Glendale’s Garcia Returns to Guatemala to Train for Shot at the Olympic Marathon

Hugo Allan Garcia, the 1990 state junior college cross-country champion for Glendale College, has returned to his native Guatemala to train for the marathon and will not run for the Vaqueros this track season.

Garcia had a disappointing sophomore cross-country season, finishing eighth in the state meet last November. Glendale cross-country Coach Eddie Lopez said he felt fortunate Garcia stuck around as long as he did.

“He wanted to go home after the summer, but I talked him into staying,” Lopez said. “He wanted to get in a good training base last fall and not have to worry about racing.”

If Garcia runs faster than two hours 20 minutes in the marathon, he will qualify for the Guatemalan Olympic team.

Lopez said Garcia, runner-up in the 10,000 meters at the state track championships last May, might return to Glendale next year and compete for the Vaqueros’ track team.