Race Walk
Several Long Island Race Walkers were recognized at this year's USATF Annual Meeting in Indianapolis. Maria Michta received the Capt. Ron Zinn award (Athlete of the Year), and Molly Josephs received the Henry Laskau Award (Junior Athlete of the Year). Molly was named to the USATF National Youth Race Walk Honor Roll, as were Katie Michta and Monika Farmer. World Class Racewalking's Rebecca Garson was named Race Walker of the Year for her age group (W45).
Brittany Collins, Walk USA, was the individual women's winner of the USATF Junior Race Walk Grand Prix, with Katie Michta, Walk USA, coming in third place. Brittany and Katie had a solid race walking season, placing top 10 in most of their races. Brittany won the USATF Junior 20K Championships in September.
Annica Penn was named High School Race Walking Athlete of the Year. Former Long Islander Michael Roth established HSRW.net to recognize the top high school race walkers in the US. "Nothing more, nothing less," as he says on the site. Annica successfully defended her national title in the one-mile race walk at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in June. She is now a freshman at Siena College, and her race walk coach is Don Lawrence, president of the USATF Adirondack Association.
Race Walk News and Highlights
Molly Josephs was selected as the 2013 Henry Laskau Award winner which is given to the top Junior Women's Race Walker in the US.
The award commemorates the achievements of 3 time Olympian Henry Laskau who was the first modern day walker to achieve star status. Molly was the top Junior woman in the Pan American Cup Trials Race in March but due to collegiate meet conflicts she was unable to compete in Guatamala. She was the US junior Outdoor Champion in June and followed this with a 2 nd place overall finish and the 1st American woman in the USA/Canada Dual meet in August.
Dec. 2 was Race Walk Night at St. Anthony's. Gary Westerfield conducted a clinic for Nassau County high school girls, their coaches and officials. Maria and Katie Michta, Katharine Newhoff, Monika Farmer and Brittany Collins were on hand to show 'em how it's done. Jim McGrath and Bill Vayo helped out with judging.
St. Anthony's will be
the site of the USATF
Long Island 3,000m
2013 Race Walk
Championship on
Dec. 21. The race will be held in between two high school track meets (between 1 pm and 2 pm) so that elite athletes might have an opportunity to make the USATF indoor standard. There is no entry fee, but there is a 17-minute time limit. Contact Gary Westerfield for details.
Looking ahead, Katie Michta and Katharine Newhoff will attend the South Texas Walking Club's camp in Pharr, Texas, from Dec. 28 to Jan. 4. The camp will have two of the top race walk clinicians, four NAIA and 15 club and high school coaches in the USA assisting. Activities will include two-a-day practice sessions, training philosophy, sport psychology, nutrition, individual video analysis, one-on-one training.
18 • Winter 2013 • One Step Ahead •
Congratulations to the Long Islanders on the 2013 National Team!
The US National Race Walk Team is a recognition of the top athletes, composed of the top eight finishers from the National Championships and the top six from the Junior National Championship. The Men and Women's Development Chairs can add up to four others in the open with significant performances, and the Junior Coordinator can add up to two others in the Juniors. All are done with the approval of the RW Chair and Vice Chair. 20K Women: 1,Maria Michta, 27, Walk USA 1:37:34.46; 20K Men: Added: Dan Serianni, 22, World Class RW 1:34:20 Pan American Trials (on PAC Team); 50K Men: 3,Ian Whatley, 54, World Class RW 5:02:09; Junior Women (10K): 1,Molly Josephs, Missouri Baptist 54:18.27, 3,Monika Farmer, Walk USA 55:44.24, 5,Brittany Collins, Walk USA 56:48, 6,Katie Michta, Walk USA 58:15.29.
Maryann Harvey - Chair