Posted: April 10, 2006

Athletics: News & Notes, Volume 7, Number 23

Eastler, Dow win at U.S. Race Walk Trials

Kevin Eastler and Joanne Dow each had record setting performances Sunday in winning the men's and women's races respectively at the 2006 USA Team Trials-IAAF World Race Walk Cup in Hauppauge, N.Y.

A heavy favorite after setting the U.S. 30 km record earlier this year, Eastler won the men's 20 km race in a new course record time of 1 hour, 25 minutes, 15 seconds. 2004 Olympian and 2005 U.S. 20 km runner-up John Nunn provided a strong challenge to Eastler and finished as the runner-up in 1:25:30. Other members of the Team USA men's squad for the 2006 IAAF World Cup May 13-14 in Coruna, Spain, include third place finisher and two-time Olympian Tim Seaman (1:27:56), Matt Boyles (4th-1:31:01) and Ben Shorey (5th-1:32:17).

2002 USA 20 km champion Joanne Dow also set a new course record in winning the women's 20 km race in 1:34:47. U.S. record holder Teresa Vaill was the runner-up in 1:35:41. The rest of the Team USA women's roster for Spain will include Jolene Moore (3rd-1:37:07), Amber Antonia (4th-1:38:05) and Deb Huberty (5th in 1:41.34).

In the Junior 10 km races, Katy Hayes posted a qualifying time for the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing, China, as the first American woman across the finish line in 50:32. In her debut at the 10 km distance, Heather Bulletti finished fourth overall and was the second American across the line in 51:54. Le'ErinVoss punched her ticket for Spain with her third place finish in 53.02.

Mike Kazmierczak was the top placing American and finished second overall in the men's race in 48:52. The Vergara twins, Ricardo (2nd-49:39) and Roberto (3rd-49:48) also will compete next month at the World Cup.

For more information on the 2006 USA Team Trials - IAAF World Cup of Race Walking, visit: http://www.walk-usa.com.

Women's invitational 4x100m teams blister track at Texas Relays

The three fastest women's 4x100m relay times in the world this season were posted in one race Sunday at the 79th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at the University of Texas in Austin.

The South Florida Elite team made of Wyleshia Myrick, Debbie Ferguson, Lauryn Williams and Sanya Richards won the closely contested women's invitational 4x100m relay in the fastest time in the world this year of 42.28 seconds. The USA "Red" team of Muna Lee, Torri Edwards, Stephanie Durst and LaTasha Colander finished second in 42.56, with the USA "White" squad of Anjanette Kirkland, LaToya Fry, Connie Moore and LaShunta Moore placing third in 43.45.

The USA "Red" team of Mardy Scales, Rae Edwards, Tyson Gay and DaBryan Blanton captured the men's invitational 4x100m race in 38.62 seconds, with the USA "Blue" squad of Jabari Fields, Ivory Williams, Tyree Gailes and Olan Coleman the runner-up in 39.36.

In invitational 4x400m action, the USA "White" team of Andrew Rock, Derrick Brew, Wallace Spearmon and Kerron Clement won a spirited contest over the Waco All-Stars in 2:59.86. The Waco squad made up of Sanjay Ayre, Jeremy Wariner, Jerry Harris and Darold Williamson placed second in 3:00.04. Wariner, the reigning Olympic and world 400m champion, ran a blistering split of 43.2 seconds.

The women's invitational 4x400m proved less competitive as the USA "Red" team of Mary Danner, Dee-Dee Trotter, Kia Davis and Sanya Richards dominated the competition with a winning time of 3:25.74. The USA "Blue" squad of Tasha Mills, Licretia Silbey, Debbie Dunn, and Misheal Betrand finished well back in second place in 3:31.58.

For more information on the 2006 Texas Relays, including the complete results, visit: www.texassports.com.

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