With November comes

our fourth issue of the

Georgia Race Walker.

Included in this issue,

we give thanks for the

sport; pay homage to

four whose lives will

forever will be

remembered; and will

share our progress,

accomplishments as well as upcoming events.

In addition to the newsletters, please allow

me to share additional activities of the Race

Walk Chair and/or Committee members

since late July.

Included in the acts of the committee are the

following actions:

Development, maintenance, and update

of the USATF Webpage;

Submission of the USATF Post-Event

report for the Association/Region

Championship to Nationals;

Conversations between me and Steve Vaiton, National Coordinator of the

USA vs. Canada Junior Race Walk

Match and Ron Daniels, USATF

National Race Walk Chair

Athletes have competed at the Youth,

Open and Masters Level at the State,

Association , Region, National and

International levels;

ISSUE 4

NOVEMBER 2016

VOLUME 1

IN MEMORIAM

WORLD MASTERS ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIP

WALK TALK - GRATITUDE

HONORING OLYMPIC RACE WALKERS JOSE

PEDRAZA ZUNIGA AND NOE HERNANDEZ

VALENTIN

LUNCH & LEARN

UPDATES ON 2017 EVENTS DIA DE MUERTOS/DAY OF THE DEAD MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Time to Walk and Roll by Jean Williams USATF-GA Race Walk Chair

Collaboration with the Rome Sports

Commission regarding our bid for the

USA vs. Canada Junior Race Walk

Match;

A Día de Muertos/Day of the Dead

Lunch and Learn for committee

members and race walkers who

expressed an interest in and

availability to attend and participate;

Committee Member, Joel Dubow

competed in Australia at the World Masters Athletics Championship;

Robert Fowler hosts a 3-day a week

walking group and is the new

Walking chair of the…Walking group

Participation of the Chair in the

USATF-GA’s SWOT Analysis;

The Committee’s Goals as it aligns

with the Race Walk Strategic Plan

was submitted to the USATF-GA

Executive Vice President;

The committee casted Georgia’s vote for the Mike Riban Award for

Outstanding Association;

The Committee casted the Georgia

vote for Mike Riban Award for

Outstanding Contributors;

Committee Member, Joel Dubow

competed in Australia at the World

Masters Championship;

The Race Walk Committee voted on

the 2016 Ron Zinn and Henry Laskau

Outstanding Open and Junior Race Walk Athletes of the Year;

USATF-GA’s Race Walk Budget has

been developed and submitted to the

USATF-GA Budget & Finance

Committee;

Completion of State, Region and

National reports;

Participation in weekly Event

Management Team conference calls;

An Association/Region championship

was organized and completed;

Race walk videos are posted for

viewing at a race walker’s (and/or

potential walker) perusal on our

Facebook page and on our webpage;

Clinics for coaches, officials, and athletes was held on October 2nd;

The USATF-GA Race Walk

Committee held a Break & Update

Luncheon Meeting on October 2nd;

Maintenance and updates of the

USATF-GA Race Walk Facebook

page;

Implementation and Execution of two

Community Outreach programs;

Recognition of race walkers and

supporters; and

Communication has been enhanced

via e-mails, newsletters, and our

webpage,

As always, I invite to you to share copies of the Georgia Race Walker

Newsletter. We may be

small in number; but, do

not have to be silent in

voice or action.

Georgia Race Walker Walking it Out in the Peach State!

A TRIBUTE TO A

THUNDERBIRD

IS GONE IN

BUT REMAIN

WITH

US IN ESSENCE.

HE SHARED HIS

SMILE, SHAPED

OUR FUTURE,

MOLDED OUR

SPIRIT AND

TOUCHED …OUR

HEARTS.

PRESENCE

WHO

S

When it comes to Georgia’s race walkers, the race walk is a serious sport. If financially and athletically able, our athletes commit to traveling to compete. That passion for the sport is what compelled Joel Dubow (70-74) to travel to Perth, Australia to represent the USA in the 5000m Race Walk at the 2016 World Masters Athletics Championship.

The gun for the 70-74 men’s 5000m race walk started the race at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 26, 2016. It was a beautiful spring day. Joel was one of 22 walkers in his age group, one of five from the United States and it appears, the only Georgian.

Unfortunately, Joel suffered allergic reactions to the pollens and did not finish as well as he had hoped; he finished fourteenth. In reporting on the race, his disappointment was evident. We, in Georgia, are proud of his advancement to the meet and are proud of his effort. Knowing he was not feeling well, he could have decided

to quit. However, he did not quit; he walked on, with the respiratory issues.

According to the World Masters Championship’s web site, “Perth is one of the world’s great event locations and is committed to using its experience and infrastructure to enhance the sport of athletics on a global scale by hosting the 2016 World Masters Athletics Championships.

Perth’s climate, facilities and friendly people, backed by strong Government support, have in recent times attracted some of the world’s best events to Perth. Perth has first-rate experience as well as an outstanding reputation for hosting and supporting major international events and festivals that its people embrace.

As a host destination, Perth can provide an experience like no other, appealing to athletes, sponsors, media and spectators.

Nestled on the banks of the Swan River, Perth is a sophisticated city with a population of approximately 1.6 million. Perth’s beautiful parks, magnificent beaches, warm climate and welcoming locals will ensure that the visiting sporting community experience unforgettable memories because of the World Masters Athletics Championships.

Perth effortlessly blends urban cool with raw natural beauty. Bustling with new bars, restaurants, shopping and cultural spaces, Perth is also home to Kings Park—one of the world’s largest inner city parks, beautiful wineries, and stunning beaches where you can even swim with wild dolphins.

According to Wikipedia, encyclopedias, and other

sources of information, in 1941, the Federal

Legislation confirmed Thanksgiving, currently

celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.

It has been an annual tradition in the United

States by presidential proclamation since 1863

and by state legislation since the Founding

Fathers of the United States. Historically,

Thanksgiving has traditionally been a celebration

of the blessings of the year, originally reported to

be celebrating harvest or the rain that contributed

to the harvest.

In short, Thanksgiving Day is a time for many

people to give thanks for what they have. In its

honor, the Walk Talk Word of the Month is

Gratitude. Marelisa Fabrega (blogger,

http://www.thechangeblog.com/gratitude/) notes,

“Gratitude means thankfulness, counting your

blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and

acknowledging everything that you receive. It

means learning to live your life as if everything

were a miracle, and being aware on a continuous

basis of how much you’ve been given. Gratitude

shifts your focus from what your life lacks to the

abundance that is already present.”

After reading a gratitude message to Coach Mike

Dewitt after the UW Parkside - Hall of Fame

induction,

(https://www.facebook.com/groups/hsracewalk/ ),

I was inspired to find out what makes others

grateful. I invited our USATF-GA Race Walk

Committee members, USATF-GA race walkers,

members of the National committee and some of

our Resource committee to answer the question,

“When it comes to the race walk, for what are

you grateful?” Allow me to share Cashman’s

post to you as a kick off to the responses I

received to my question: “Thanks so much for

giving me the opportunities that you did. My

Olympic journey began because of the chance to

compete for you at Parkside. So many people

owe you so much, including myself. Thanks!”

When it comes to the race walk, for what are

you grateful?

Larry Woods (Masters Race Walker, USATF-

GA Race Walk Committee Member): “The

top three for me: 1) A measurable activity that

has offset atrophy from decades of driving, and

contributed to having extra years of quality life;

2) Introduction to a community of life-loving,

supportive, interesting people; and 3) The

mental challenges of rewiring walking style and

maintaining form keep me from being bored.”

Joel Dubow (Masters Race Walker, USATF-

GA Race Walk Committee Member): “I’m

grateful Race Walking exists because it gave me

an event in which I could still compete after I

shredded a hamstring (playing softball) and

could no longer run fast in the other (middle-

distance) events in which I also competed. I

became a better race walker thereafter and was

able to start winning some national

championships.”

Jordan Crawford (Youth/Junior Race

Walker, USATF-GA Race Walk Committee

Member):“I am grateful to those that have

given me instructive race walk coaching which

in turn has improved my performance each

season.”

Gratitude

Kennedy Crawford (Youth/Junior Race

Walker): “I am thankful I have the ability to

perform the mechanics of race walking when I

know there are people who have trouble just

walking normally.”

Alan Moore (Masters Race Walker, USATF-

GA Race Walk Committee member): “I am

very thankful in that I have met some truly

"good people" as they say in the South. Many of

my best friends are race walkers. We are a

relatively small group compared to competitive

runners and we support and encourage each

other. Race walking has allowed me to maintain

a high degree of fitness into the so called

Golden years. I plan to continue the heel to toe

technique of walking whether competitive or not

for as long as possible.”

Trey Williams (Open Race Walker, USATF-

GA Race Walk Committee Member): “I am

thankful for my father, who was my race walk

coach and to my mother for her support in

finding races for me so that I could walk. I am

thankful for friends I have met through race

walk, the success I had as a walker and the

opportunity to go to school on a race walk

scholarship. I am also thankful for all the

athletes I now mentor and help to coach.”

Steve Hubbartt (Masters Race Walker,

USATF-GA Race Walk Committee

Member): “When running was no longer an

option, race walking gave me the opportunity to

train, reach a target heart rate, and compete.

Race walking taught me that technique matters.

As a runner, I never paid attention. Thanks to all

the coaching, it matters.You can always improve

your technique.”

Ian Whatley (Coach, Masters Race Walker, Team

USA, Race Walk Official): “I have been fortunate

to see many young athletes succeed as racewalkers. You see them move from lacking self-confidence to

having self-worth, standing up a little taller, smiling

a little stronger. They walk over to you with their

first medal for anything, and it's for racewalking. They say thank you, coach, but it is me that should

be expressing my gratitude. Seeing young people

breaking through, gaining belief in themselves is the reward most precious to me as a coach.”

Kellie Crawford (Official/Masters Race

Walker, USATF-GA Race Walk Committee

Vice Chair):“I am grateful for all of the

supporters of race walking and the enthusiasm

they show for the sport.”

Vaughn Williams (Coach, USATF-GA Race

Walk Committee Member): “I am thankful to

have coached and for still coaching some of the

most successful race walkers not only in the

state of Georgia, but in the nation. Not only are

they great athletes, they are outstanding mentors

to other race walkers and to the upcoming

generation of race walkers.”

Jean Williams (USATF-GA Race Walk

Committee Chair, Official): “I, first and

foremost, am thankful for the impact the race

walk had on my son. Without his participation

and success in the sport, I may not have been as

passionate about and committed to the sport as I

am. In fact, I might not have been involved in

the sport at all. Thanks to the blessings race

walk have brought to my life, I see the daily

impact that the sport has on the lives of athletes

in our state. For this, and the increasing number

of supporters, I am both thankful and blessed”

Prior to lunch, a PowerPoint presentation that included

videos and pictures was one of the visuals for the Lunch

and Learn. Attendees watched and discussed two or more videos for each honoree. The attendees discussed

not only the honorees and their lives, but also analyzed

the race walkers’ technique. Using pictures and videos, the attendees discussed altars and brainstormed

potential ideas. After lunch, the attendees practiced

constructing an altar prototype.

On October 29, several

people met to build a second

prototype as practice for the following day’s big event! The

prototype added elements and provided

insight to things that were missing from the exhibit.

On Sunday, October 23, USATF Committee members ,

race walkers and guests who indicated an interest in participating in the October 30th Dia de los Muertos

Celebration at the Atlanta History Center converged for

a learn about Day of the Dead Lunch & Learn.

The Lunch and Learn took place at Monterrey’s Mexican

Restaurant on Hwy. 5 in Douglasville, Georgia. In

attendance were nine participants who among themselves included five committee members, three youth race

walkers, one race walk volunteer, four officials, and two

Master race walkers.

The purpose of the Lunch in Learn was to acquaint attendees with a brief history of Dia de los Muertos, to

learn about the following honorees;

Olympic Silver 20K Race Walk Medalist, Noe “El

Chivo” Hernandez (Sydney, Australia 2000),

Olympic Silver 20K Race Walk Medalist Jose “Sargento” Pedraza (Mexico, 1968). 1st Mexican

Athlete to earn a Track & Field Medal, and

Jerzy Hausleber, Race Walk Coach known as the

“Father of Race Walk” in Mexico. Coach Hausleber trained 9 Olympian Medalists and

over 100 National & International elite race walk

medals.

LUNCH & LEARN: A CULTURAL AFFAIR

On Sunday, October 30 over 9,500

visitors converged on the Atlanta

History Center to celebrate Día de

Muertos/Day of the Dead at the

annual Festival. Among the 9,500

members were members of USATF-

GA’s Race Walk Committee, USATF-

GA Masters Chair, Tina Klein and

President Dexter McCloud.

In addition to participating in the

activities, the Committee, assisted by

Tina Klein, created and assembled an

altar as homage to José “El Sargento”

Pedraza Zúñiga, Noé) "El Chivo"

Hernández Valentín, and their Coach,

Professor Jerzy Hausleber.

The Consulate General of Mexico and

the Institute of Mexican Culture and

the Atlanta History Center hosted the

annual event. The Consulate General

and Institute of Mexican Culture

selected twelve groups to exhibit, of

which the USATF-GA exhibit was one.

Although the Festival did not begin

until noon, members of (and friends

to) the Georgia Association of the

USA Track & Field Committ

USA

Track &

Field

Race

Walk

Committee began setting up at

7:00a.m, arriving early to get a prime

spot.

Dia de

Muertos is an

interesting

and festive

holiday

celebrated in

Mexico and other areas of Latin

America. Even though this coincides

with the Catholic holiday called All

Soul's & All Saints Day, the

indigenous people have combined

this with their own ancient beliefs of

honoring their deceased loved ones.

The holiday

celebrates life and honors death with

vibrant decorations, costumes,

music, dance, traditional clothing,

family gatherings, crafts, exhibits,

and community festivities.

Families build altars, clean

tombstones and bring offerings for

lost loved ones.

In many villages

and towns,

families honor

the deceased

love ones with

beautiful altars

(ofrendas),

decorating them with candles,

flowers (wild marigolds, called

cempasuchil & bright red cock's

combs), incense, clothing, papel

picado (pierced paper), folk art

skeletons, and sugar skulls. The

altars include lots of food, beverages,

and Day-of-the-Dead breads called

“pan de muerto.” Water, salt, and

sometimes sand, also are traditional

altar additions. Toys and candies are

left for the children, as well as other

items that represent the lives of the

honorees.

After posting pictures on our

Facebook page, we received several

appreciation notes from the Pedraza

family, thanking us for remembering.

USATF-GA RACE WALK COMMITTEE HONORS RACE WALK AT 2016 DIA DE MUERTOS FESTIVAL

Athletics NACAC (North America, Central America

and Caribbean)

From: Ron Daniel, rondaniel@sbcglobal.net

USATF Racewalk Chair

Here is the just released NACAC Race Walk schedule for 2017 and 2018.

Feb 12, CADICA (Confederación Atlética del Istmo Centroamericano) Race Walking Championships, Guatemala, GUA May 13 - 14. NACAC RW Championships / Pan Am Cup, Lima, Peru July 21 - 23, Pan Am / NACAC U20 Championships, Trujillo, Peru

Aug 10 - 12 NACAC Sr Championships, TBD, CAN

Sept 11 - 23, Youth (U18) Olympic Games, Buenos Aires, ARG

2016 USATF Annual Meeting, November 30-December 4, 2016 Hilton at Walt Disney World Orlando, FL

Thursday, December 1 - Race Walking Executive Committee (11:00 AM 12:50 PM)

Friday, December 2 - Race Walking Site Selection Subcommittee (8:00 AM 9:50 AM)

Friday, December 2 - Race Walking General Session (11:00 AM 5:50 PM)

Saturday, December 3 - Race Walking General Session/ Working Group (10:00 AM 1:15 PM)

Saturday, December 3 - Officials Clinic D Topic 1: Race Walk (10:30 AM 1:20 PM)

Saturday, December 3 - Race Walking Judging/Working Group (2:15 PM 5:30 PM)

December 17 - The 2016 Galleria Games (Youth, Open, Masters) Birmingham CrossPlex, Birmingham Alabama December 26-January 2 – Junior (Ages 14-College Age) Race Walk Camp, San Diego. Please visit http://www.narionline.org and scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to see the information and application form. December 27 - Findlay Classic Indoor Meet, Findlay U (Findlay, OH), Race Walk as final event. Meet is open to post-collegiate athletes. January 15 – Alabama Striders Indoor Classic (Youth, Open, Masters), Birmingham, Crossplex February 12 – TFCUSA National Championship, Birmingham, Crossplex

What: USATF Elite Junior Race Walk Camp Host: North America Race Walking Institute When: December 26-January 2 Where: North America Race Walking Institute, San Diego, California What: Camp for athletes ages 14 to college Age Info: Please visit http://www.narionline.org/2016CampFlyer.pdf or http://www.narionline.org and scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to see the information and application form.

What/Hosts: Dave McGovern Clinics When/Where: November 11-13, 2016 – Galveston, TX January 27-29, 2017 - North Canton, OH Link to Dave McGovern’s Clinics, info on podcasts, books, etc.: www.racewalking.org

What/Hosts: Jeff Salvage/Tim Seaman Clinics When: January 13

th-15

th

Where: Jackson, Mississippi Link to Jeff Salvage and Tim Seaman’s Clinics of Excellence, books, etc: www.RacewalkClinic.com

When: Saturday, January 28, 2017 – Start Time: 7:30am; Anticipated Finish Time of the Winner: 11:30am. 7 hour cut-off.(Pursuant to conversations with several people, including Ray Funkhouser, the Cut-off has been extended to at least 7:30, with athletes not being allowed to start another lap after 7:30 into the race.)

Where: Santee, CA – New 1.25 Km Course is on Riverview Parkway and Town Center Parkway adjacent to the Mall at Trolley Square at Santee Town Center, with the start / finish near the intersection of Mission Gorge Road and Riverview Parkway. Attendance is free for spectators, and about 300-500 are expected.

Additional Events: USATF National Masters 50 Km Championships and 20 Km, 10 Km & 5 Km Race Walks for men and women, open, masters, and youth, including a precedent-setting California Junior College 5Km.

Expected Highlights: As many as 3 U.S. men will qualify for the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London, England and as many as 4 for the Pan American Race Walking Cup in Lima, Peru. The two favorites (John Nunn and Nick Christie) are local athletes. In the accompanying women’s 50 Km National Championship, which is not an IAAF World Champs trials event because the event is not conducted in the World Championships for women … yet, but may be a trials event for the Pan Am Cup, as there is a possibility that the 50K will be added for women there … there is an excellent chance that the winner will set a World Record. International athletes will be invited to participate at all distances.

Interesting Facts: 50 Km is 31.07 miles, and the winner will finish in just under 4 hours, walking about 7:43 per mile, which means they will pass the marathon in about 3 hours and 22 minutes, and go another 5 miles … walking!

Race Directors: Tracy Sundlun, 619-726-1952 (cell), TracySundlun@gmail.com; Eric Marenburg, High Performance Movement, 301-520-1316 (cell), eric@hpmovement.com; Jennifer Nanista, 619-990-4892 (cell), nanista.jennifer@gmail.com.

Race Organizer: San Diego Track Club, Jameson Rienick, President

Media Contact: Dan Cruz, 619-925-7671 (cell), dcruz@competitorgroup.com

Sponsoring / Host Organizations: City of Santee, CA, USA Track & Field - San Diego-Imperial Association

Event Headquarters & Official Hotel: Rodeway Inn, 619-258-2020, 10135 Mission Gorge Rd, Santee, CA 92071 – Rodeway Inn is across the street from the start / finish of the race course. Rooms are $99.51 (tax-included) for a double on Friday and Saturday and $84.35 on Thursday, and $84.35 (tax-included) for a single on Friday and Saturday and $73.52 on Thursday. Event code is Race Walking. Housing block and pricing will be held until January 5, at which time the block will be released and rooms will be available on a space-available basis only. Facilities: Pool (unheated), free internet and continental breakfast (6:00am – 9:00am).

Additional Official Hotel: Carlton Oaks Golf Club, 619-448-4242, 9200 Inwood Drive, Santee, CA 92071 – Carlton Oaks is 2.0 miles from the race course. Rooms are $108.18 (tax-included) for Friday and Saturday and $103.50 (tax-included) for Thursday, for doubles or singles. Event code is USA17. Housing block will be held until January 13, at which time the block will be released and rooms will be available on a space-available basis only. Facilities: Pool (unheated) and Jacuzzi, but no gym facilities; Free Internet; Bar & Grill Open 7:00am – 10:00pm.

Nearest Airport: San Diego International. 25 minutes by car to Rodeway Inn.

Event Features: On-site Health Fair; Spectator Guides; Santana and West Hills High School cheerleaders will be on the course; there will be music on the course provided by a DJ; and on-site VIP Hospitality. An introductory youth race walking component is being considered, time and funding dependent.

Prize Money: The 2016 prize structure was: 1) $10,000, 2) $8,000, 3) $6,000, 4) $4,000, 5) $2,000, 6) 1,000, 7) 1,000. The funds are provided by USA Track & Field, and the 2017 prize structure will be announced by USATF shortly.

Upcoming Race Walk

Clinics

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Abigail Quinn: Record Breaking Champion

Recognized as USATF-Georgia Race Walk

Committee Female Youth Athlete of the Year

José “El Sargento”

Pedraza Zúñiga

Coach Jerzy

Hausleber

Noé "El Chivo"

Hernández

Valentín

José Pedraza Zúñiga

(September 19, 1937 – June 1,

1998), was a race walker from

Mexico and was the first

Mexican athlete to win an

Olympic medal in track and field for

Mexico. He won the silver medal for

the 20km race walk in the 1968 Mexico

City Olympics.

Pedraza, nicknamed, “El Sargento,”

because he was an army Sergeant,

joining when he was 15 after admiring

the soldiers who patrolled his state.

Originally, Pedraza was slated to

compete in the steeplechase in the 1960

Rome Olympics, but came in 4th

at the

Trials. In 1964 he was slated to run the

5,000m and 10,000m race but again

came in 4th

and did not qualify.

His passion for running continue to

grow and when he found a sports club

in August of 1964, he spent 15 days

training himself in the race walk,

winning his first competition, a 5km.

In 1966, Polish race walker, Jerzy

Hasusleber moved to Mexico as

member of a Coaching Exchange

Program and began training a group

of strong competitors, including

Pedraza. In 1967 on a trip to Rome,

the president of the Race Walk

Commission of the FIA evaluate his

Mexican technique. His race walk

achievements include:

Year Competition Venue Place Event

1966

Central American and

Caribbean Games

San Juan, Puerto Rico

1st 10,000

m

1967

Pan American Games

Winnipeg, Canada

2nd 20km

Central American and

Caribbean Championship

Xalapa, Meico

1st 20km

1968 Olympic Games

Mexico City,

Mexico 2nd 20km

1968 Olympic Games

Mexico

City, Mexico

8th 50km

Coach Jerzy Hausleber (September

1930- March 13, 2014) will be

remembered as the “Father of Race Walking” in Mexico. He was a decorated

race walk athlete in his native Poland. In

1966, he arrived in Mexico as part of a

Coaching Exchange Program as part of

the Olympic Project. In 1984 became a

naturalized citizen of Mexico.

As the Race Walk Coach of Mexico,

Hausleber coached nine Olympian

medalists. His athletes won 127 elite

major international competitions.

Coach Hausleber, also left his legacy on

the world, credited with adding high-

altitude training to race walking and for

revolutionizing the current style and

technique of race walking used

throughout the world. What did he do?

He used science and biomechanics to teach walkers how to use the pelvis

more, dropping the hips lower, twisting

the hips more, walking in a straight line,

and therefore increasing stride

frequency. He, in essence, taught the

walkers how to wiggle when they walk.

Noé "El Chivo" Hernández Valentin (March 15, 1979-January 16, 2013) was a Mexican race walker, coached by Jerzy Hausleber. Hernández won a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics and participated at the 2004 Olympics. His other accomplishments included: Year Competition Venue Place Event

1999

Central American and

Caribbean Games

Bridgetown, Barbados

1st 20K

2000 Olympic Games

Sydney, Australia

2nd 20km

2001 World

Championship

Edmonton

Canada DQ’d 20km

2003 World

Championship Paris,

France 4th 20km

2004 Olympic Games

Athens, Greece

DQ’d 20km

On December 30, 2012, while celebrating at a bar, Hernández was shot in the head. After many surgeries, he lost his vision in his left eye and was left with very little sight in the other eye, but was expected to get better and was discharged from the hospital on January 8, 2013. Hernández died on January 16, 2013, in Chimalhuacán, State of Mexico due to a cardiac arrest.

The USATF-GA Race Walk Committee is in the process of placing a bid to host a National Junior Race Walk Championship and the 2017 USA vs. Canada Junior Race Walk Match. Each year the USA vs. Canada Junior Race Walk Match alternates between the United States rotates between the two companies. During the even-ending years, it is usually in Canada and in the odd-ending years, it is usually in the United States. Of the 20 times it has been held in the USA, the Match has only been in the south or southeast once, in 1998, when it was in Florida. It has been in Massachusetts twice; five times in New York; ten times in Michigan; two times in Pennsylvania, and the one time in Florida.

If granted the bid, the Committee hopes to have the meet in Rome, Georgia. We had inquired about hosting it at the beautiful scenic campus of Berry College which is the home to a family of Bald Eagles that nest in the top of a campus pine tree. Since the couple’s appearance in 2012, they have produced seven eaglets. Several nest cams watch the eagles. Unfortunately, due to students arriving and returning to campus during the three submitted bid dates, our bid to host at the university, if granted, was denied. We are collaborating with the Rome Sports Commission to use their scenic historical 5K/10K course route.

If granted the bid, our activities will still include visiting Berry and the Berry Eagles, Shorter University, a fine arts activity, and a historic tour.

For more info about the Berry Eagles, go to https://www.facebook.com/berrycollegeeagles/

From coaching legend, Vern

Gambetta – “Just being great

during workout time is not good

enough, you must lead a lifestyle

of greatness. Be a 24 hour athlete.

A chump off the field cannot be a

champ on the field. Total

dedication & commitment to

excellence to be the best! Demand

excellence from yourself, nothing

less.”

Posted at https://www.facebook.com/groups/hsracewalk/

by Michael Roth on October 19 at 9:06am

https://www.facebook.com/USA

TFGeorgiaRaceWalk/?fref=ts

USATF-GA Race Walk Committee Celebrates

the Lives of 2 Mexican Olympian Race

Walkers and their Race Walk Coach at 2016

Día de Muertos Festival

WORKING ON THE WORK

The Race Walk Committee is on the go! We actively are working on the work—the vision, mission, and goals! This issue is a result of some of our recent work. Thanks to the following for all their hard work and/or advice. Executive Committee

Jean Williams, Chair

Kellie Crawford, Vice Chair

Jacquelwyn Anthony, Secretary Committee Members

Alan Moore (USATF-GA, Atlanta Track Club, Masters Race Walker)

Joel Dubow (USATF-GA, Atlanta Track Club, Masters Race Walker, 2014 National Race Walk Age Group Athlete of the Year)

Jordan Crawford (USATF-GA, Youth Race Walker)

Larry Wood (Atlanta Track Club Liaison, Masters Race Walker)

Peggy Curtis (USATF-GA, Official & Parent of a Race Walker)

Robert Fowler (USATF-GA, Atlanta Track Club, Masters Race Walker)

Steve Hubbart (Atlanta Track Club, Master Walker)

Trey Williams (Open Race Walker)

Vaughn Williams (USATF-GA, Race Walk Coach) Committee Resources

Cindy Slayton (USATF-GA Officials Chair)

Dexter McCloud (USATF-GA President)

Diane Graham-Henry (USATF National Race Walk Committee-Vice Chair)

Ian Whatley (USATF-SC, USATF Director of Racewalk Coaching Development, World Class Race Walker, Member of Team USA, 5-Time Olympian Trial participant, USATF Certified Race Walk Official & Coach, Author, Researcher)

Pamela Betz (USATF-FL, USATF Southeast Region Representative)

Michael J. Roth (USATF-NC), Creator of www.hsrw.net, Race Walk Athlete, Race Walk Coach

Ron Daniels, USATF National Race Walk Chair

Susan Heiser Whatley (USATF-SC Race Walk Chair, Race Walk Official, Race Walk Coach)

Vince Peters (USATF-OH, Miami Valley Race Walk Coach, USATF Past National Race Walk Chairman)

The New Balance High School

Outdoor Nationals will be changing

the RW distance to 3000m starting in

2017. (Indoors will remain the same,

a mile) Standards for that distance are

in the works, but athletes will still be

able to qualify with the times from

1500m, 1 Mile, 3Km and 5Km. The

exact qualification times are still being

adjusted and will be shared as soon as

they are finalized.

There is also an effort in action to

move the races to a cooler part of the

day.

The distance raced at USATF junior

national outdoors is 10,000 meters

(on track) and the top 4 or 5 finishers

in the boys and girls race are selected

as a US Junior team to race versus

Canada. The longer distance at

NBNO and using longer races to

qualify for that event offer a great

opportunity to try to make a US team.

Imagine the feeling of racing in a

USA team uniform against another

country--talk to your coach and make

a plan for the next 10 months.

Race Walk Gift Ideas:

http://www.cafepress.com/+race-walk+gifts

http://www.cafepress.com/+racewalk+gifts

http://www.zazzle.com/racewalk+gifts

http://www.zazzle.com/race+walk+gifts

http://www.idakoos.com/gifts/race-walking

https://www.spreadshirt.com/race+walking+gifts

https://www.etsy.com/market/race_walking

https://www.verywell.com/last-minute-gifts-for-walkers-3435556

http://womensrunning.competitor.com/2013/03/shoes-gear/gifts-for-runners-under-100_11028#Od3lW5HBFp651gzM.97