Posted: October 16, 2007

Athletics: News & Notes, Volume 8, Number 87

Vaill, Green win USA 1 Hour Race Walk titles Teresa Vaill and Mark Green were the respective women's and men's winners Sunday at the 2007 USATF 1 Hour Race Walk Championships at the Bentley College track in Waltham, Mass. A 2004 Olympian and three-time USA 20 km champion, Vaill won the women's national championship leading from start to finish in walking a total of 12,501 meters within the hour-long time limit. Maria Michta was the runner-up three laps behind Vaill with 11,356m. Diana Rado was third overall, winning the U.S. junior title with 11,254m, with Lauren Forgues finishing fourth overall and second in the junior competition with 11,249 meters. In winning the men's title, Mark Green set a pending U.S. masters 50-54 age-group record with his final distance of 12,225 meters. Mike Kazmierczak was the runner-up with 12,094m, with Roberto Vergara winning the junior competition and finishing third overall in walking 11,917 meters. Paul Johnson, who placed 15th in the men's competition, set a pending U.S. masters M70-74 record with his measurement of 10,250 meters. Pegasus AC of Michigan won the men's team title, with Varsano's Chocolate Walkers the runners-up and New England Walkers third. None of the women's clubs had the required three finishers for team competition. For more information on the 2007 USA 1 Hour Race Walk Championship, visit . U.S. stars nominated for Athlete of the Year honors Tyson Gay, Allyson Felix, Reese Hoffa, Sanya Richards, Bernard Lagat and Jeremy Wariner have been named to the short list of candidates for the 2007 IAAF World Athletes of the Year Awards. Fans will have the opportunity to contribute to the selection of the three finalists in the men's and women's categories via the IAAF website ( www.iaaf.org ). After a merge of all the votes (IAAF Family Vote - 70%; General Public Vote - 30%), the three male and three female athletes with the most points will be declared as finalists. The voting will close on Friday, October 31 at midnight CET. For more information on the 2007 IAAF World Athletes of the Year Awards, visit www.iaaf.org. Silvester sets American masters record National Track & Field Hall of Famer Jay Silvester set a M70 American masters record last Wednesday at the Huntsman World Senior Games in Saint George, Utah. The 1972 Olympic silver medalist and former world record holder in the discus, Silvester's winning throw of 50.27 meters/164 feet 11 inches smashed the previous record of 48.06m/157-8 set by Wendell Palmer in 2002. Also at the Huntsman World Senior Games, Linda Cohn shattered the W55 American record in the javelin with her heave of 40.34m/132-4. The previous record of 28.06m/92-1 was set by LaTanya Glass in 2005. Marjorie Fitzgerald broke the W80 American 100 meter record, crossing the line in 18.76 seconds. The previous record had been 18.94 set by Josephine Stewart in 2005. In the W70 javelin, Madelaine Cazel set an American record with her winning throw of 27.52m/90-3, breaking the previous record of 25.58m/83-11 set in 2002 by Barbara Brandt. In the W85 long and triple jumps, Gladys Miller-Sajwaj set the inaugural American records with her winning marks of 0.92m/3-0.25 and 2.64m/8-8, respectively. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest