Coach Larsen Featured in Documentary
October 26, 2015 | Cross Country
A film documentary highlighting the life of Bob Larsen, entitled, 'City Slickers Can't Stay With Me,' will be shown Oct. 30-Nov. 5 at the Laemmle's Music Hall in Beverly Hills (9036 Wilshire Blvd.).
Larsen's lifetime of success, both as a runner and as one of America's finest distance coaches, is profiled in the film. As the UCLA men's track & field (1985-99, 15 seasons) and cross country (1979-99, 21 seasons) head coach, he led the Bruins to some of their finest achievements in the program's history. During his UCLA tenure, he was a four-time National Coach of the Year (track & field 1987-88-95/cross country 1980).
In track & field, Larsen directed UCLA to two consecutive NCAA Outdoor team championships (1987/1988), with squads highlighted by some of the greatest Bruin and USA track & field athletes, including Kevin Young, Steve Lewis, Danny Everett and Mike Marsh.
Larsen succeeded long-time Bruin men's track & field head coach Jim Bush after the 1984 season. Larsen's was Bush's No. 1 assistant from 1979-84. Prior to UCLA, he had outstanding coaching careers at Grossmont Community College (El Cajon, CA) and Monte Vista HS in Spring Valley, CA.
Larsen grew up on a farm in Minnesota before his family moved to San Diego. He was an outstanding distance runner at Hoover HS in San Diego and won the City mile championship. In college, he was a cross country and track captain his senior year at San Diego State.
Following his retirement from UCLA, Larsen has established himself as one of the nation's top track & field distance experts. At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, he was a U. S. men's track & field assistant coach, specializing in the distance events.
Mebrahtom Keflezighi, who is highlighted in the movie, was coached by Larsen at UCLA and they have continued to be a team during Meb's outstanding post-collegiate career. At UCLA, Keflezighi became the greatest distance runner in school history, winning four NCAA titles in 1997 (cross country, indoor 5000m, outdoor 5000m/10,000m) and establishing school records in the 5000m (13:26.85) and 10,000m (28:16.79).
As a USA distance runner, Larsen has coached Meb to the 2004 Athens Olympic Silver Medal in the marathon and to first-place finishes at the 2009 New York City and 2014 Boston marathons.
IN 2013, Bob Larsen was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame.
('City Slickers Can't Stay With Me: The Coach Bob Larsen Story' is directed by Robert Lusitana, RJL, LLC Films, of Cardiff, CA. Lusitana ran for Coach Larsen at Grossmont Community College, UCLA and later as a member of the Jamul Toads Running Club. He describes Coach Larsen as, “A great leader of men,” and sees the project as an opportunity to pay tribute to his former coach. The documentary is produced by award winner Robert Kirk and features striking cinematography by Jeffery Durkin.
Screenings at Laemmle's Music Hall from Oct. 30-Nov. 5 will take place at 1:20 p.m., 4:10 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:55 p.m. Bob Larsen will be appearing for a Q & A session following the 7 p.m. screenings on Nov. 3-4 and the evening of Nov. 4 has been designated 'UCLA Bruin' night.
To order tickets, go to - http://www.laemmle.com/films/39864, and for more information on 'City Slickers Can't Stay With Me: The Coach Bob Larsen Story,' go to – www.boblarsenfilm.com).
