
The Heroes Run was handled with care once again by Local Race Director Mairin MacDonald and her husband, Assistant Race Director Mike MacDonald, the former Cal, Leeds Carnegie and U.S. National Team captain who is serving his fifth season as assistant coach of the Golden Bears.
Also participating on Sunday was the family of senior center Patrick Barrientes, including his father, General Abel Barrientes, who serves as the Mobilization Assistant to the Vice Commander Pacific Air Forces at United States Air Force.
“It’s a great opportunity for my family and me to participate in an event that honors these brave men and women,” said Patrick Barrientes. “It allows my team and my family to pay our respects to all of them for their sacrifices.”
Head coach Jack Clark commented on the presence of Cal rugby at the event from a variety of directions: “It’s important to us to demonstrate at every opportunity the gratitude and respect we have for our military and first responders.”
The 2016-17 competition calendar for the Rugby Bears begin with Olympic-style 7s on October 8 in Arroyo Grande, where the Rugby Bears participate in the West Coast Collegiate 7s. The WCC7s then makes a stop in the Bay Area, where the Bears will compete at the Treasure Island tournament held October 22-23. The final event of the fall is the PAC Rugby Conference 7s, held in Tucson November 12-13 and hosted by the University of Arizona. The Bears then transition into 15-a-side play in January and continue through the national postseason before converting back to 7s for their final event of 2016-17 at the Collegiate Rugby Championship.