IAAF World Cup of Race Walking

[MJR]

US Team, as selected from Trials on 4/4 in Overland Park, KS. 50 Km Team selected from OT in Chula Vista, CA.

Rich Torrellas - Manager
Carl Schueller - Coach
Cheryl Rellinger - Coach

50 Km Men
Sean Albert
Ben Shorey
Dave McGovern
Theron Kissinger
Gary Morgan

20 Km Men
Tim Seaman
Curt Clausen
Kevin Eastler
John Nunn
Philip Dunn

20 Km Women
Jolene Moore
Sam Cohen
Susan Armenta
Deb Huberty
Margaret Ditchburn

10 Km Junior Men
Zachary Pollinger
Troy Clark
Joe Trapani

10 Km Junior Women
Maria Michta
Katy Hayes
Erica Adams

The World Cup will be held May 1-2 in Naumberg, Germany. The Official Web Site is: http://www.walkwc2004.com/

On the positive side for the future of this event in the US, both Michta & Hays went under the qualifying time for the World Juniors and Adams was only about 15 seconds behind. Pollinger is about a minute off his standard and should be able to get in in Germany.

[Powell]

Re: IAAF World Cup of Race Walking

>On the positive side for the future of this event
>in the US, both Michta & Hays went under the >qualifying time for the World
>Juniors and Adams was only about 15 seconds >behind.

It has to be said this is a very soft standard, though... Michta's time is about 10% slower than what it normally takes to medal at World Juniors. In 2002 there were also two US female walkers competing at World Juniors... but they finished 18th and 19th out of 19 finishers. Hardly anything to suggest bright future for the event in the US.

[yoogan]

Re: IAAF World Cup of Race Walking

>>On the positive side for the future of this event
>in the US, both Michta &
>Hays went under the >qualifying time for the World
>Juniors and Adams was only
>about 15 seconds >behind.

It has to be said this is a very soft standard,
>though... Michta's time is about 10% slower than what it normally takes to
>medal at World Juniors. In 2002 there were also two US female walkers competing
>at World Juniors... but they finished 18th and 19th out of 19 finishers. Hardly
>anything to suggest bright future for the event in the US.

It has too be a soft standard. No interest in this quirky sport anywhere in North America. Its hard to believe the USA waste any resources on this. "Jenny Craig" weekend power walkers move faster than most of those competing in the trials.

[tandfman]

Re: IAAF World Cup of Race Walking

>>"Jenny Craig" weekend power walkers move faster than most of those competing in the trials.<<

Not for 20km they don't. (And probably not for 2 km if they're not jogging.)

[Powell]

Re: IAAF World Cup of Race Walking

>>>"Jenny Craig" weekend power walkers move faster than most of those
>competing in the trials.<<

Not for 20km they don't. (And probably not for 2
>km if they're not jogging.)

...which doesn't alter the fact that US walkers aren't very good in international terms. The top Russian WOMEN achieve more or less the same times as the best US MEN did in the World Cup trials. That just about sums it up...

[MJD]

Re: IAAF World Cup of Race Walking

It has too be a soft standard. No interest in this quirky sport anywhere
>in North America. Its hard to believe the USA waste any resources on this.
>"Jenny Craig" weekend power walkers move faster than most of those competing
>in the trials.

As opposed to the great interest in "jogging". The gallowalking, GPS using, over dressed, over equipped, RW reading types couldn't outrun even the weak US walkers so lets be careful when we start making fun of "quirky sports" sport.

[MJD]

Re: IAAF World Cup of Race Walking

...which doesn't alter the fact that
>US walkers aren't very good in international terms. The top Russian WOMEN
>achieve more or less the same times as the best US MEN did in the World Cup
>trials. That just about sums it up...

Why pick on walking? Not a lot of US men can run faster than Paula either. Next...

[MJR]

Re: IAAF World Cup of Race Walking

It has to be said this is a very soft standard,
>though... Michta's time is about 10% slower than what it normally takes to
>medal at World Juniors. In 2002 there were also two US female walkers competing
>at World Juniors... but they finished 18th and 19th out of 19 finishers. Hardly
>anything to suggest bright future for the event in the US.

Michta also qualified at workout pace, not racing at top speed like the 2 did in 2002. Come back again when she's 2:30 faster this summer. All 3 of these girls have sub-1:30 potential which is a bright future.

[kuha]

Re: IAAF World Cup of Race Walking

I probably shouldn't admit this, but I went to watch this event--out of some larger gesture of athletic goodwill. I didn't count, but there couldn't have been more than 80 or 100 people milling around--the huge majority of which were timers, officials, water station attendants, athletes and family members. I could well have been the only actual spectator there. I did learn one thing: these folks do NOT compete for money or glory. None of them is in any danger of getting a fat head from all the public adulation. This was old-time, genuine amateurism (for better or worse!).

[lefterisp]

Re: IAAF World Cup of Race Walking

You know, judging just by public participation in sports, walking must be one of the most popular sports in the world. How many people do you know that triple jump compared to walk? Don't make me go to other sports like baseball/softball (internationally-non USA speaking), synchronized swimming or dressage.

[yoogan]

Re: IAAF World Cup of Race Walking

As opposed to the great interest in "jogging".
>The gallowalking, GPS using, over dressed, over equipped, RW reading types
>couldn't outrun even the weak US walkers so lets be careful when we start
>making fun of "quirky sports" sport
.

It is a quirky un-popular sport , and millions do go out to watch old big fat tuby 6 hour marathoners , check out Chicago or the NY Marathon. If you saw any male out doing some race walk training in any large urban center , he would be a target of "gay bashing" , in fact a race walker going through Detroit would probly get his head kicked in.

[MJD]

Re: IAAF World Cup of Race Walking

It is a quirky un-popular sport , and millions do go out
>to watch old big fat tuby 6 hour marathoners , check out Chicago or the NY
>Marathon. If you saw any male out doing some race walk training in any large
>urban center , he would be a target of "gay bashing" , in fact a race walker
>going through Detroit would probly get his head kicked in.

Ok, I'm out. You were implying that interest seems to lead to world class times which you freely admit that it clearly doesn't in running so I don't know what you're talking about.