Walking it Out in the Peach State!

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1 ISSUE 2 VOLUME 1 SEPTEMBER 2016 WALKING AND ROLLING RACE WALK OF THE YEAR SPOTLIGHTS FEATURING MR. UBIQUITOUS USATF-GA MACH 2 DEVELOPMENTAL MEET/USATF-GA ASSOCIATION 1500M, 3000M, 5K & 10K CHAMPIONSHIP/USATF SE 5K & 10K CHAMPIONSHIP RACEWALKING AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL WALK TALK RESPECT, TOLERANCE, UNDERSTANDING, APPRECIATION MARK YOUR CALENDAR Georgia Race Walker Walking it Out in the Peach State! a Time to Walk and Roll by Jean Williams USATF-GA Race Walk Chair It is surreal to think that after the inaugural issue with its 16 pages of information and news that there is still lot to report and share, but there is. The reception to the first issue of the Georgia Race Walker was very welcoming. I received several comments that inspired me to complete this issue and that is motivating me to consider a monthly or at the least a bi-monthly issue instead of the original idea of maybe three or 4 times a year. Although I have not yet fully felt the depth of dialogues inspired by my challenges, the mission or the vision, the number of responses to the last issue and submissions to the next issues humbles me. In fact, the challenge resulted in my receipt of numerous articles and video links. Thank you to all who sent articles, news, comments and the request nominations for USATF-GA Race Walk Committee Race Walk of the Year categories. Your responses are awe-inspiring. This issue also features the USATF-GA Race Walk Committee Race Walk of the Year Award recipients, as well as introduces many of you, via a Spotlight Feature, to Olympian Gary Morgan, a.k.a. Mr. Ubiquitous. As stated in the August issue, my goal, as USATF-GA Race Walk Chair is to support, inform, promote and recognize, the sport and its athletes regardless of affiliations and the meets in which athletes participate. It is my belief that in order to grow and promote the sport, it is of upmost importance to welcome and encourage all race walkers. Our strength is in numbers, elite or beginner, active or post competitive. All who share our common interest are always welcome. Through our efforts, I believe that our membership as race walk athletes and as an organization will lead to increased participation and that because of our efforts, we will enhance our future activities. Please do not forget to mark your calendar with upcoming events (see page 9 for a schedule). If you are able to volunteer, officiate and/or participate, do not forget to sign up. Please remember that several of our Masters (Alan, Larry, and Joel) will contest the race walk at the Georgia Golden Olympics in Warner Robbins on September 23. If you are able, consider coming out to cheer them on. and/or to volunteer or officiate. Regardless, cheer them on in spirit. Registration is at for the October Southeast/GA Association Race Walk Championship. Spread the word. All events are opened to all age groups. The Clinic and 800m race are free and do not require a USATF membership. The 1500m, 3000m, 5K and/or 10K require a $20-25 fee (see page 9 for a copy of the flyer). I again extend the invitation to you to share copies of the Georgia Race Walker newsletter with others. Share via , social media, leave copies in the waiting room of the hairdresser, barber, medical dentist, and legal offices. Leave a copy in the break room at work. Educate others on the many wonderful happenings in the world of race walking. Share with others the achievements of our athletes regardless if they walk for exercise, health and/or competition. I look forward to working with you and invite you to join us in the potential implementation of new programs and initiatives. Consider checking out our new Facebook page. I hope to see it develop as we continue this journey together. Thank you for sharing your passion, time, and ideas with me.

2 Getting to Know Olympian Gary Morgan a.k.a. Mr. Ubiquitous While at the 2016 AAU Junior Olympic Games, race walkers had the opportunity to be judged by Olympian Gary Morgan who also is known as Mr. Ubiquitous because of his omnipresence escapades around the world. Gary is an aficionado of sports who began his running career while a high school student. He later found his true love of race walking when he competed at an AAU track competition 41 years ago, in 1975, when he was fifteen. Gary s passion for the race walk has led him to compete in the 20K and 50K events at six Olympic Trials. Gary Morgan's accomplishments include five qualifying finishes for the Olympic Time Trials. At the 1988 USA Olympic Trials, Gary placed 1 st which resulted in him representing America as a race walker in the Seoul, South Korea Summer Olympics. In the 1992 Olympic trials, he placed 2nd. Gary s resume is impressive and includes the following achievements, some of which we have already mentioned: 1988 USA Olympian in the 20k Walk Won 17 National Championships from : Distances from 5k to 40k Six Olympic Trials from in the 20k and 50k events. Placed 1 st in 1988, 2 nd in 1992, and 3 rd in 1996 Competed on 17 National USA teams in Race walking, Olympics, Pan Am games, World Cup and various other teams Carried the Olympic Torch in 1996 and 2002 Is an officer of the USATF Athlete s Advisory Committee to the U.S. Olympics. Named New York Athletic Club's Athlete of the Year in 1997 Ran a 2:35:40 Marathon in 1981 before beginning to race walk Ran or walked over 60 marathons, that includes, New York, Boston, Chicago, Kilimanjaro, & Antarctica Ran the Comrades ultra Marathon [56miles] in South Africa, 2009 & 2010 Served as a pacer for 20 marathons Climbed Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa's Highest Mountain in 2006 Participated in 8 Olympics, competing, volunteering, or doing media work Traveled in 38 countries and all 50 states. Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Inductee. Serves, 2008-present, on the Athlete Advisory Committee- USOC representative alternate, For USATF Served USATF in various capacities Serves as Michigan s Road Runners Club of America State, present Currently a videographer and writer As one can see based on Gary s resume, his passion for sports is not limited to competing. Gary, a television reporter for the Running Network and writer for Michigan Runner, shares publish accounts of his world travels providing anecdotes related to his adventures, which are not limited to running and/or walking, but also includes escapades of mountain biking, cross-country skiing, camping and all outdoor sports. Gary s volunteerism is a priority with him. Since retiring as an electrician from General Motors, he commits countless hours to community initiatives, whether reading to children at Salvation Army Shelters, working with youth from The Save the Family Foundation, or serving as an official at the AAU Junior Olympic Games. In recognition of his work as a community volunteer, Gary received the 2011 Jackie Joyner Kersee Award for his dedication to track and field and community service. After meeting Gary in Humble, I requested an interview from him. Upon returning from Rio, Mr. Ubiquitous took time out to answer the following questions: Q: What has been your biggest race walk accomplishment? A: My biggest accomplishment was making the 1988 Olympic team. Q: What is/was your race walk training ritual? A: When I was training, I usually did around miles per week. 2 hours a day, many days, I did double workouts. Q: What was the most difficult thing about race walking for you? A: The most difficult challenge was the loneliness of training for hours by myself, especially on cold windy winter days in Michigan. Q: You have had an abundance of experiences and successes as a race walker, what goals related to race walk are you trying to accomplish now? A: Now that I'm retired from competitive walking, my goal is to inspire people of all ages to be active and to have goals in life. No matter what your age you must have goals or you won't do anything. Life without goals sucks. Q: What do you think about all the recent doping bans as it relates to the Olympics? A: It doesn't surprise me and it s too bad. The real truth about doping is For the Love of Money is the root of all evil. This is why athletes use drugs. Many times, agents, Lawyers, Coaches, federations, (and the list continues), coerce them into taking drugs. It has been there for years; yet, at this time in sports it seems to be getting worse as athletes chase more money than ever. Q: How do you see the growth of race walking? A: Walking seems to be growing a bit in developing countries and the Far East. Since the USA and Caribbean, countries dominate sprinting and Africa dominates the long distance races. Walking is a great spot for countries that want medals outside of those events. There are nine walking medals in world track events. That can be a great motivating tool for other countries to get into walking now that Russia is banned for the mean time. Q: What advice can you offer youth race walkers regarding being teased, disrespected, and/or treated as if the race walk is not a reputable sport? A: As for people not respecting walking as a sport, I would tell race walk athletes to ignore them and keep moving forward; to have thick skin; and to be proud and confident in what they do with their lives. I heard all the crazy comments for years; yet, I stuck with it and became an Olympian. In addition, I would advise them to cross train in the off-season with running, cycling, skiing, swimming or any other sport that they enjoy doing and to Keep walking but participate in other sports that interest them. Q: Some non-georgia high schools have race walk as a sport; what do you think about race walking as a high school event? A: It would be great to have walking in the high schools as well as in colleges and universities. With nine Olympic medals up for grabs, walking should be included in these programs. Q: What ideas do you have about promoting race walk with young people? A: I believe we should promote it as a manly and womanly sport. The armed services and police academy's make recruits march all the time. We should talk to them about starting walking competitions in the military and police academies. USATF should even consider sending coaches to these places. WCAP World Class Athlete program is big in the Army. It should be encouraged by all the other armed forces and police academies in America. I believe we could find some good walkers there. A special thanks to Mr. Ubiquitous for the interview and for providing us with resources to help with this spotlight. We are lucky to have an opportunity to become acquainted with and inspired by an actual Race Walk Olympian.

3 Committee Commemorates Crawford Success Jordan Crawford (Douglasville, GA), a scholar-athlete in Douglas County HS International Baccalaureate Program., received the 2016 USATF- GA Race Walk Committee s Male Youth Athlete of the Year Award and was recognized for accomplishing the High School 1 Mile Race Walk Georgia records. So far, Jordan is the only Georgia high school race walker who in 2016 ranks nationally Anyone who becomes acquainted with Jordan knows that although relatively quiet and very humble, his passion for the race walk is second-to-none. He is a multifaceted athlete who competes in the 800m, 1500m, 1600m, 3000m, 3200m, Cross-Country 5K, the 2000m Steeplechase and on several relays. When given an opportunity to select one event to run, he usually chooses the race walk. Most people know that when it comes to race walk, you have those who strongly dislike it, those who tolerate it and those who love it. Jordan not only loves the event, he appreciates it and has an honorable respect for the sport. Jordan has race walked for seven years and has accumulated many race walking honors, accolades and awards. In addition to his numerous local, state, district, and regional race walk medals, and his race walk records, he is a nationally-decorated race walk athlete, known in the youth circuit. His athletic bio includes the following national honors. *1 st Place 2010 AAU Junior Olympics *1 st Place 2011 AAU Junior Olympics *2 nd Place 2012 AAU Junior Olympics 1 st Place 2013 AAU Club Nationals 5 th Place 2013 USATF Junior Olympics 3 rd Place 2013 AAU Junior Olympics 1 st Place 2014 AAU Club Nationals 2 nd Place 2014 AAU Junior Olympics 2 nd Place 2014 USATF Junior Olympics. 1 st Place 2015 USATF Junior Olympics 3 rd Place 2015 AAU Junior Olympics 5 th Place 2016 New Balance Outdoors 2 nd Place 2016 USATF Junior Olympics 1 st Place 2016 AAU Junior Olympics 2016 University of West Georgia & OSP Elite Athlete Talent Identification Combine Invite & Participant 4-Time USATF Race Walk Honor Roll Honoree (2014, 2015, 2016) Youth Representative on the USATF-GA Race Walk Committee 2016 Georgia High School Race Walk Record (Indoor & Outdoor Mile) 2016 Only Georgia High School Race Walker ranked nationally among the top high school race walkers. To give you an opportunity to know Jordan better, our committee reached out to him for the interview below: Q: How did you become involved in the race walk? A: My coach, Coach Vaughn, invited me and several other team members to try the 1500M race walk. Q: What do you like about race walking? A: I like that the race walk involves certain rules and technique. Q: What has been your greatest race walk accomplishment? A: My greatest accomplishment is probably winning the gold at a National Junior Olympic in my first year of race walking. Q: When did it dawn on you that you had a special gift for race walking? A: Learning the technique came easily to me. I realized almost instantly that I was good at the sport. Q: How much do you practice? A: Because of my school involvement in cross country and track & field, I mainly practice 1-2 times a week during the summer season during my regular track practice. Q: For you, what is the most difficult thing about race walking? A: Trying to stay focused the entire race because maintaining form and technique is crucial so as not to be carded. Q: What are your race walk goals? A: As always, my short-term goal is always to continue to lower my time. Since I am now in my junior year of high school, I also am working on being able to compete in the race walk at the collegiate level. My long-term goal is to one day compete at the Olympics in 2020 or Q: What are your thoughts about this year s recent doping bans of Olympic race walk athletes? A: It is a tragedy that doping happens but I am glad there are serious punishments to those who dope. The last thing race walking needs is the playing field being unfair. Q: How do you see the growth of the race walk? A: My hope is that it gets the recognition it deserves. The Olympics usually help boost the awareness temporarily, but we need to find a way to keep the momentum going after the Olympics. Q: Are you ever teased or disrespected? A: I get teased about race walking a lot, but it doesn t bother me much because I know those doing the teasing do not realize how difficult the race walk is to do. What I found is that those who have actually tried to race walk, for at least 400m attempt it; they come away with a newfound respect for the sport. Q: Some non-georgia high schools include the race walk as an event in their track & field program. What do you think about race walking as a high school event in Georgia? A: I think Georgia should implement the race walk into Georgia high schools as a sport and that it should be contested at the state level of track and field. This would increase the awareness of the sport and potentially will boost its popularity. Because there could be some hidden talent discovered, it will also help the USATF with its shortage of race walkers in the USA. This will be a huge asset to the USA and will compliment the need for our country to recruit race walkers from other country. Q: How do you perceive your race walk future? A: As results-base accomplishments of my aforementioned goals: race walking at the collegiate, Olympic, national and international levels.

4 USATF-GA Race Walk Committee Proudly Announces 2016 Race Walk Awards Recipients USATF-GA Race Walk Committee Recognizes Abigail Quinn as Female Youth Race Walker of the Year Female Youth Athlete of the Year Abigail Quinn Quintessential Track Club Male Youth Athlete of the Year Jordan Crawford Masters Athlete of the Year Alan Moore Atlanta Track Club Race Walk Coach of the Year Vaughn Williams Event Organizer of the Year Pamela Williams Oval Street Productions Club Race Walkers of the Year High School Race Walk State Records of the Year as noted on hsrw.net Camryn Curtis Outdoor 1 Mile Race Walk (Dream Mile) 9:45.97 Jordan Crawford Outdoor 1 Mile (New Balance Outdoors) 7: m National Race Walk Record Breakers Abigail Quinn Quintessential Track Club AAU Club Nationals 8:20.43 Abigail Quinn Quintessential Track Club AAU Junior Olympics 8:08.02 Joshua Sleight (E-1 at time of Achievement; He is now a member of AMP) TFCUSA Indoor 9:01.85 Nathaniel Grimes TFCUSA Indoor 8:55.47 When it comes to race walking in the 9 year-old girls age division, eight-year old Abigail Quinn is second to only a few. In fact, her 1500m time was better than the 11 and 12-year-old girls, as well as the 9, 10, 11, and 12-year-old boys. In the 10-year-old girls division, she would have been second. Abigail, a 3 rd grade straight A student, began running track when she was four. She began by contesting the 1500m run, the shot put, and the turbo-javelin in the AAU junior Olympic Games. When Abigail turned six, she began training for the race walk with her brothers, Samuel and Josiah. Both brothers are All American Race Walkers who have also been National Champions. She raced walked in several meets last year but was unable to compete at Nationals because there is not a 7-8 year old race walk division. In 2016, Abigail s race walk achievements included: Set the meet record at the Mark Trail with an 8:47.45 time Won the AAU GA District Championship and Qualifier with an 8:40 Won the AAU Region 8 Championship and Qualifier with an 8:19.96 Won the AAU Club National Championship and broke the record by seconds with the time of 8: Won the AAU Junior Olympic Champion with a time of 8:08.02; breaking the previous record by 42.1 seconds. Presented with the USATF-GA Race Walk Committee Record Breaker Award Voted the USATF-GA Race Walk Female Youth Athlete of the Year Award. Abigail s father, Scott Quinn, coaches her her. Coach Quinn is the head coach of Quintessential Track Club.

5 It is never too late to become what you might have been. - George Eliot Getting Acquainted with Alan Moore, USATF-Georgia Race Walk Committee s Master Race Walk Athlete of the Year Alan Moore, USATF Master Race Walker and member of the Atlanta Track Club Elite has been race walking for seven years. When asked how many race walkers were in his club, he noted, Currently, I believe there are only two race walkers, Joel Dubow and myself. Our interview with Alan resulted in the following responses: Q: How did you become involved in the race walk? A: When I attended a free Walking Club of Georgia race walk clinic put on by Dan Strohl and Charles Williams I became "hooked" on race walk. Q: What do you like about race walking? A: I enjoy the physical and mental aspects of race walking and the fact that a person can burn as many calories as running with much lower impact on the leg joints. Q: What has been your greatest race walk accomplishment? A: Difficult to say, but one of my biggest RW accomplishments was walking a 1500m with an Age Grade of % and within 6+ seconds of All American at the 2013 National Senior Games in Cleveland, OH. Other big accomplishments were setting an age group American Record for M65-69 and M70-74 in the Indoor Mile at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Unfortunately, this accomplishment did not receive recognition because the RW judges did not have proper certification levels for the records to count. Q: When did it dawn on you that you had a special gift for race walking? A: After the first six months of race walking and learning hip rotation and proper arm swing technique, I realized I could be competitive in my age group. Q: How much do you practice? A: I currently practice race walking averaging 5 days a week. Q: For you, what is the most difficult thing about race walking? A: The most difficult thing about race walking for me is keeping my head up and unequal arm swing. Dominant left arm swings faster than right arm. Q: Do have any race walk goals? If so, what are they? A: At my age RW goals are becoming less important. However, I would still love to achieve All American status in the 1500m or mile race walk. Primary goal is to remain uninjured. Q: What do you think about all the recent doping bans this year as it relates to the Olympics, especially involving race walkers? A: I'm glad the Russian race walkers were banned because their RW program had been using performanceenhancing drugs for many years Q: How do you see the growth of the race walk? A: I believe and hope race walking will continue to grow and improve especially in elementary, middle and high schools with proper guidance and coaching. Q: Has anyone ever disrespected you, as a race walker? A: I am never disrespected as a race walker except by clueless young kids. Q: Some non-georgia high schools include the race walk as an event in their track & field program. What do you think about race walking as a high school event in Georgia? A: I believe the USATF-GA former Race Walk Chair, Jim Norvill, was on the right track speaking to H.S. track coaches; even though many of the coaches turn a deaf ear about race walk. USATF-GA should make another attempt to have a separate walking division with awards in the Publix Georgia Half and Full Marathon, the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon/5K, and other high profile races in Georgia i.e. the Soldier Marathon, Half/5K at Ft. Benning and the Berry College Half Marathon /5K and others. Q: How do you perceive your future as it relates to race walking? A: I plan to continue as a Masters race walker as long as I remain competitive in my age group. Currently I have no desire to be a race walk official or judge. However, that may change in the future.

6 Meet Pamela Hudson Williams, USATF-GA Race Walk Committee s 2016 Event Organizer of the Year Pamela Hudson Williams, USATF-GA s 2016 Race Walk Committee s Honoree as Race Walk Event Organizer of the Year has been involved in track and field for several years. For eight seasons, Pamela has been instrumental in not only organizing track meets, but in making sure that the race walk is included in the event offerings. In 2009, Williams, then a member of the SMART Event Management team of Ray Lanier and Karsten Edwards, began including the race walk in the SMARTMeets spring Crystal League series. SMARTMeets continues to include the race walk in what is now known as the Crystal League Awareness Series. Prior to SMART Event Management, most race-walk youth athletes only had 1-2 opportunities to compete in the Race Walk prior to the Junior Olympics series, the Georgia Games. Once the Junior Olympic series began, they had the USATF Region Championship and the two AAU Junior Olympic Qualifiers before competing at a National Championship. In fact, because of the then low numbers and because a rule states that if there are less than six participants athletes in an event can be given a bye; race walkers usually had a bye from the USATF Association to the Region Junior Olympic Championship. Although that still takes place in some Associations, Georgia realized the importance of providing opportunities for race walkers to learn, improve, and contest the Race Walk at the Association level; and in doing so, began contesting the event instead of providing byes. In the spring of 2014 when Pamela began The TrackLab, she continued to include the race walk in her meet series. After honored as Race Walk Organizer of the Year, Pamela took the time to stop and answer the following interview questions. Q: Why did you begin incorporating the race walk in events you were organizing? A: It has always been included, although not as often as other conventional events, like the sprints or hurdles. Race walk appeals to athletes looking for an alternative to, or an additional endurance/distance events, and is unlike any other event on the track in terms of form compliance (save, hurdles). Q: What inspired you to add the Race Walk to this year's Combine? A: Race walk athletes are athletes, too! If testing for endurance, why would we not include the race walk athlete? Q: Some non-georgia high schools have race walk as a sport, what do you think about race walking as a high school event in Georgia? A: Not a bad idea for the reasons listed above great alternative to/addition of a distance event. It may be an additional source of distance points a way of countering the sprint points. Q: How many race walkers participated in the TrackLab this year? Was that an increase or decrease from your inaugural year? A: I am not sure of the actual numbers; I did not notice a decline or spike. I can say the same clubs, year to year, enter athletes in the event. I did not see any new club entries this past year, which is disappointing. Q: What challenges did you face when you first began offering the race walk as an event at meets you organized? A: The challenges are in the form of complaints, and are no different year to year: Many coaches (mainly sprint coaches) view race walk as an unnecessary addition to the schedule, as a schedule delay, and/or as a waste of time. Aside from the complaints, athletes entered in the event (and sometimes parents and coaches) do not take seriously the walking technique; the event is treated as a fun walk, and not as a competition between athletes. Having judges on hand who actively warn and disqualify would help with reinforcing that race walk is a real event, a competitive event with rules. Williams closed her interview with the following statement, From an organizer s point of view, I use the race walk to offer an additional event for endurance athletes, and as a way to rest sprinters and other ballistic athletes.

7 Camryn Curtis Holds the Record amongst Georgia High School Female Race Walkers Q: How often do you practice race walking? A: I practice the race walk 2-5 days a month Q: For you, what is the most difficult thing about race walking? A: After walking for a while, my knees feel out of place. Camryn Curtis, 8 th Grader at Chapel Hill Middle School is a versatile athlete. In addition to the race walk, she runs the 400m, 800m, and 1500m races. Additionally, she plays soccer. This athlete, a two-time national All-American in the race walk, was recognized on August 20 th at the USATF Annual Meeting s Race Walk Committee Summit for setting/breaking the Georgia 1-Mile race walk record as notified to us by Michael Roth of hsrw.net. Camryn has only been race walking for one year. In 2015, she placed 4 th in the 1500m Race Walk at the USATF Junior Olympics (Jacksonville, FL). This year, 2016, she placed 1 st in the 3000m Race Walk at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Humble, Texas. Her honor resulted in an article for this issue of the Georgia Race Walker. Her responses to the questions asked are below: Q: How did you become involved in race walking? A: My coach, Coach Vaughn introduced me t race walking in June of I was a naturally good at it. Q: What do you like about race walking? A: Race walking lets me feel free, and at peace. Q: What has been your greatest race walk accomplishment? A: My biggest accomplishment was winning the gold medal at the 2016 AAU Junior Olympic Games in Humble, Texas. Q: Do have any race walk goals? If so, what are they? A: Yes, my short-term goal is always to decrease my time. My long-term goal is to one day compete in the Olympics. I am, however, anxious about the walk being 20 kilometers. Q: How do you see the growth of the race walk? A: I see race walking becoming more popular; each meet I am happy to see more kids competing. Q: Are you ever teased or disrespected as a race walker? A: Yes, I ve been told that race walking isn t a real sport, that it is easy, and that anyone can win (medal) in it. Q: Some non-georgia high schools include the race walk as an event in their track & field program. What do you think about race walking as a high school event in Georgia? A: I think race walking should definitely be a high school event; it would bring lots of thrill and excitement. Q: What are some ideas you have about making the race walk more visible and/or accepted in Georgia? A: I think if my fellow race walking athletes and I continue doing our thing and winning, then race walking will be recognized sooner or later. Q: How do you perceive your future as it relates to race walking? A: I see great things in my race walk future. I see myself on an Olympic podium with a chunk of gold around my neck. A Letter To High School Athletes About Race Wa(Last update: January, 2016)

8 Race Walking In College An Excerpt from Letter to High School Athletes about Race Walking in College Each year in January, Vince Peters posts an updates of his Letter to High School Athletes about Race Walking in College. Below is an almost word for word excerpt of the letter. Please be advised that the entire letter including a list of college and universities who traditionally have race walkers can be found at LetterHighSchool.pdf The letter begins by stating, High School track and field athletes in general and high school race walkers in particular, need to be made aware that there is a shortage of race walkers in the USA. There are currently more colleges needing race walkers for their Track & Field teams then there are HS walkers in the USA. As a result, some colleges recruit race walkers from other countries to walk here in the USA. Peter presents this fact to stress the point that high school race walkers are an important college commodity. What does it take to be a collegiate walker? The current qualifying times for the collegiate nationals in the race walk are on the aforementioned website. Reaching the standard is challenging; Peters notes, on average only about a dozen men and a dozen women make the qualifying time each year. These stats are especially exigent for those athletes who first take up the race walk event at the collegiate level. That is why HS athletes who already know how to walk are in high demand. There are scholarships available for aspiring high school athletes who are experienced race walkers. Not many, 10 to 15 per year, but they exist. Because there are so few high school walkers in the USA that can hit Provisional times, many scholarships aren t distributed. The letter points out that locating a school that has race walking is not easy to find for a high school athlete. It is equally difficult for a college coach to find high school race walkers, especially when many schools do not post results of race walk competitions and because most states do not offer race walking in high schools. Therefore, the purpose of the Letter to High School Athletes is to help college coaches and prospective athletes connect. The High School Race Walk web site (http;// is a great place for college coaches, athletes, and parents of athletes to peruse. It provides recognition to the top HS Race Walkers in the US, as well as provides an annual ranking of the top HS race Walkers in the indoor and outdoor seasons. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has included the race walk as a scored event at its National Track & Field Championships for over 40 years. Since 1980, nearly 75% of all race walkers on the USA Olympic Team have graduated from NAIA member colleges and universities. The NAIA is a driving force for the inclusion, not exclusion, of all Olympic Events at the collegiate level. The race walks is a scoring event at both the indoor and outdoor National T&F Championships. Regretfully, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) does not recognize the race walk as a track & field event at any level, especially since the combined Scholarship Limits for an entire program at the NCAA Division I level for Track & Field/Cross Country athletes are 18 for the women and 12.6 for the men. Because of these limits, race walkers have been ruled ineligible by the NCAA s Compliance Office to receive athletic scholarships, prohibiting race walking athletes from receiving financial assistance (race walk scholarships) from the athletic departments at their colleges, unless they contest other events. Although there are NO athletic scholarships for race walking within the NCAA ranks, opportunities do exist for race walking at certain NCAA universities. There are supportive coaches at some NCAA institutions. Peters in his letter outlines important facts related to NCAA universities beginning with NCAA Division I schools, which currently do not have any coaches actively coaching race walking. When it comes to NCAA Division II, Peters, in his letter, names Mansfield University in Mansfield, Pennsylvania as a good school for athletes who race walk, noting that the coaches are Michelle Rohl, a three-time Olympian in the race walk and her husband, head coach Mike Rohl. Peters also notes that The University of Illinois at Springfield, Illinois, initiated it s first ever track & field and crosscountry programs in Its head coach, Coach Dewitt, is a renowned race walk coach who for nearly 30 years was in charge of running the powerhouse race walk program at University of Wisconsin Parkside. NCAA Division III coaches are NOT allowed to give scholarships based upon athletic abilities, only academics. If athletes are top notch academic students, several NCAA schools on the east coast do have coaches that have tried to assist their track & field athletes who also race walk.

9 September USATF National 10km Race Walk Championships, H. Lee Dennison-Suffolk County Executive Building, 100 Veterans Memorial Highway (NYS 454/347) and Constitution Blvd., Hauppauge, NY September 23 Georgia Golden Olympics, Warner Robbins, GA October 2 USATF Southeast/Georgia Association 800m/1500m/3000m/5K & 10 K Race Walk Championships, Campbell Middle School, Smyrna, GA October/November (Date TBA) Race Walk Lunch & Learn, Location TBA October 29 USATF SE/South Carolina Association 1-Hour Postal Race Walk, Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina November USATF Nat'l Masters 30k & Fl Assoc 30k, 20k RW Championship 2016 USATF Annual Meeting, November 30-December 4, 2016 Hilton at Walt Disney World Orlando, FL Thursday, December 1 - Race Walking Executive Committee (11:00 AM 12:50 PM) Friday, December 2 - Race Walking Site Selection Subcommittee (8:00 AM 9:50 AM) Friday, December 2 - Race Walking General Session (11:00 AM 5:50 PM) Saturday, December 3 - Race Walking General Session/Working Group (10:00 AM 1:15 PM) Saturday, December 3 - Officials Clinic D Topic 1: Race Walk (10:30 AM 1:20 PM) Saturday, December 3 - Race Walking Judging/Working Group (2:15 PM 5:30 PM) December 17 - The 2016 Galleria Games (Youth, Open, Masters) Birmingham CrossPlex, Birmingham AL

10 A Coach will affect more young people in one year than the average person does in a lifetime. Meet USATF-GA Race Walk Committee s 2016 Race Walk Coach of the Year = At the August 20, USATF-GA Race Walk Committee Annual Meeting, the committee named Vaughn Williams, head coach of, Race Walk Coach of the Year. Additionally, his team, E-1, was also awarded the Club Race Walk of the Year Award. Coach Vaughn, a USATF Level 1 and Level 2 and a USTFCCCA certified Technical Coach, as well as a certified AAU Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Double-Goal Coach. He has over thirteen years of experience as a track head coach, assistant head coach, assistant coach and/or parent coach of youth clubs and recreational cross country and track &field teams. He is the parent of two National Champions and Medalists who are/were collegiate athletes. One is also an All Conference Athlete, a National All-American, as well as an NCAA Conference SAAC representative. Coach Coach Vaughn s record as a coach is impressive; he has assisted and/or individually coached over 280 National Medalists with over 30 National Champions; over 250 GRPA medalists, over 40 GRPA champions and has also coached over 800 county, district, area, state, and regional medalists and ribbon winners; with over 75 champions. Coach Vaughn is proud of the fact that 100% of his athletes have achieved personal bests. As a race walk coach, he has coached 28 All-Americans national race walk gold medal winning champions as well as more than 88 2 nd -8 th place All-American athletes for a total of more than 106 All Americans Additionally, he has coached over 150 regional race walk medalists and over 150 state/association medalists. Out of the two race walking athletes who have graduated, one received a race walk scholarship; the other changed teams and no longer race walks. Among his many areas of coaching expertise and experience are sprints, relays, mid-distance running, distance, race walking, cross-country, long jumps, shot put, and swimming. Coach Vaughn, a physical therapist by profession Is a member of the USATF, AAU, NSCA, CCYTL, and APTA Holds USATF Level I and Level II education, Neuro-Developmental Therapy, First Aid, and CPR certifications. Holds a USTFCCCA Technical Certificate in Track & Field Is an AAU Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Double-Goal Coach. Hold a B.A. in Physical Education A.S and B.S in Physical Therapy Is a former HS All-State Track & Field athlete. Is a conditioning and strengthening specialist and is working on completing his National Strength and Conditioning Association certification. Has experience as a track & field, cross country, swimming and basketball. Is completing his certification in strength and conditioning from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. When asked what he likes about coaching, Coach Vaughn states, I like the challenge of educating and molding athletes into the athlete he/she is inside and having athletes not only recognize their potential, but also realize their potential, regardless of the event. When asked if this applies to race walking, he notes, We have some walkers who are developmental, some who are competitive and some who are either elite or near elite; regardless, most are very good and those that aren t,are working to get there. He goes on to note, We take them where they are and provide them with skills and opportunities. I believe that hard work beats talent, when talent does not work hard. Our athletes work hard, no matter the event. As a result, I have observed athletes on my team, as well as those on other teams in Georgian, not only become cognizant of race walking skills and techniques, but also learn to tolerate, appreciate, and even become zealous about the sport.

11 USATF-GA Race Walk Committee Select E-1 as 2016 Club Race Walkers of Year is not a traditional race walk club as is the South Texas Walking Club. E-1 is a true track and field club with athletes who compete in every event from sprints to distance 50m to 5Ks, from jumps to throws, from hurdles to the race walk and from cross-country to combined/ multi-events. In fact, the only events not contested at E-1 are the hammer, weight throw and pole vault. The club s national achievements include: Since E-1 s founding in the summer of 2010, forty-one E-1 athletes have medaled nationally in the race walk A total of 82 national race walk medals (23 Gold) have been awarded to 41 E-1 athletes Twenty-three gold medals have been won by 9 athletes Thirty-two race walkers have won fifty-nine 2 nd -8 th place medals at one or more National Championships. When it comes to the race walk, E-1 gives the sport as much respect as all other sports. Athletes not competing in the race walk not only tolerate the race walkers, they have a true understanding and respect for the sport and its athletes. Most athletes have attempted race walking at least once at practice or at a meet; they realize it is not an easy sport and that it takes skill, practice, and knowledge. Because the race walk is not the only event of most E-1 athletes, but rather an additional sport, E-1 s athletes compete against one or more of the other athletes in other events. What makes this Club different from other clubs with race walkers? E-1 not only has some of the best race walkers in the country, an outstanding Coach and Assistant Coach, they also boast to have four officials on the team who specialize in the race walk. All of them judge/officiate/umpire other events, but became officials because of the need for race walking judges. All are (or were) parents of race walkers and have dedicated themselves to learning the rules of the sport and in one case, a Masters race walker and a parent coach. During 2016, participated, competed in and/or judged the race walk at the following events: Alabama Striders Indoor Classic Galleria Games TFCUSA nationals New Balance Indoors National University of West Georgia & OSP Elite Athlete Talent Identification Combine Invitee & Participant USATF Masters/Open Track & Field/LDR/Race Walk Championship Mark Trail Memorial Day Weekend Championship AAU District Junior Olympic Championship USATF-GA Association Junior Olympic Championship Track Lab Series USATF-Region Junior Olympic Championship New Balance Outdoor National Georgia Games AAU Region 8 Junior Olympic Championship USATF Junior Olympics USATF Dream Mile AAU Junior Olympic USATF Annual Meeting/USATF Race Walk Committee Annual Meeting This year, E-1 s race walkers made up about % of the team, with nine race walkers competing during the indoor and spring seasons and seven during the summer: Camryn, Elise, Jordan, Joshua, Kennedy, Kelvin, Nathaniel, Nicholas and Ronndasia were the spring athletes. All, but Joshua and Nicholas competed for E-1 during the summer. At the national level: Camryn competed in Humble in the 800m, 1500m, 3000m Race Walk and the 4x800m, returning home with a 1 st place Race Walk Medal and a 7 th place 4x800m medal. Last year, she placed 4 th in Jacksonville. Elise competed in the 1500m Race Walk, placing 9 th after staying on the line too long. She is a 2015 USATF Junior Olympic 7 th Place All-American. Jordan Crawford competed in Sacramento in the 3000m Race Walk, placing 2 nd. In Humble, he competed in the 1500m, Steeplechase and 3000m Race Walk, placing 1 st in the Race Walk and 9 th in the Steeplechase. He placed 5 th in the New Balance Outdoors Nationals and 8 th in the New Balance Indoor Nationals. See his commendations on page 3 of this newsletter. Jordan won the USATF Junior Olympic Race Walk last year and placed second at AAU s Junior Olympic. He is now a 3-time USATF Race Walk Committee Honor Roll Honoree. Kennedy competed in Humble in the 800m, 1500m, 3000m Race Walk and the 4x800m, returning home with the a 2 nd place Race Walk medal and a 7 th place 4x800m medal. Kelvin competed in Sacramento in the High Jump, 1500m, and 3000m Race Walk. He returned home with the 2nd place USATF Junior Olympic Race Walk. He is now a 4-time USATF Race Walk Committee Honor Roll Honoree. Nathaniel Grimes competed in Humble in the 800m and 4x800m. Although he ran a strong leg in the relay, they just missed eighth by a step, finishing ninth. Ronndasia was the only new member of E-1 s 2016 Race Walk Team; she finished 5 th in Humble. E-1 usually has 6-10 youth race walkers each year. They also have a few parents and siblings who have learned to race walk and race walk in developmental meets opened to to Masters and Open athletes. Coach Vaughn, Race Walk Coach of the Year, the head coach of E-1 and in addition to coaching a variety of other events, took on the role as the Head Race Walk Coach. His son, Trey, a multi-year Junior Olympic All American and who has race walked since he was 11 years old and who raced one year on a race walk scholarship at the collegiate level before deciding to retire, assists him. Recently coming out of retirement, Trey, now 22, is working to return to race walk shape and has made his return presence in a few races with athletes who he mentors. If all goes as plans, he will begin training again in Although most athletes have completed their race walking career until next years, Several of E-1 s youth, its Masters and its Open athlete will be competing at the USATF-GA/Southeast Race Walk Championship on October 2 nd and a few are preparing for the Indoor season. The officials on E-1 will also be busy judging meets during the fall and winter. When it comes to E-1, they exemplify the words, Walk it Out and the mantra, Keep Calm and Race Walk

12 Tolerance, Acceptance & Respect It is not a secret that some of our athletes, especially our youth athletes are only in the race walk momentarily; the fact is that they are in it. Who knows, some may extend that moment to years, even a lifespan; it may become a lifestyle or even a passion. We are already aware, from the increased number of youth race walkers that our investment is paying great dividends for the future. The increased opportunities for learning and competing as it relates to the race walk have made a huge impact in the growth and future of the sport. As a result, there has been a significant shift in the race walk continuum: from disrespect to indifference, from indifference to tolerance, from tolerance to appreciation, and for some from appreciation to passion. That paradigm shift, my friends, is no small feat. To make that type of progress, it is about changing behaviors and mindset. I can still remember when the Savannah- Chatham Cheetahs were the only race-walkers we would see on the track. As a matter of fact, although my son Trey began race walking as rehabilitation from an injury, he stayed fascinated with it and was inspired by the skills of a young man who walked for the Savannah-Chatham Cheetahs. Back then, 2004, people weren t always tolerant; there were often rude chants, loud calls, and impolite comments directed at the walkers by spectators, athletes, and even coaches; in some cases, even some working the meets use the race walk as time to take breaks. As time has passed, there have been many changes. Even though there are still people who express a resentment of race walk taken time away from other events, it is not nearly as frequent or as boisterous. Why the change in behavior and mindset? I sincerely believe a lot of it has come from education about the sport, respect of some of the athletes who race walk, as well as respect for the skill level they demonstrate as they walk. I can still remember when the word got out that my son, Trey had received a race walk scholarship; it created another level of knowledge, acceptance, and respect that an athlete could get college paid for by race walking. Now, curious athletes and some with a potential interest ask race walkers for advice, guidance, and/or instruction. When it comes to the race walk, there is a wide gamut of responses and perception from dislike to respect. For the purpose of this article, I will focus on tolerance, acceptance, appreciation and respect. Some of our Race Walk of the Year honorees address these topics in some of their interview responses Wendy Bumgardner (No Respect for Olympic Race Walking, ) updated her article in August, noting that although walking has been a noble sport and part of the Olympic Games since 1906, it still does not get the respect it should. She alludes to the fact that it may be tolerated and in some cases accepted; but it has a ways to go when it comes to appreciation understanding and respect. Her article stated the following, broadcasters and sports pundits cannot resist taking a jab at racewalking. Every four years it's a topic of conversation on television, in print and in social media. To demonstrate her point, Baumgartner uses the following anecdotes: The 2012 women's 20 kilometer walk saw Elena Lashmanova set a world record as she passed Olga Kaniskina, both of Russia. But that didn't stop NBC from showing the footage in fast motion against the Benny Hill theme and mocking the athletes. A Snickers ad joined in the mockery. It featured Mr. T pulling up alongside a male racewalker and yelling at him, " You re a disgrace to the man race! It s time to run like a real man" and then firing Snickers at him out of gun. Bumgardner, in her article, calls attention to what she says is NBC s long history of mocking race walking during the Olympic Games by quoting Bob Costas in the September 24, 2000 Olympic broadcast when he commented, What's up with the racewalkers? I mean I respect them as athletes but come on...a contest to see who can walk the fastest is like having a contest to see who can whisper the loudest." In her article, Bumgardner also refers to a Time Magazine insult about race walking and a humorous open letter to the Olympic Committee from Gary Linnell that was published n the Sydney Morning Herald. Regrettably, at this time I do not have a link to those items. When we discuss tolerance, acceptance, appreciation and respect, we cannot accept Bob Costa s statement as respect. I think the term he used is debatable, at the least. Given the Wikipedia definition of tolerance as a fair, objective and permissive attitude toward something without bigotry, I personally do not believe Costa s comment exemplifies any of the noted virtues. If the comment has to be categorized, it probably comes closest to acceptance. Scott Noelle in his article Acceptance vs. Tolerance ( ) noted, One can accept something while not tolerating it. However, I believe Costa s acceptance is not related to the athlete; it is more about the fact that it is an Olympic event, like it or not. Scott Noelle, categorized the process of tolerance and acceptance by noting, The difference is how you feel in the process: Tolerance without acceptance leads to resentment. Tolerance with acceptance leads to appreciation. Intolerance without acceptance leads to conflict. Intolerance with acceptance leads to creativity. Based on Noelle s descriptions, it appears that Costa s comments, as it relates to the athlete and the actual sports were more similar to resentment than any of the aforementioned virtues. Bumgardner (2016) also insinuates that the seeds of disrespect for the race walk may be a result of the fact that historically the United States has not consider the race walk as an event. She notes that since the top competitors in the sport are non-anglo and that Russia, Mexico, Ecuador and Poland typically field the best when it comes to race walking at the Olympics and therefore the USA, Canada, and Britain finishes don t result in medals and leave these athletes off the podium the result? Less or No press. In my opinion, understanding the sport with its technique, style, skills, and rules, as well as its athlete s commitment to hard work and strenuous training has lead to tolerance at its worst and appreciation and respect at its best. Race walkers are not only ambassadors for the sport, they are catalysts for change; they have the power to impact the future; are fueled by passion and have been successful in inspiring the passion in others; and they have a strong ability to self-discipline and self-motivate. They are change agents.

13 Working on the Work The Race Walk Committee is on the go! After a restructuring effort, we are no busy working on the work the vision, mission, and goals! This issue is a result of some of our work. Thanks to the following for all their hard work and/or advice. Executive Committee Jean Williams, Chair Kellie Crawford, Vice Chair Jacquelwyn Anthony, Secretary We are now on Facebook. It is my first attempt creating a page, so I apologize if it looks like an amateur created it, she did. LOL. Regardless, it serves the mission and goals. 1. To promote the sport and its athletes 2. To inform, recognize, and celebrate the sport and its athletes 3. To explore social media Right now, the page includes pictures, videos, events, sayings and basic information. Feel free to like anything you want. Committee Members Alan Moore (Atlanta Track Club, Masters Race Walker) Joel Dubow (Atlanta Track Club, Masters Race Walker, 2014 National Race Walk Age Group Athlete of the Year) Jordan Crawford (Youth Race Walker) Larry Wood (USATF RW Committee-Atlanta Track Club Liaison, Masters Race Walker) Peggy Curtis (Official & Parent of a Race Walker) Robert Fowler (Atlanta Track Club, Masters Race Walker) Steve Hubbart (Masters Race Walker) Trey Williams (Open Race Walker) Vaughn Williams (Race Walk Coach) Committee Resources Cindy Slayton (USATF-GA Officials Chair) Dexter McCloud (USATF-GA President) Diane Graham-Henry (USATF National Race Walk Committee-Vice Chair) Ian Whatley (USATF-SC, USATF Director of Racewalk Coaching Development, World Class Race Walker, Member of Team USA, 5-Time Olympian Trial participant, USATF Certified Race Walk Official & Coach, Author, Researcher) Pamela Betz (USATF-FL, USATF Southeast Region Representative) Mike Rohl (USATF-NC), Former Member of Team USA, creator of Mansfield University Track & Field Head Coach, Race Walk Coach Steve Hubbart (Atlanta Track Club, Master Walker) Susan Heiser Whatley (USATF-SC Race Walk Chair, Race Walk Official, Race Walk Coach) If interested in serving on the Race Walk Committee as a member, volunteer or resource, Please me at racewalk@usatfga.org