One Step Ahead Spring 2014, Vol. 2 | Page 17

R A CE W AL K M AR YANN H A RV E Y - C H A I R RACE WALK NEWS & HIGHLIGHTS Maria Michta at IAAF World Cup of Race Walking Taicang, China. Maria Michta set two American records at the IAAF World Cup of Race Walking on May 3. The 2012 Olympian placed 30th in the 20K held in Taicang, China,  finishing in 1:30:49. That mark bettered her own results at the US Trials for the World Cup held in Whiting, N.J., on March 30. There, she won the race with a time of 1:31:11, which topped the previous US record of 1:31:51 set by Michelle Rohl in 2000. Maria's 15K split time of 1:07:51 in Taicang bettered the previous US record, 1:08:35, which was also set by Rohl in 2000. Maria's 30th place finish was the highest finish in the World Cup by any US woman since the race went to 20K.  Katie Michta  and  Katharine Newhoff  raced in the Junior 10K at the World Cup. Katharine finished in 41st place with a time of 52:52. Katie, unfortunately, was disqualified.  Molly Josephs  walked her first 20K at the World Cup Trials, placing sixth with a time of 1:46:50. Though she did not make the World Cup team, she did qualify for the 2016 Olympic Trials.    Monika Farmer  was fourth in the junior race  at the trials, finishing in 53:14. Also on May 3, 9th grader  Lauren Harris  won the 1500m race at the St. Anthony's Invitational with a time of 7:00.86. Michael Roth, who tracks high school walkers on his HSRW.net site, said Lauren "is most assuredly the second fast