American record in the 30K racewalk

[Nevada Hoya]

A cool, blustery morning with a mix of clouds and drizzle cleared up by race time to offer ideal race conditions for 28 competitors including Nevada Hoya in today's 30km National Racewalk Championships at the Chula Vista Marina. Three international competitors joined an impressive field of US title hopefuls to make a very spirited competition.

Norway's Erik Tysse led John Nunn through the first few laps with Canadian Tim Berrett and Kevin Eastler in hot pursuit. The second pack consisted of Sweden's Andreas Gustaffson, Mike Tarantino, and 20km competitors Tim Seaman and Jolene Moore. Moore came to Chula Vista to chase after an IAAF 'B' standard of 1:38:00. In the early going, Ray Sharp and Mark Green were next.

By the halfway mark, both Tysse and Nunn were struggling with stomach troubles and Eastler had leapt to a lead that he wouldn't relinquish for the rest of the race. Eastler looked stronger and stronger as the
race progressed and finished up with a new American record, 2:12:53. Tysse was able to recover quickly, chase down Berrett and get close to Eastler by the finish. Berrett walked a solid race for third overall
with local resident, Nunn, finishing as the second American. Ray Sharp, looking younger every year, rounded out the top three Americans with a new American age-group record for men 45-49.

Mark Green made quick work of his step up to the 50-54 age group with not one but two American age-group records. His 25km split, 2:11:05, toppled his father Max Green's long-standing American age-group record
and Mark's 30km demolished Ed Whiteman's record from 1993.

USATF 30km Racewalk National Championships
Chula Vista, CA
8:00am, January 15th, 2006

MEN
1. Kevin Eastler 2:12:53, new American record
2. John Nunn 2:18:43
3. Ray Sharp 2:29:40, American record, 45-49
4. Mark Green 2:37:29, American record, 50-54
5. Michael Tarantino 2:42:19
6. Dave McGovern 2:47:57
7. Vlado Haluska 2:56:23
8. Steve Pecinovsky 2:57:54
9. Bill Vayo 2:59:39
10. Chris Rael 3:01:27
11. Colin Peters 3:04:42
12. Norm Frable 3:11:53
13. John Backlund 3:24:00
14. Don Betowski 3:26:07

[tgo]

nevadahoya3 said:

Eastler had leapt to a lead

isnt that against the rules of race walking?

More importantly, how can you leave us hanging like that??? list the complete results so we know where Nevada Hoya finished!!!!!

[Nevada Hoya]

tgo said:

nevadahoya3 said:

Eastler had leapt to a lead

isnt that against the rules of race walking?

More importantly, how can you leave us hanging like that??? list the complete results so we know where Nevada Hoya finished!!!!!

LOL! Indeed it would be, if he literally leaped into the lead. Let's just say that the Norwegian was depositing his breakfast on the pavement, just as he was about to lap me. I didn't see it, but surely heard it. So Eastler really benefited from the troubles of others, PLUS a good race plan.

Which is more to say than NH's race plan, which went down the tubes after 15K. I was afraid somebody would ask, where I finished. The good news is that I wasn't disqualified like last year (bent knee); the bad news is that I wasn't DQ'ed like last year, so I had to complete the whole course. The last 6K was a death march for me. The 60 year olds were bringing up the rear (although there were more men in the race, who did in fact get DQ'ed - about four, so I beat them) in positions 12-14, and I, in all ignominy, finished 14th. I have had a better time in training, and next year I intend to do better. So, there, you have the rest of the story.