by Joel Pfahler
Katie Burnett made a difficult decision- whether to race 20k in Poland on May 4, or 35,000 meters on a track in Xenia, Ohio.
“On the one hand, I would almost certainly PR in the 20k right now,” she wrote on Facebook. “On the other hand, I need a second 35k to qualify for [World Athletics Championships in Tokyo], and traveling to Ohio is much easier than traveling to Europe.”
Burnett, from Olympia, Washington, reasoned that waiting for her 35k race in Colombia two weeks later, which would likely involve hot and humid weather, would be too risky to rely on a fast time.
“Plus, I can control a lot more during a track race [besides the weather].”
Burnett also carried confidence from setting the U.S. 2 hour record at the same track – the Athletes in Action Sports Complex – in September, 2020. “I’m already very familiar with lots of laps there.”
Based on Burnett’s 3:04:17 finish time (a new American record and F35 age group record), and her smile after walking 87 ½ laps, she felt good about her decision.
Besides Burnett, 27 other athletes toed the starting line, most walking 5,000 and 10,000 and a few walking 20,000 meters. Three others registered but DNS.
The youngest athletes were 11 year old Aanya Patel, and 13 year-olds Vivienne David and Ansh Patel, all part of Diane Graham-Henry’s Elgin (IL)Sharks club.
Masters athletes included Billy Stross, David Russell, Liz Dufour, Erin Talcott, David Talcott, and Donna Habig-Sachleben.
Owen Myers, ranked #10 on the NAIA Performance List as of this writing, was the overall winner of the men’s 5,000 in 24:00. Maddie Dotlich (#15 NAIA) finished in 31:10. Besides Myers and Dotlich, eight other nationally ranked NAIA men and women competed.
In the 10,000, Grace Forrest (#3 NAIA) walked 53:57, while Dorde Racic (#6) and Cam Nocton (#3) worked together to walk 44:55 and 44:58, respectively.
35 year old Masters newcomer James Lu Morrissey, after only four months of training, walked 25,000 meters (20,000 split was 2:18:31) and Masters veteran David Talcott walked 20,000 in 2:04:44. Both set age group records for 15,000 and 2 hour, and Morrissey a M35 25,000 meter record. No M35 age group records had previously been recorded.
The local organizing committee planned a group recovery session the morning after the race, consisting of a group walk and athletic training services, followed by video analysis provided by Coach Ian Whatley. To complement Whatley’s expertise, Joel Pfahler facilitated a discussion on the mental component of competition.
The 31 athletes who registered were the most race walkers at an Ohio Association event at least since 2014, when the Association hosted a Midwest Regional Championship.
The officiating crew consisted of (3) WA certified judges, (2) National level judges and four Association officials to meet the requirements of a World Athletics level meet.
The official results were done by FinishTiming, and 20 volunteers assisted with lap counting, set up, and hospitality.
“This was the best manned event Joel & I have held,” said Association Race Walk Chair Barbara Hensley. “It looked like a major event – despite being a very small one…. I hope we can do this well next year.”
With the right opportunity and the right pieces in place, this writer is confident that successful events will continue.