Posted: October 8, 2005

Athletics: USATF News & Notes, Volume 6, Number 77

Kingsport to host USA 5 km Race Walk Championships

Many of America's finest race walkers will be on hand Saturday for the 2005 USA 5 km Race Walk Championships in Kingsport, Tennessee.

Two-time Olympian Tim Seaman easily won the overall men's crown last year with a comfortable 63-second margin over the rest of the field with his time of 21 minutes, 21 seconds. Deborah Huberty won the women's overall crown last year in 23 minutes, 58 seconds.

For more information on the 2005 USA 5 km Race Walk Championships, visit www.usatf.org.

First Disability XC Championships a success

USATF Long Island hosted the inaugural USATF National 5 km Disability Cross Country Championships, October 2, 2005, at Sunken Meadow State Park, New York. The event was a cooperative venture between USATF Long Island and the USATF Committee on Athletics for the Disabled (USATF COAD) to offer a competitive opportunity for athletes with disabilities. The challenging course provided the backdrop for this unique and highly competitive competition. A total of 28 athletes took part.

Dan Renahan, an athlete with autism, was the overall winner, completing the 5 kilometer distance in 16:50.3. Other champions included; Marcus Sanders, (cognitive impairment), 18:43.7; Steven Cuomo, (cerebral palsy), 19:45.0; and Tom Koehler (single amputee), 20:22.5. The first female to finish was Sara Okolowich, who won the cognitive impairment division with a time of 28:42. She was closely followed by Pavala Salacova (amputee) in 28:44. Susan Nesbihal-Cordero ran 39:11 to claim the visually impaired division.

The goal of USATF COAD is to link local programs for athletes with disabilities with their local USATF Association in an effort to provide access to training, facilities, and competition for the athletes.