National title for Surf City runner Huntington...

National title for Surf City runner

Huntington Beach’s Chris Rael won his first national championship

by winning the 3,000 meters event at the USA Track & Field Masters

Indoor Track and Field Championships in Boise, Idaho.

Rael, 45, won the event in 14:40, which earned him All-American

status as a track athlete.

“It feels great to be national champion,” Rael said. “I’m planning

my racing schedule for Europe now and with this win, feel very

confident that I will be very competitive there.”

Huntington Beach Pop Warner signup

Huntington Beach Pop Warner begins preparations for its 2005

season by holding the second of four signup sessions on April 30.

Registration will take place each date at Edison High School.

Below are times for each signup session:

* April 30

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

* May 22

Noon to 4 p.m.

* June 11

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The 2004 Pop Warner football season was marked with achievements

that were historic locally, statewide and nationally for the

Huntington Beach chapter. Nearly all of the Huntington teams ended

the year with winning records and reached the playoffs.

Most notably, the Junior Pee Wee Green Chargers went farther than

any team in Huntington Beach history by winning the Orange County Pop

Warner Championship, the Southwest U.S. Regional championship and

becoming runner-up to the national championship.