Board of Directors
- President: Brian Palesch
- Vice President: Helen Samson
- Secretary: Gabriele Walkow
- Past President: Marco Buccini
- Treasurer: Lisa Strutinski
- Registrar: Ted de St. Croix
- Head Coach: Jim Clifford
- Director: Gerry Strutinski
- Director: Phil Ellis
- Director: Ben Kotanen
- Director: Dave Short
Our Vision
To encourage excellence and increased participation in the sport of Athletics (Track and Field) and Running.
Our Mission
To provide an expert club that develops, encourages and supports Athletics (Track & Field) and Running athletes of all ages and abilities.
Our Values
- Athletics & Running as the basis for sport
- Athlete focused programs lead by qualified & dedicated Coaches
- Fun, inclusive, equitable, ethical and drug free sporting environment
- Effective leadership, efficient administration and strong business practices
- Dedication, honesty and integrity by all club members
- Interact and cooperate within the community
Coaches
Head Coaches
- Jumps, Hurdles, Multi-events - Jim Clifford
- Sprints - Charles Oamen
- Distance - Ben Kotanen
- Throws - Fred Sommers
Group Coaches
- Jumps - Jim Clifford (HJ), Mar Korpach (LJ), High Maguire (LJ, Triple J), Gordon Poljak (PV)
- Sprints/Hurdles - Charles Oamen (Sprints), Jim Clifford (Hurdles), Mary Korpach (Hurdles)
- Distance/XC - Ben Kotanen, Dave Short
- Junior Development (JD) - Maureen de St. Croix, Ted de St. Croix
- Throws - Fred Sommers, Berni Juert
- Seahorses/Run Jump Throw - Maureen/Ted de St. Croix
Jim Clifford - - Head Coach
In 2005, Jim was awarded JD Excellence in Coaching by Athletics B.C. Jim has his Level 3 National Coaching Certification and is a fully certified level 2 coach in jumps, throws, distance events. In the BC JD top ten of all time statistics, Jim has coached 3 sprinters, 5 hurdlers, 4 pentathletes, 1 triple jumper, 4 high jumpers, 5 shot putters, 1 javelin thrower, 6 discus throwers and helped train 4 hammer throwers to achieve a BC top ten. We are very excited that Jim has decided to join Ocean Athletics in 2008 and we hope all our coaches will take advantage of Jim's experience.
Ben Kotanen
Ben is a product rep for Mizuno Canada and coaches the high school aged distance and middle distance runners. A former sprinter and middle distance runner from Walnut Grove, Ben brings dedication, enthusiasm and a wealth of distance training knowledge to Ocean Athletics. Ben's athletes have made National Teams and been awarded full ride University scholarships.
Fred Sommers - Throws
Fred is a former Canadian National Team thrower specializing in Hammer and Discus.
Charles Oamen - Sprints
Charles is a former Nigerian National Team sprinter recently moved to South Surrey. Young, enthusiastic and the type of coach who knows that running form makes the sprinter more than anything else.
Dave Short - Sprints, Cross Country
Dave has been coaching forever, according to those who know him. He has coached B.C. Championship Cross Country and Track and Field athletes and teams. Dave is the club handy man and has been instrumental in making sure our equipment is in working order.
Maureen de St. Croix - JD, Middle Distance
Maureen is a former Canadian Champion in the 400m and 800m with a pb of 2.03 for 800m. She still holds several age group World Records for women 50-54. Maureen has been coaching athletics for 30 years has taken B.C. coaching certification for sprints and hurdles and is a certified instructor for the Run Jump Throw program in BC. In 2008 Maureen was awarded the John Copeland award by BC Athletics.
Ted de St. Croix - JD
Ted is an active Masters track athlete so he can try and keep up with Maureen. He is the former National Orienteering Coach and has been Canadian Orienteering Champion 14 times and is a World Masters Orienteering Champion. If you want map directions, come and see Ted. Ted has his level 2 National Coaching certification and is a level 4 technical orienteering coach as well as BC Athletics Run Jump Throw.
- Vice President: Helen Samson