Johnson City, Tennessee-Sometimes in race walking, as in life, quality is better than quantity. As John Mayer sang, ìtwice as much ainít twice as goodî. This will certainly be true on Friday, March 7, at the NAIA Indoor National Track & Field Championships 3,000 meter race walks.
The fields are set at twenty one combined total for the walking event, set to go at noon local time. This year eight women and thirteen men will compete on the boards in Johnson City.
This is down from last yearís event when there were a total of twenty five competitors. The good news is that the quality the athletes bring to these championships translated to faster qualifying times than in the previous year.
To enter the championships the men had an A standard of 17:00 for 3k, and the women had a standard of 18:20. The NAIA is the only collegiate body that has the race walk as a national championship event.
Women
In an interesting note, the womenís race is comprised of only freshmen and sophomores, the lone exception being Rachel Rhodes of Houghton the sole upperclassman, a senior. This bodes well for the future of not only collegiate walking but for USATF race walking on the female side if we can keep these young women walking past college.
The Veterans
Tina Peters, Goshen SO, (15:12.09) is the returning indoor and outdoor national
champion. She has won several meets this year indoors so looks to repeat.
Amanda Johnson, Lindsey Wilson SO, (15:50.70) has improved tremendously
from last year, racing regularly in USATF race walk events.
Rachel Rhodes, Houghton SR, (16:33.64) placed third at last years outdoor meet.
Katie Malinowski, Cornerstone SO, (18:11.78) ninth in Fresno, has cut her time
by over a minute.
The Challengers
Chelsea Adams, Houghton FR, (17:09.94) is the fastest of the freshman class.
Megan Wong, Westmont FR, (17:14.24) has set personal bests every time she has raced.
Emily Hansen, Concordia SO, (17:44.27) comes in with the sixth fastest time in the nation.
Janelle Brown, Cornerstone, FR (18:17.26) rounds out the field in eighth.
Tina Peters
MEN
Chris Tegtmeier, Concordia, is the overwhelming favorite in the menís race. Chris has qualified for the 2008 Olympic Team Trials-Menís 20km Race Walk to be held in Eugene. He has won several indoor meets this season in convincing fashion.
Thiago Ferreira, Missouri Valley, a newcomer, hails from Brazil and looks to make the race competitive.
Seth Campbell, Brad Sinick, Tom Stolee, Peter Muldoon, Nathan Dreher, and Geoff Karhoff are all veterans from last year's races and look to be in the hunt again this year.
For more information on the 2008 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championship 3,000 meter race walks and results go to naiarw.com.
2008 NAIA INDOOR RACE WALK ENTRANTS
WOMEN
1 Peters, Tina SO Goshen 15:12.09
2 Johnson, Amanda SO Lindsey Wilson 15:50.70
3 Rhodes, Rachel SR Houghton 16:33.64 HT
4 Adams, Chelsea FR Houghton 17:09.94 HT
5 Wong, Megan FR Westmont 17:14.24 HT
6 Hansen, Emily SO Concordia ( Neb. ) 17:44.27
7 Malinowski, Katie SO Cornerstone 18:11.78
8 Brown, Janelle FR Cornerstone 18:17.26
\
MEN
1 Tegtmeier, Chris SO Concordia ( Neb. ) 12:52.24 HT
2 Ferreira, Thiago JR Missouri Valley 13:52.66
3 Campbell, Seth JR Cedarville 14:10.81
4 Sinick, Brad SR Malone 14:34.31
5 Wiseman, Josh FR Cedarville 15:02.98
6 Stolee, Tom SO Concordia ( Neb. ) 15:03.24 HT
7 Muldoon, Peter SO Central Methodist 15:04.00
8 Dreher, Nathan JR Concordia( Neb. ) 15:16.24 HT
9 Bacon, Grant FR Cedarville 15:18.50
10 Karhoff, Geoff JR Central Methodist 15:26.85
11 Dehning, Chris JR Concordia ( Neb. ) 15:35.24 HT
12 Lew, Daniel JR Westmont 15:53.19
13 Adams, Zach FR Houghton 15:56.84 HT
CONTACT
CHRIS RAEL
CHAIR, OPEN ATHLETICS RACE WALKING COMMITTEE
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION/USA TRACK & FIELD TEL (714)469-4353 rael2003@yahoo.com
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