Men’s USATF National 50km Race Walk Championships (Confirmed entries as of 1/23/19)

#1) Nick Christie, 27, El Cajon, CA. PR: 4:09:32. Nick has become the dominant U.S. male race walker at all distances, having won the 2018 USATF National Championships at the Indoor Mile, 3,000m, and 5,000m and 10km, 20km, and 50km outdoors, and then capturing the Silver Medal at the 2018 NACAC Championships at 20km, He took up race walking after being a California State HS Championship qualifier in the hurdles and pole vault, and quickly became a 5x NAIA All-American and 3,000m Collegiate Record holder at Missouri Baptist Univ. In his quest to become the best, he competed in Russia, , , , , Italy, Canada, and Great Britain in 2018.

#2) Matthew Forgues, 26, Boothbay, ME. PR: 4:23:28. A graduate of Goucher College, Matthew is currently living in Chula Vista and training with Tim Seaman. He was 4th in the 2016 Olympic Trials, third at the 2017 Nationals and 2nd last year. Matt is a 10x high school All-American, who also was a Teach For America Corps member, who taught 5th grade math and coached high school track and cross country on South Dakota’s Standing Rock Indian Reservation.

#4) Pablo Gomez, 46, Evanston, IL. PR: 5:05:14. Originally from Mexico City, Pablo, who was 8th in the 2016 Olympic Trials, got his PhD from Northwestern and now is a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at DePaul University.

#5) Ian Whatley, 58, Greer, SC. PR: 4:14:48. Originally from England, Ian was 6th in the 2016 Olympic Trials at age 56(!) and he has represented the U.S. at distances from 3,000m to the 50km. This will be Ian’s 34th 50km, and in 2018 he became the oldest man or woman to ever win a USATF National Senior / Open Championship in any event when he won the USATF National 40km Championships in Owego, NY. Ian is a consulting bio-engineer and an expert on athletic footwear and technology who holds 20 patents, and was brought to the U.S. by Nike to help set up their first sport research lab. He and his wife, Susan, use their 24-acre pecan farm in South Carolina as a race walk training center.

#6) Steve Harper, 68, Helena, MT. PR: 5:50:40. Steve is a Computer Science teacher at Carroll College with 2 grown daughters, who played football in college and didn’t start race walking until he was in his 50’s. Yet his PR of 5:50:40, set here in Santee was a World Record for 64 year-olds.

#8) Adrian Zamudio, 43, Santa Maria, CA. PR: 6:08:09. A former cross country runner at San Diego State, he was 4th in the 2016 National 15km Race Walk Champs. A married father of twins, he is a Deputy Probation Officer for Santa Barbara County, and the Head Cross Country Coach at Orcutt Academy High School. #10) Dimitry Babenko, 46, Burnaby, Canada. Dmitry has 2 children and is Mobile Architect (software development) with a Masters Degree in Computer Science from Moscow State University who was the 2016 World Masters Champion at the 5,000m and 20km Race Walk.

#11) Charles Tucker Brugh, 63, Long Beach, CA. Debut 50km. The CEO of Bell Hospital, he has a PhD in both Psychology (Stanford) and Business Administration (England’s Hayword University). He has been running Ultra-Marathons since he was 14, and has run a sub-3 hour marathon. He “retired” from race walking for 2 years and gained 40 lbs! Started training again in July 2017, and in 2018 he won 4 USATF Masters Race Walk Championships at distances from 3,000m to 40km!

#13 or #113) Andreas Gustafsson, 37, Las Vegas, NV. PR: 3:50:51. Long a member of the Swedish national Team, Andreas became a U.S. citizen by marriage in 2015 and has 2 sons and a business creating multi- vitamins for runners in the U.S. He has applied to represent the U.S. in international competition. The IAAF had frozen all “Representation Change” applications world-wide, but has now begun to review the applications and if not this weekend, we should soon see Andreas wearing the U.S. red, white, and blue. He took a hiatus from racing for the past couple of years, but his PR’s will put Andreas at the top of the U.S. lists when he gets back in racing form.

#14) Allen James, 54, Torrance, CA. PR: 3:55:39. Allen is a 2x Olympian, walking the 20km in 1992 and the 50km in 1996; who was the dominant U.S. walker in the mid-1990’s setting 5 American Records and winning every major U.S. Championship multiple times. After moving back to Southern California in 2016, he has begun to get the itch to race walk again …

#15) Douglas Johnson, 58, Bowling Green, KY. PR: 4:59:41. A Family Physician by day with 4 children, Doug is also a 3x National Masters Race Walk Champion (3km, 50km, and 100km), Ironman Triathlete, Boston Marathon finisher, National Senior Games Champion, and the coach of 12 national youth, high school, and NAIA college race walk champions and All-Americans.

#16) Bruce Logan, 54, New York, NY. PR: 5:23. A triplet, with 3 degrees, who is also a Hula & Folk Dancer with over 100 performances, Bruce is a multiple National Age-Group Race Walking Champion.

#17) Michael Mannozzi, 32, Toronto, Canada. PR: 4:26:46. Known as “The Italian Stallion” in honor of his father, Mike is a 15x National Champion at various distances. A father of a 2-year old and a footwear advisor at Sportchek (like Dick’s Sporting Goods in the U.S.), Mike was 3rd in the 2016 U.S. Olympic 50km Race Walk Trials.

#18) Nathan Vanderwall, 26, Grandville, MI. PR: 4:39:01. A 3x NAIA All-American at Cornerstone University, Nathan has placed in the U.S. National Championships at several distances.

Women’s USATF National 50km Race Walk Championship (Confirmed entries as of 1/23/19)

#30) Katie Burnett, 30, Bellevue, WA. PR: 4:21:51. In 2017 Katie exploded onto the world stage by first walking a 13 minute PR and setting the American Record at these Championships in Santee, and then lowering it by another 5 min in to claim 4th place in the inaugural IAAF World 50km Championships!!! She defended her U.S. Championship here last year, and is looking for a 3-peat. A member of the U.S. National Team since 2012, she was a 7x NAIA All-American at William Penn, including once as a javelin thrower. Not a slouch at the shorter distances, she also finished 3rd in the 2016 Olympic Trials at 20k.

#32) Teresa Vaill, 56, Gainesville, FL. PR: 5:10:51. One of the greatest and most significant female race walkers in American history, Teresa has won 14 National Senior Championships, winning her first title in 1984. She is the former American Record holder at 20km and was the only race walker on the 2004 U.S. Women’s Olympic Team, making the team at age 41, becoming the oldest female track and field Olympian in history!

#33) Darlene Backlund, 73, Palm Springs, CA. PR: 6:26:44. A marvel of time, Darlene started walking at 50, and at last count holds 8 American Masters Records and 2 World Masters Records, and has won 33 National Age-Group Championships. She will again be walking in memory and honor of her husband, coach, and training partner, John who passed just before the 2017 Championships where she honored him by setting a World Record.

#35) Stephanie Casey, 35, Reedsport, OR. Debut 50km. Stephanie walked 1:41:47 for 20km and made the 2008 U.S. World Cup Team. Since then she has had 4 children (ages 9, 7, 3, and 10 months!) and become a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) and has a family practice. #36) Yolanda Holder, 60, Corona, CA. Yolanda is a professional Endurance Ultra Marathon Walker and a 2-time Guinness World Record holder for “Most Marathons Completed in a Calendar Year”, finishing a staggering 106 marathons/ultras in 2010 and breaking her own record in 2012 by finishing 120 marathons/ultras! She is also the American Record holder for the 10 day race, covering a total of 622 miles, and has finished a total of 545 (!!) marathons and ultras in her life … so far … #37) Carmen Jackinsky, 55, Aloha, OR. PR: 6:27:20. A former resident of Santee, Carmen both competes and coaches race walkers, but is best known as the owner of ReShod Walking Shoes, and has two patents and one pending for midsole technology for performance walking shoes. This is her 5th 50km and she hopes to walk under 5:45.

#38) Molly Josephs, 24, Glen Carbon, IL. Debut 50km. A native of Garden City, NY, Molly is a 4x NAIA National Champion at Missouri Baptist, and a 5x member of the U.S. National Team. Molly just got her masters degree from Southern Illinois in Sport and Exercise Psychology.

#39) Lydia McGranahan, 42, Keizer, OR. PR: 5:08:16. Lydia is a part- time fitness instructor and recently retired Level 10 USA Gymnastics judge, who home-schools her daughter Mariah, who will be walking in the 10km race today. Lydia has made remarkable progress since she began race walking just 2 years ago, becoming the USATF Master’s (40-44) Race Walker of the Year in 2018.

#40) Melissa Moeller, 28, Valparaiso, IN. Debut 50km. A graduate of Indiana University in Telecommunications with German and coaching minors, she is now in her last semester before becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). In 2016, she finished 5th in the U.S. Olympic Trials at 20km.

#41) Susan Randall, 44, Beavercreek, OH. PR: 4:42. Born and raised in China, Susan runs her own catering business, is a professional Chinese chef, and has a son in the Air Force. She was a member of the U.S. World Championship Team in 2017, and has also been on 5 U.S. Pan Am and World Cup Teams. She was the 2013 USATF Masters Race Walker of the Year, and has set 3 Masters American and World Records, including her 4:42 50km.

#42) Robyn Stevens, 35, Mountain View, CA. PR: Debut 50km. A U.S. National Team Member at 20km, Robyn is coached by Andreas Gustaffson, who is also competing in the 50km. A 4x U.S Junior Champion, who was also a national-class runner, Robyn is an accomplished designer who came back to racing in 2016 after taking 10 years off and is better than ever.

#43) Kathryn Grimes, 55, Newberg, OR. PR: 5:20. This Director of Healthy Living for the YMCA of Oregon has 3 adult children and 6 American Masters Age Group Records over 4 distances in 2 age groups.

#44) Amberly Melendez, 21, Kirkland, WA.

#45) Erin Taylor-Talcott, 40, Owego, NY. PR: 4:33:22. Erin is the former World and American Record Holder whose personal advocacy lead to the 50km race becoming an internationally recognized event for women. She has also performed solo at Carnegie Hall on both the oboe and bassoon!

Waterbridge Capital International 50km Challenge (Confirmed entries as of 1/23/19)

#105) Johnny Lizano Monterro, 24, . PR: Debut 50km. An electronic and electromechanical technician, who was Costa Rica’s Youth Champion and has competed in the Central American Games.

#106) Allan Segura, 38, Costa Rica. PR: 4:25:15. Has also walked 40:36 for 10km and 1:23:12 for 20km. Allan has won 2 Gold (2010 & 2013) and 1 Bronze medal (2001) in 20km at the Central American Games, as well as a Gold, Silver, and 2 Bronze medals in the CAC Championships. He also competed in the 20km at the 2008 Olympics, where he carried Costa Rica’s flag in the Opening Ceremonies.

#110) Susan Brooke, 53, Calgary, Canada. PR: 5:42. Susan finished 4th in last year’s International 50km Challenge in her debut at 50km. She has been race walking competitively for 33 years(!), represented Team Canada 6 times, holds 5 Canadian Masters Records, and won 3 Gold Medals at the 2013 World

#111) Eder Sanchez, 32, Mexico. PR: 3:53:19. Long one of the world’s premier race walkers, he is a 2x Olympian at 20km with a 20km PR of 1:18:34, who won individual Bronze Medals at both the 2009 IAAF World Championships and the 2010 IAAF World Race Walking Cup.

#112) Mariela Sanchez, 27, Mexico. PR: 4:46:12. Mariela won last year’s International 50km Challenge in her debut 50km, but that shouldn’t have been a surprise as she is a seasoned international walker with world class PR’s of 1:34:20 at 20km and 45:15 at 10km. She is also the sister of World Championship medalist Eder Sanchez who will also be walking in the 50km.

#114) David Velasquez, 24, Ecuador. PR: 4:07:47. David was the Silver Medalist at the 2018 South American Championships.

#115) Javier Mena Jara, 20, Ecuador.

#116) Claire Tallent, 37, Australia. PR: 4:09:33. One of the world’s premier walkers, Claire has a Silver Medal from the Commonwealth Games, 2 Gold Medals from the Oceania Championships and a 1:28:53 20km PR. The mother of a 20-month old son with her 4x Olympic Race Walk Medalist husband, Jared, she moved up to the 50km in 2018 with a brilliant 4:09:33 for 3rd in the IAAF World Team Championships, which resulted in her being ranked 3rd in the world in 2018 by Track & Field News.

#117) Paola Perez, 29, Ecuador. PR: 4:12:56. A 2x Olympian at 20km with a 1:29:06 PR, and the 2015 Pan American Games Bronze Medalist and 2018 South American Championships Silver Medalist, Paola is one of those very good 20km walkers who are now becoming great 50km walkers, as she finished 4th in the 2018 IAAF World Team Championships in China, and was ranked 4th in the world for 2018.

#118) Elianay Pereira, 34, . PR: 5:12:40. Married with a 2-year old son, she was 3rd in the Brazilian National 50km Championships and 2nd in their 20km Championships, and she is looking for a big PR. Masters Championships … all while being the a VP for United Way in Alberta, Canada and being the parent of 15 & 16 year-old boys. Invitational 20km Race (Confirmed entries as of 1/23/19)

#200) Emmanuel “Natos” Corvera, 25, San Diego, CA. PR: 1:26:43. A 2016 graduate of San Diego State, who just finished his Masters Degree in History, and finished 4th in the 2016 Olympic Trials at 20km, had a break-out year in 2017, winning the USATF National 20km Championships in Sacramento, CA in a big PR.

#201) Richard Campbell, 72, Orange, CA.

#202) Alger Liang, 20, Vancouver, BC, Canada. PR: 1:31:19. A member of the Canadian National Team.

#203) Miranda Melville, 29, Chula Vista, CA, PR: 1:31:42. A native of Rush, NY, who walks for the New York Athletic Club, Miranda is a Behavioral Therapist who graduated from the University of Wisconsin- Parkside. She was a member of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team at 20km; is the 2nd fastest U.S. woman ever at the distance; and she just set an American Record at 5,000m indoors 3 weeks ago!

#204) Rachel Seaman, 33, Imperial Beach, CA. PR: 1:29:54. A 2012 Canadian Olympian at 20km and 8x Canadian National Champion, this will be her 1st 20km since 2015 when she tore her hamstring and then got pregnant with her second daughter.

#205) Anali Cisneros, 21, Elgin, IL. PR: 1:43:47. A member of the U.S. National Junior Team, Anali is a multiple NAIA National Champion for Judson University, and a National Junior Record holder.

#206) Maria Garcia, 20, Garnerville, NY. PR: 2:12:33. A former 3x HS All-American in the race walk, she attends Dominican College, studying to be a nurse, while working as a Medical Technician at Phelp’s Hospital.

#207) Jessica Heiser-Whatley, 19, Greer, SC. PR: 1:58:19. Jesi (along with her twin sister, Tori) is taking a gap year before going to Columbia College in South Carolina on a track scholarship, where she will also run cross country and throw the javelin in addition to race walk. She won the 2018 USATF 1-Hour Championship and the New Balance National High School Outdoor 3,000m Race Walk Championships. Jesi represented the U.S. in the U.S. vs Canada Junior Race Walking Dual Meet this past summer. #208) Victoria Heiser-Whatley, 19, Greer, SC. PR: 1:59:01. Tori (along with her twin sister, Jesi) is taking a gap year before going to Columbia College in South Carolina on a track scholarship where she will also run cross country and high jump in addition to race walk. She was second to her sister in the 2018 USATF 1-Hour Championship and represented the U.S. in the U.S. vs Canada Junior Race Walking Dual Meet this past summer.

#209) Celina Lepe, 23, Spring Valley, CA.

Invitational 10km Race (Confirmed entries as of 1/23/19)

#300) Kenny Ho, 20, Vancouver, BC, Canada. A member of the Canadian National Junior Team.

#301) Thomas Jones, 54, Portland, OR.

#302) Walter Ogelsby, 72, Box Elder, SD.

#303) Logan Roberts Jr., 18, Burley, WA. Logan is a senior at South Kitsnap HS who aspires to go into the medical field. He competes for both his high school and the Thriller T&F Club as both a long distance runner and race walker.

#304) Gerard Deegan, 50, Burbank, CA. A former professional duathlete who represented Ireland and won the 2003 U.S. Duathlon Championships, Gerard moved to the U.S. 27 years ago. He has been the Irish National Triathlon Coach and is currently the Head Coach of the ARC Racing Project and the LA Road Runners in addition to working in the Operating Room at St. Vincent Medical Center. He took up race walking in 2016 at the encouragement of his colleague Susan Armenta, the former American Record holder at 50km.

#305) Wendy Clark, 65, San Diego, CA. Introduced to race walking by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training program, Wendy is a 2x National 15km Champion in her age group and a Gold and Silver Medalist at the 2017 World Masters Games!

#306) Kyra Danielson, 19, Vancouver, BC, Canada. A member of the Canadian National Junior Team.

#307) Joean Lu, 19, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

#308) Mariah McGranahan, 14, Keizer, OR. Debut 10km. Winner of last year’s Youth 2.5km race, she has been race walking for 5 years and is a home-schooled freshman with a passion for missionary work. She is also the daughter of Lydia McGranahan (#39) who is racing the 50km.