Welcome to USATF Oregon Race Walk! Season Wrap Up Event: NW Regional One Hour Postal Race Walk The NW Regional One Hour Postal Race Walk event was contested on Sunday, October 16, 2022. The location was Rex Putnam High School in Milwaukie, OR. Participants also had the opportunity to participate virtually in a National One-Hour Race Walk competition. The Postal Race Walk had eight athletes ranging in age from 34 to 75 and two elite race walkers, Stephanie Casey (Oregon Association) and Katie Burnett (Pacific Northwest Association). Weather conditions were sunny and warm (75 degrees at the finish so unseasonably warm for mid-October!). The event had a full complement of officials and volunteers. A very successful event! Go here to access the results. What is a One Hour Postal Race Walk? All participants walk for the same amount of time, 60 minutes. At the end of the hour, the total distance walked by each participant is calculated. Oregon Association Annual Meeting The Race Walk breakout session during the USATF Oregon Association Annual Meeting on Sunday, September 18 was the first session of the meeting. Go here to read USATF Oregon Race Walk Chair Marie VerMeer’s report. What is Race Walking? Race walking is an event contested at all levels of the sport of track and field, from youth athletics to the Olympic Games. Race walking combines the endurance of the long distance runner with the attention to technique of a hurdler or shot putter. Producing less impact, this technically demanding event continues to grow in popularity across the younger and older age groups for its fitness and competitive aspects.
USATF Oregon has an active Race Walk program, putting on three to four Association and Regional Championships per year, including 5K, 10K, and One Hour Postal Race Walks. The program has also conducted 20K Championships – including “Last Chance” qualifiers for the Olympic Trials. There are a number of elite race walkers who got their start in Oregon, including Erin Taylor-Talcott and Stephanie Casey.
Oregon Race Walk Chair - Marie VerMeer Questions or additional information? Contact Marie VerMeer, usatf.oregon.racewalking@gmail.com Vice Chair - Roger Hall hallro24@aol.com Completed Oregon Race Walk 2022 Events: USATF Oregon Association 5K Race Walk Championships and Jim Bean Memorial 1500 Developmental Race Walk events were held on May 1 at Rex Putnam High School, Milwaukie, OR. Go here to read a recap of the two races. Go here for the 5K results. Go here for the 1500m Developmental results. Hayward Classic Race Walks Date: May 7. Location: Hayward Field, Eugene, OR. Events and Times: 3000M (12:30 p.m.) and 1 Mile (2:30 p.m.). Visit the Hayward Classic website for the results. USATF Oregon 10K Association Championship was held June 4 at Sam Barlow High School, Gresham, OR. Go here to view the USATF Oregon 10K Race Walk Championship results as well as results for the USATF Oregon Masters Championship and USATF Oregon Open Championship. Portland Masters Classic 5K Race Walk Event results (held June 25 at Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham, OR) can be found here. Oregon Senior Games 1500M Race Walk was held August 13 at Oregon State University, Whyte Track and Field Center, Corvallis, OR. Go here for the results. Resources 2022 Race Walk virtual training session! On May 15, 2022, a virtual training session entitled "Deep Dive into Race Walking" was held for those interested in race walk officiating. The program was a great presentation by nationally recognized coaches and officials Jeff Salvage and Gary Westerfield. Go here to view the training session. Interested in learning more about becoming a USATF Race Walk official? We need you! Please contact Marie VerMeer, usatf.oregon.racewalking@gmail.com, for more information.