Racewalking - News

SALVAGE was born to walk The Medford resident has shown he's an ...

Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription) - Philadelphia,PA,USA ... sport's bibles. He has a DVD by the same name, and his Web site, racewalk.com, is a must for anyone interested in the sport. Salvage (Jeff) ... (link)

CADILLAC'S McMullen falls short in decathlon

The Grand Rapids Press - Grand Rapids,MI,USA .... 50.28). American record-holder Tim Seaman and John Nunn, both of Chula Vista, Calif., finished 1-2 in the 20-kilometer racewalk. ... (link)

EASTLER earns spot on Olympic team, Luchini still in running

Press Herald - Portland,ME,USA .... Eastler nailed down a spot on the Olympic team by finishing third in the 20,000-meter racewalk at the US track and field trials. ... (link)

CLAUSEN uses 20K race to prepare for Olympics

Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune - Wisconsin Rapids,WI,USA .... at the Games; they'll bring a lot of guys back to the pack," said Stevens Point's Clausen, after a fourth-place finish in the 20-kilometer racewalk at the USA ... (link)

Walking -- Fast -- Toward an Olympic Dream

npr.org - Race Walker Curt Clausen Goes the Distance, with Patience... (link)

Clausen walking tall to third Olympics

USAToday.com - (link)

VENTURING Out

San Jose Mercury News - San Jose,CA,USA ... (650) 949-9704. Paul Spangler Memorial 8K run, 5K racewalk, and 4-mile fitness walk March 14, 8:30 am, Stanford University. $25 race day. (650) 843-1754. ...(link)

LOCAL ATHLETES TAKE ON BEST IN STATE

Oswego Palladium Times - Oswego,NY,USA ... Sophomore Caitlin Pike, this year's Section III Champion in the 1,500 meter racewalk, turned in a strong time of 9:22.45 to finish 18th in a very competitive ... (link)

See all stories on this topic: (link)

LINETTE, Salamone sweep Invitational

South Florida Sun-Sentinel - Fort Lauderdale,FL,USA ... Carolyn Kealty, 41, of Coral Springs, a 2004 Olympic hopeful, topped a national-caliber field to win the fourth annual Habitat For Humanity 20K Racewalk in ...(link)

OSWEGO ATHLETE OF WEEK WALKS THE WALK

Oswego Palladium Times - Oswego,NY,USA By MIKE LEBOEUF, Sports Editor. OSWEGO -- At first, the event looks kind of funny, but Oswego's Caitlin Pike has gotten seriously good in the racewalk. ...(link)

Olympic 20K Racewalk Trials

South Florida Sun-Sentinel - Fort Lauderdale,FL,USA ... Two Florida women, Carolyn Kealty of Coral Springs and Lisa Sontag of Orlando, have a chance to qualify for the Olympic 20K racewalk trials. ... (link)

Runner's World Walking in Marthons Survey

Runner's World is currently conducting a survey for an upcoming article on whether walkers should or should not be allowed to participate in marathons. Please click on the link and vote (I assume everyone on this list will vote yes, but whatever's your vots is your vote), and then forward this to everyone you know!!

Click on the link to vote. Vote early, vote often.

As a race walking I'm more concerned about all the SLOW runners I typically passed in the running races that I walked in ;-)

Seaman takes 5,000-meter race walk

BY JOE FERNANDEZ
STAFF WRITER; The Associated Press contributed to this story.

February 29, 2004

Walk, but don't run. A rule that most people had to abide by when they were children. A rule that Tim Seaman follows to attain his dream.

The 31-year old 2000 Olympian won the 5,000-meter racewalk yesterday at the 2004 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center in Boston. Seaman finished with a time of 19:30.59.

The North Babylon graduate is a seven-time U.S. Indoor champion and a three-time champion in the 20 km racewalk.

"I was still tired from the [50 kilometer walk] two weeks before," Seaman said. "So I knew I had to change tactics. I usually take the lead from the beginning, if someone wants to beat me, they have to pass me."

Seaman fell short of Olympic gold in the 20 km at Sydney, Australia in 2000. "A couple of days before [the competition], I injured my hamstring," Seaman said. "I was in a lot of pain but I kept fighting throughout the entire race."

Now Seaman has a chance to qualify for the 2004 Olympics when he competes May 1 in Naumberg, Germany.

"If I walk under 1:23, my parents will buy their tickets to Athens," Seaman said.

Also in this meet, Gail Devers used her head to make track history.

Devers won the 60-meter hurdles and 60, becoming the only American to win both events at this meet. In the 60, Devers fought Torri Edwards down to the wire. But Devers snapped her head forward at the line, beating Edwards in a photo finish by three one-thousandths of a second. Devers won in 7.12.

While it was a momentous day for Devers, it was disappointing one for Maurice Greene.

The former 100-meter world record holder qualified for the 60 finals in 6.61 seconds, but later pulled out of the final with a strained right hamstring.

As for Devers, she showed plenty with her 37-year-old legs. She won the 60 hurdles in 7.81 seconds, easily beating Joanna Hayes by 0.10 seconds.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Copyright C 2004, Newsday, Inc. www.newsday.com/

Korzeniowski, Garcia and Perez to start off the 2004 IAAF Race Walking Challenge

Friday 27 February 2004, Tijuana, Mexico - The best race walkers in the world will begin their 2004 season in the Tijuana Grand Prix, organisers of the Mexican event announced yesterday. (link)

On the weekend of 20/21 March, race walkers from as far apart as Ireland, Poland, the USA, Armenia, Australia and Nigeria will compete in the Tijuana race, which is the first event of the 2004 IAAF Race Walking Challenge, which is in its second year.

Included in the field are Poland's three time Olympic champion Robert Korzeniowski of Poland, Ecuador's 2003 World 20km champion, and Spain's former World 50km champion and multiple medallist, Jesus Angel Garcia.

The distances contested in Tijuana will be 20km for women, and 20km and 50km for men.

A full Tijuana preview including the women's 20km entrants will follow nearer to the date.

The IAAF Race Walking Challenge events -

• Tijuana, MEX, 20/21 March - 20km W + 20km M + 50km M
• Rio Major, POR, 3 April – 20km W + 20km M
• IAAF Race Walking Cup, Naumburg, GER, 1/2 May - 20km W + 20km M + 50km M
• Shanghai, CHN, 22/23 May – 20km W + 20km M
• Coruna, ESP, 5 June - 20km W + 20km M
• Sesto San Giovanni, ITA, 20 June – 20km W + 20km M
• Olympic Games, Athens, GRE - August – 20km W (23 Aug) + 20km M (20 Aug) + 50km M (27 Aug)

PA International and IAAF

ATHLETE'S death stuns loved ones and friends

Columbia Flier - Columbia,MD,USA ... School. He died Feb. 19, just days after finishing fifth in the 50-kilometer Olympic racewalk trials. "It is a suspected suicide. ... (link)

VALLEY men fourth at HAAC meet

The Marshall Democrat-News - Marshall,MO,United States ... Valley also picked up points in the 1,600 racewalk -- where freshman Kevin Conrey (9:19.41) was fourth and sophomore Jorge Arana (9:33.47) sixth -- distance ... (link)

BUSY slate on tap for Wildcat teams

Baldwin City Signal - Baldwin City,KS,USA ... Emma Carter of Overland Park placed second in the mile racewalk with a time of 9:01.42 and automatically qualified for nationals. ... (link)

RECORD day for Berndt

South Florida Sun-Sentinel - Fort Lauderdale,FL,USA ... Carolyn Kealty of Fort Lauderdale posted the fastest time among the men's and women's fields 10,000-meter racewalk in a record-breaking performance in the ... (link)

UNFORTUNATELY, Olympic dreams can sometimes turn to nightmares

Fort Worth Star Telegram - Fort Worth,TX,USA ... But Heppner's tragic tale is worth telling first. At 29, Heppner was an Army specialist and the 2002 national champion in the five-kilometer racewalk. ... (link)

HEPPNER said 'consumed by his walking'

San DiegoUnion Tribune - San Diego,CA,USA Two days after they failed to make the US Olympic team in the 50-kilometer racewalk, Tim Seaman and Al Heppner loosened their sore legs Tuesday, hiking near ... See all stories on this topic: (link)

HEALTH: Fifty-Plus Lifelong Fitness Annual Weekend Slated

RunnersWeb - Ottawa,Ontario,Canada ... generation relays. The 8K run and 5K racewalk are restricted to entrants age 50 and over. Other events are open to all ages. A free ... (link)

MUSTANG Thinclads Bring Home the Hardware

Mineola American - Mineola,NY,USA ... Medal winners included Lauren Mobyed in the 1000 Meters, Amy Kemmler in the racewalk, Allie Kain in the 55-meter high hurdles, Ali Carnabuci in the shot put ...(link)

LOCAL Runners and Walkers Invited to Run for Aspire

Syosset Jericho Tribune - Syosset,NY,USA ... gun will go off promptly at 9 am There will also be a special 1/2 mile fun run for youngsters age 12 and under starting at 8:10 am, and a 10-Kilometer Racewalk ... (link)

RACEWALKER found dead under bridge

San Diego Union Tribune - San Diego,CA,USA ... Housed at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista since October 1997, Heppner hoped to make this summer's Olympic team in the 50-kilometer racewalk. ...(link)

RACEWALKER Is Dead After Disappointment in Bid for Olympics

New York Times - New York,NY,USA (by Elliott Denman) lbert Heppner, who finished a disappointing fifth in the United States 50-kilometer racewalk trials for the Athens Olympics on Sunday, was found dead early ... (link)

U.S. race walker Spc. Albert (Al) Heppner dies

Contact: Jill M. Geer
USATF Director of Communications
Jill.Geer@usatf.org
317-261-0478 x360
http://www.usatf.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 19, 2004

U.S. race walker Spc. Albert (Al) Heppner dies

INDIANAPOLIS – USA Track & Field has been notified that U.S. race walker Spc. Albert (Al) Heppner died Wednesday night. He was 29.

A member of the United States Army World Class Athlete Program, Heppner was a resident athlete who trained at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. He placed fifth in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the 50 km Race Walk on Sunday, February 15, in Chula Vista.

One of America's most accomplished race walkers, Heppner had achieved several top finishes in national competitions, including placing first at the USA 5 km Race Walk Championships in 2002, second at the USA 30 km Race Walk Championships in 2004, second at the USA 15 km and 20 km Race Walk Championships in 2002, and second at the USA 50 km Race Walk Championships in 1999, and represented Team USA at the Pan American Race Walk Cup in 2001 and 1998, as well as the IAAF World Race Walk Cup in 1999.

He was ranked #2 nationally in the 20 km race walk in 2002 by Track & Field News. As a collegian at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Heppner was an NAIA All-American and the NAIA 5 km Race Walk National Champion in 1997, the year he graduated.

Born April 24, 1974 in Columbia, Md., Heppner graduated from Howard High School in Ellicott City, Md., in 1992. He was introduced to race walking in 1989 when one of his track teammates bet him a dollar not to enter a race. He later went to Wisconsin-Parkside and embarked in earnest on his walking career. In addition to his athletic endeavors, Heppner also was an aspiring journalist.

"Al was a great athlete and a great advocate for the entire sport of track and field, most particularly the race walk," said USATF CEO Craig Masback. "The entire track and field community mourns his passing and will miss him. Our sympathies go to his family."

LAMBERT: Shore provides opportunities for winter running on ...

Newark Star Ledger - Newark, NJ, USA The Shore Athletic Club starts its Winter Series on Saturday. Races are scheduled as part of 5K run and 5K racewalk series on Feb. 28 and March 6 and 13. ... (link)

Clausen named Athlete of the Week

Contact:  Melvin Jackson II
Communications Coordinator
USA Track & Field
(317) 261-0478 x322
Melvin.Jackson@usatf.org
http://www.usatf.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, February 17, 2004

INDIANAPOLIS – Curt Clausen has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men’s 50 km Race Walk Sunday in Chula Vista, California.

A two-time Olympian and 1999 World Championships bronze medalist, Clausen finished the race in 3 hours, 58 minutes, 24 seconds and will compete for Team USA at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

...

Daniel King Walks to Record

16 Feb 2004 16:46

Daniel King (Coventry University AC & Colchester Harriers) set a UK Under 23 Indoor 5000m Walk record of 20.24.04 in Belfast yesterday at the Irish Indoor Championships. He finished third behind triple Olympic Champion Robert Korzeniowski from Poland and Ireland’s Robbie Heffernan. It is the fastest time by a British athlete for 12 years and breaks the Under 23 record set in 1985 by Phil Vesty by 6.58 seconds. The last time he lined up against Korzeniowski in Russia in 2003 he was somewhat overawed, starting too quickly and struggling in the closing stages. In Belfast he produced a mature even paced performance to break the record and take his biggest podium finish to date! Dan studies Sport & Exercise Science and is a recipient of a Sporting Excellence Scholarship from the University and last week was part of the team that placed seventh in the BUSA Cross Country Championships - the best ever finish by the University - together with Matt Lole (Fine Art), twin brother Dominic King (Sport & Exercise Science) and Job King (Physiotherapy). His next race will be the first European Athletics Association Grand Prix of the season over 20km in Douglas, Isle of Man on 28 February with his brother Dominic. They will be seeking to qualify for the Norwich Union GB Team to compete in the World Cup of Race Walking in Germany in May.

From AthletisWeekly (GBR), Feb 4, 2004

An Irish provincial town on a January night may not be the most likely of places to see a three time Olympic champion in action but such was the case in Dungarvan, County Waterford, writes John Walshe.

The world's no.1 50km race-walker, Robert Korzeniowski, was in Ireland for a short visit to Jamie Costin, Irish recordholder over the distance.

His appearance at the Winter All-Rounder League, a weekly series organised by West Waterford AC, attracted a huge crowd to see him receive presentations from civil and sporting bodies alike.

"Robert is a close friend of our own walking star, Jamie Costin" said James Veale, chairman of West Waterford. They met for the first time in Mexico a few years ago and since then the Polish legend has been very involved with organising training camps which have greatly benefited Irish walkers such as Gillian O'Sullivan, Robert Heffernan and Jamie".

Korzeniwski, who last August retained his world 50km in a world best of 3:36:03, set off with Heffernan in the handicap 5.7 mile event, with both finishing comfortably in around 39 minutes.

"This is the start of my preparations for Athens", said Korzeniowski. "I go on from here to France and then to Mexico at the beginning of March for altitude training."

"My secret is not high mileage, but clever training intensity and commitment. I do around 5000km a year, which may not be too impressive for marathon runners, but it works for me".

Korzeniowski, who will be 36 just before Athens, will be bidding for an unprecedented third successive 50km Olympic gold to add to the 20km title he also won in Atlanta.

( Posted to the racewalking Yahoo Group by Steve Vaitones, Managing Director USA Track & Field - New England Association. )

FROM IAAF WEBSITE, Pierce O'Callaghan

The rising success of the Irish sprinters and race walkers shows no sign of letting up as both event groups grabbed the headlines of a very successful Irish Indoor Championships, held in the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland at the weekend (14/15 Feb).

Poland's triple Olympic race walking Champion Robert Korzeniowski was making his third visit to Ireland in as many weeks having already spent a week at the end of January on a training camp in Waterford (along with Robert Heffernan and Jamie Costin) as well as a trip to Dublin as the Polish ambassador to the EU for the European Year of Education Through Sport 2 weeks ago.

This time round the World 50km record holder and reigning World, Olympic and European 50km champion was here to compete stormed through the opening 3000m of the 5000m race walk in 11.08 with Heffernan on his heals, before accelerating over the final 2km to record a world season's lead of 18:38.79, and the fastest time recorded by the Pole since 1993.

The women's World 20km race walking silver medallist Gillian O'Sullivan was hoping to open her Olympic preparations on a winning note and although there was no repeat her world record performance of 12 months ago, the 20km specialist proclaimed herself very satisfied with her 11:59.79 winning effort in the 3000m.

( Posted to the racewalking Yahoo Group by Steve Vaitones, Managing Director USA Track & Field - New England Association. )

CLAUSEN walks away a winner

San Diego Union Tribune - San Diego,CA,USA ... Based at the nearby Olympic Training Center since 1997, Clausen, 36, earned his third trip to the Games, winning the US 50-Kilometer Racewalk Olympic Trials in ... link

Clausen wins U.S. Olympic 50 km Race Walk Trials

2-15-2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
Tom Surber
Media Information Manager
USA Track & Field
(317) 261-0478 x317
Tom.Surber@usatf.org

CHULA VISTA, Calif. – Two-time Olympian and 1999 World Championships bronze medalist Curt Clausen dominated the field Sunday in winning the 2004 U.S Olympic Team Trials – Men’s 50 km Race Walk in Chula Vista, California. Clausen will compete for Team USA at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece after covering the 2000-meter loop course 25 times in 3 hours, 58 minutes, 24 seconds.

Clausen’s Chula Vista Olympic Training Center teammate Tim Seaman finished as the distant runner-up in 4:08:06, with fellow Chula Vista resident and 2001 U.S. 50 km champion Philip Dunn placing third in 4:10:37.

Although Clausen won the competition easily, he faced a difficult situation midway through the race when he had to make two bathroom stops due to a bad stomach. “The first half of the race I was having some stomach problems,” he said. “I have to admit that I didn’t really eat anything last night because I wasn’t feeling good when my dinner didn’t arrive, so I was drinking carbo liquids and I felt the effects of that during the first half, so I figured I’d take care of the problems early and then worry about the second half. I stopped twice and both times cost me a total of about a minute.”

Under sunny skies and temperatures in the high 40s at the beginning of the race, a tight pack that included Clausen, Seaman, Dunn, and Chula Vista residents Sean Albert and Al Heppner led the remainder of the field at the 8 km mark. Shortly thereafter, Heppner, who showed good form with his runner-up finish at the 2004 USA 30 km Championships on January 11 (2:16:52), bolted from the pack to grab a 20-meter lead.

Over the next 20 kilometers, Heppner kept building his lead, and at the 30 km mark he held a 1 minute, 51 second margin over Seaman, Clausen and Albert. Heppner’s lead dwindled to 1:07 at the 34 km mark, and in a dramatic and sudden reversal, at the 36 km point in the race Heppner was trailing Clausen and Dunn by 40 yards.

From there to the finish it was a two-man race, but not for long. Clausen gradually distanced himself away Seaman, building a commanding two-minute margin with six kilometers to go before hitting the finish line unchallenged.

Clausen will compete in the 50 km race walk in Athens after bettering the Olympic “A” qualifying standard of 4:00:00 with his performance Sunday at Chula Vista. Two spots on the Olympic team await the two highest finishers in Sunday’s race who better the “A” standard by August 9, 2004. The top-five finishers in today’s race selected themselves to represent Team USA in the 50 km competition at the 2004 IAAF World Race Walking Cup, May 1-2 in Naumburg, Germany.

The 2000 Olympic Trials 50 km champion (3:56:16), Clausen won his fifth career U.S. 50 km title with his performance in Chula Vista. Clausen also owns five U.S. 20 km race walk titles and the 50 km American record of 3:48:04 in 1999.

Results 1. Curt Clausen – 3:58:24 ($6,000) 2. Tim Seaman – 4:08:06 ($4,000) 3. Philip Dunn – 4:10:37 ($3,000) 4. Sean Albert – 4:18:33 ($2,000) 5. Al Heppner – 4:23:52 ($1,000) 6. Ben Shorey – 4:27:38 7. Dave McGovern – 4:37:30 8. Theron Kissinger – 4:41:53 9. Gary Morgan – 4:45:26 10. Steve Quirke – 4:46:29 11. Dave Doherty – 4:51:35 12. Nick Bdera – 5:04:31 John Souchek – disqualified

Quotes

Curt Clausen: What a relief and a whole lot of excitement. It’s kind of a mix of both. There were a lot of times in that race when I thought it would be real easy to walk off the side here because this really hurts. Once I put my problems behind me I just started getting more and more comfortable. My last 10K was probably my fastest. I really felt strong when I realized there was a good chance for me to get the job done today.

About Al Heppner getting off to a large lead: If I didn’t catch Al that would’ve been fine with me as long as I finished under four (hours). I really thought that if I could get in under four everything would take care of itself. The race doesn’t start until the last 15 to 10K and I wasn’t going to worry about him until we reached that point. It was great that my family was able to make it here and it was awesome. We had a huge crowd for a walk and I’m real happy to be at home and get the job done here. It’s great to be on the Olympic team and represent my country in Athens.

Tim Seaman: On his objective of pacing Clausen for the first 30 kilometers before dropping out of the race: That was my original plan, but I felt good and decided to keep going. I pushed too hard from 30 to 40K. We had trained so well together and things were moving okay, but it became just a little too hard for me. Curt’s the best, I love him. I’ll use this for motivation for the 20 km Trials in July. At 42K I was on the Olympic team. At 50K, I’m not on the team. That’s okay, if I have my choice I’ll make it in the 20K.

Philip Dunn: It was one of the tougher races I’ve had because I just didn’t feel very good today. I was able to tough it out. I had some great fans out there and they really kept me going. They really gave me a boost. I never got a very good rhythm going until late in the race and by then I was out of position to challenge. I’m pleased with finishing third. The other guys walked incredibly well. I just wish a few of us could have walked the “A” standard with Curt. The conditions were fine and it was a beautiful day.

Al Heppner: On grabbing an early lead in the race: I was going to stay with the pack, but Curt stopped to use the bathroom after picking up the pace a little bit, so I was able to separate myself and I decided to just roll with it. I was feeling good until about 31 or 32K when it just fell apart. I’m not sure what happened. I thought my fitness was good enough to hold the pace and I was pretty good for a while. This is disappointing. In retrospect, I should have just stayed with the pack.

For more information on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men’s 50 km Race Walk, visit www.usatf.org.

RACEWALKING future may rest with what occurs in Athens

San Diego Union Tribune - San Diego,CA,USA ... Mexico's Bernardo Segura was disqualified from the men's 20-kilometer racewalk at Sydney almost 10 minutes after he crossed the finish line first. ... [ link ]

JOHNSON wins race walking event

Union County Advocate - Morganfield,KY,USA The Kentucky Racers Racewalk Club competed in the USATF Kentucky Racers 1-Mile Challenge Saturday in Morganfield. Coach Douglas ... [ link ]

MARAUDERS warm up for DAC-10

Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck, ND, USA ... 5. Lance Gehring, Minot, 9:52.33. 6. Derrick Brown, Dickinson, 9:54.63. Mile Racewalk: 1. Brian Knowles, Minot, 9:30.95. 2. Ben Arnt, Minot, 9:44.06. ... [ link ]

MILLROSE Games: Parsippany H's Zagorski a miler, not a smiler

Newark Star Ledger - Newark,NJ,USA ... Bellport of Long Island won in 4:02.97. a senior at Mahwah, finished fourth in the men's one-mile racewalk in 6:36.05. Pollinger is headed to Harvard. ... [ link ]