Posted: January 17, 2006

Athletics: USATF News & Notes, Volume 7, Number 6

Eastler wins U.S. 30 km Race Walk title

2004 Olympian Kevin Eastler set a new American record in winning the 2005 USA 30 km Race Walk title Sunday in Chula Vista, California.

Eastler had a permanent stranglehold on the lead by the halfway point of the race and he seemed to grow stronger as the race went on. On a near perfect day for racing, Eastler crossed the finish line in the new American record time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, 53 seconds, which bettered the previous record of 2:14:23 set in 2002 by Curt Clausen.

John Nunn was the runner-up in 2:18:43, with Ray Sharp third overall in the new U.S. masters M45-49 age-group record time of 2:29:40.

Mark Green made quick work of his step up to the M50-54 age-group with not one but two American age-group records. His 25 km split, 2:11:05, toppled his father Max Green's long-standing American age-group record, and Mark's 30 km time of 2:37:29 (fourth overall) demolished Ed Whiteman's record from 1993.

On the women's side, Deb Huberty approached her first 30 km race with the patience of a veteran and it paid off. She was able to hold off a late charge from Loretta Schuellein to win her first 30 km national title in 2:58:27. Schuellein was the runner-up in 2:59:28.

For more information on the 2005 USA 30 km Race Walk Championships, including the complete results, visit .

Stuczynski continues her success in women's pole vault

2005 USA Indoor champion Jen Stuczynski continued her world domination of the women's pole vault scene this year by setting another personal best over the weekend.

Stuczynzki cleared 4.68 meters/15 feet, 4.25 inches on Saturday in winning the Eastern Michigan Open at Ypsilanti on January 14, a height second only on the all-time U.S. list behind Stacy Dragila's 4.81m/15-9.25. Her previous best ever clearance of 4.62m/15-2 came last week in winning the Sharon Anderson Memorial Track and Field Meet at the University of Toronto.

Stuczynski currently holds the top five women's pole vault marks in the world this indoor season.

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