Posted: August 13, 2007

Athletics: 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Men's 50 km Race Walk Set for Feb. 10

INDIANAPOLIS - The 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's 50 km Race Walk will be held Sunday, February 10, in the Miami-Dade County village of Palmetto Bay, USATF announced Monday. U.S. Olympic Team berths and a purse of more than $55,000 will be at stake. "We are pleased to be returning to Palmetto Bay," USATF Race Walk Chairman Vince Peters said. "The village, in conjunction with the Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department, did a superb job of hosting the Pan American Race Walk Cup Trials this past March. Together they put together an extremely attractive Olympic Trials bid package that will result in an outstanding environment for the selection of our Olympic Team in 2008." The local organizing committee is led by event director Robin Beamon from the Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department. ING Miami Marathon race director Robert Pozo will be the technical director of the race. A purse of over $55,000 will be awaiting the top finishers of the 50 kilometer (31 mile) walk, the longest track and field event at the Olympic Games. First place will be worth more than $15,000 with the top eight finishers guaranteed prize money. To be eligible to compete in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's 50 km Race Walk, athletes must have walked faster than 4 hours, and 45 minutes on a USATF-certified course or track in a judged race walk during the period of January 1, 2006 through February 1, 2008. More information ... For more information on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's 50 km Race Walk, visit USATF.org. Men who can run faster than 2 hours and 30 minutes for the marathon are encouraged to contact Peters (mv_tc@sbcglobal.net) for more information on race walking as well as U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying opportunities. Located southeast of Miami, Palmetto Bay is a village of 25,000 residents located immediately west of Biscayne Bay. For more information on the host city of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's 50 km Race Walk, visit www.palmettobay-fl.gov. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest