Do you want to compete in the Olympic Trials?

Do you want to compete in the Olympic Trials?

Are you looking for a challenge like no other?  Do you dream of traveling the world competing for Team USA?

If you answered YES to these questions, then you have met the basic requirements for a new USA Track & Field program, designed to make your dreams become a reality.

USA Track & Field is looking for athletes who have the Olympic dream and the desire to make this dream come true.  Through USATF's Talent ID Program, USATF will be offering training opportunities for high school, collegiate and post collegiate athletes in an effort to produce medalists in Race Walking.

You must be between 16-26 years of age.  You must meet a standard of performance based on gender and age. 

There are international opportunities each year for junior (14-19) and senior level athletes.  Junior athletes can qualify for Pan Am or World Championship events.  This year 6 juniors competed in Russia.  Each year junior athletes compete in a dual meet against Canada.  This year the meet was in Victoria, BC and 10 athletes competed for the USA Team.  The juniors also have the race walk in their World Junior Meet, which was held in Poland this year. Teams receive USA team uniforms and clothing as well as travel and food expenses.  Juniors walk 10 kilometers.

Senior athletes have the opportunity to compete in international events with the U23 team in NACAC competition.  This year the event took place in Toluca, Mexico.  The USA sent 4 race walkers to be part of the U23 track team.  Jared Swehowsky, from Stayton, Oregon, was a member of this team.  Senior teams also have the Pan Am and World Championship teams available to them.  This year 15 athletes went to Russia to complete in the World Championship.  Stephanie Casey of Salem, Oregon competed in this event.  The race walk is also included in the World Championship meets and the Olympic Games.  Philip Dunn, a Portland native, competed on his third Olympic Team in Beijing.  He also competed in the meet in Russia.  Philip has been making international teams for over 20 years and has racewalking contact throughout the world.  The women walk 20 kilometers and the men walk 20 and/or 50 kilometers.

You are very fortunate that Eugene will be hosting most of the qualifying events through 2012.  That saves expense money for traveling to qualifying races.

Since race walking is such a difficult event to learn and requires a great deal of training, very few athletes are able to meet standards to make international teams.  Actually, it is only difficult to learn because we do not teach athletes to racewalk in this country in the early grades.  Kids tend to pick up racewalking quicker than adults.  Another note, you do not have to give up running to be a national level walker.  

If you are interested in giving racewalking a try and possibly making international teams, contact Oregon Association Racewalking Chairman and National Team coach, Jim Bean, at beanjbean@aol.com for information.  You need to start training now for London.