Posted: April 7, 2006

Athletics: News & Notes, Volume 7, Number 21

Team USA roster spots up for grabs at World Cup Race Walk Trials

America's finest race walkers will vie for Team USA roster spots for the 2006 IAAF World Cup of Race Walking Sunday morning at Hauppauge, N.Y.

The top five finishers at the USA Team Trials-IAAF World Race Walk Cup in the men's and women's 20 km race, and the top three placers in the Junior men's and women's 10 km races will compete May 13-14 at the World Cup in La Coruna, Spain. The top finishers in the elite races will earn a share of the $1,500 in prize money.

Joining four U.S. Olympians and seven U.S. record holders in the field will be top athletes from New Zealand, Canada and Puerto Rico. In all, over 70 athletes are expected to compete.

2003 U.S. 20 km champion Kevin Eastler will be a favorite in the men's 20 km race after setting a national 30 km record earlier this year. Five-time U.S. 20 km champion and two-time Olympian Tim Seaman also will challenge for top honors, along with 2004 Olympian and 2005 U.S. 20 km runner-up John Nunn. Others vying for Team USA roster spots include Michael Tarantino (Wisconsin), Matt Boyles (Ohio), Theron Kissinger (Connecticut) and Ben Shorey (Wisconsin). Ezequiel Acosta (Puerto Rico) and Jocelyn Ruest (Canada) should push the leaders to impressive performances

American record holder and reigning U.S. 20 km champion Theresa Vaill is the heavy favorite in this race. Others looking to make the trip to Spain include 2005 U.S. 20 km runner-up Amber Antonia and 2002 USA 20 km champion Joanne Dow. Additional challengers for Team USA roster spots include Jolene Moore (Illinois), Deb Huberty (Wisconsin), Sam Cohen (Wisconsin), Loretta Schuellein (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) and Maria Michta (Nesconset, N.Y).

Junior men's 10 km favorites include Michael Kazmierczak (Plainview, N.Y.) and the Vergara twins, Ricardo and Roberto (Texas). Favorites to qualify for the Junior Women's 10 km roster include Katy Hayes (Wisconsin), Tina Peters (Ohio), Lauren Forgues (Maine), Le'Erin Voss (Wisconsin) and Jenna Monahan (Farmingville, N.Y).

The women's races are slated to begin Sunday at 9:00 a.m., followed by the men's competitions at 11:30 a.m.

Full more information on this event, visit: USATF.org.

Top vaulters enter Coca-Cola Modesto Relays

Three Olympians who have all cleared the six-meter barrier in the pole vault have signed on to compete May 6 at the 65th Coca-Cola Modesto Relays in Modesto California.

Defending Champion and Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson, who has a personal best of 6.00 meters/19 feet, 8.25 inches set in Modesto in 2004 will face Olympic gold medalist, Tim Mack who has a personal best of 6.01m/19 feet, 8.50 inches and 2003 World Indoor and Modesto champion, Tim Lobinger of Germany with a personal best of 6.00m/19 feet, 8.25 inches.

They will face 2003 USA Indoor Champion and Olympic finalist Derek Miles, 2003 World Championships bronze medalist, Patrik Kristiansson of Sweden, 2001 World Indoor silver medalist Tye Harvey, Mexico's record holder Giovanni Lanaro and former U.S. World Championships team member Russ Buller.

In women's competition, 2005 USA Indoor champion, Jenn Stuczynski will make her first appearance in Modesto. She became the #2 American all time behind Stacy Dragila, with a clearance of 15-4 1/4 (4.68 m). Canadian record holder, Dana Ellis-Buller will also compete.

West coast clubs dominate scoring at USA Masters Indoor Championships

At the recently completed 2006 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships held in Boston, the expectation was that clubs from the eastern part of the country would fare well in the final club scoring. To the surprise of many, clubs from California dominated the overall club scoring (men's and women's points combined) and also led the way in men's and women's club scoring race.

With a total of 91 clubs scoring points during three days of competition that ended on March 26, So Cal TC-Fleet Feet (Southern California) claimed the overall club title with 309 points. Finishing second and third were, Brooks-Fleet Feet Racing (Pacific Association) with 192 points and So. Calif. Striders T.C. (Southern California) with 137 points.

The men's club scoring was led by So Cal TC-Fleet Feet with 178 points, followed by Potomac Valley Track Club (125 points) and Florida Athletic Club (105 points).

The women's club scoring was led by Brooks-Fleet Feet Racing with 179 points followed by So Cal TC-Fleet Feet (131 points) and So. Calif. Striders T.C. (118 points).

For more information on the 2006 USA Masters Indoor Championships, including the complete results, visit www.usatf.org. Oddi joins USATF's Communications Department

Vicky Oddi has joined the USATF national office staff in Indianapolis as Communications Coordinator. She will oversee communications efforts for USATF's Junior and Youth programs and administer the USATF's Athlete of the Week program while handling other communications and media-related duties. Oddi first came to USATF in January 2006 as the Communications intern after spending one semester as an intern with USA Water Polo.

A Philadelphia-area native, Oddi is a 2003 graduate of Coastal Carolina University where she participated on the track and field team. She will graduate from Temple University this May with a Masters in Sport and Recreation Administration.

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