Rohl, Clausen cruise at 10 km Champs
AUG. 16, 2003
By: Al Heppner
Wilkes-Barre, PA--Michelle Rohl shook loose from quick-starting Teresa Vaill just before the 5 km mark to win the USA Track & Field National 10 km Title in 48 minutes, 1 second. Just a few minutes earlier, New York Athletic Club's Curt Clausen had just finished whipping the men's 10 km field in 43:57.
Rohl and Vaill were out in 4:35 for their first kilometer and had already distanced themselves from the remainder of the field.
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| Rohl and Vail out to the early lead at the 2003 edition of the USATF 10km National Championships. |
"I wanted to push the pace early, so I could get out in the lead and relax. I didn't want to walk harder than I had to," Rohl said.
Rohl crossed 5 km in 23:43 with Vaill ten seconds back and her lead steadily increased from that point.
"I wanted to work on my form, so I wasn't really going for a fast time," Vaill said.
Vaill finished second in 49:01, with Bobbi Jo Chapman third in 50:41 and Samantha Cohen fourth in 52:51.
Rohl added similarly, "I backed off in the second half. It was pretty hot and humid and this is not a course for a personal record (time). I didn't want to get any calls and I'm running the 10 km tomorrow. I'm not in great running shape, but we'll see where I'm at."
 In the final stretch, Rohl lays claim to her 17th US National Title. |
 Vail looks strong as she takes the silver medal behind Rohl. |
 Bobby Jo Chapman (left) battles Sam Cohen (right). Chapman eventually pulls away for an impressive 3rd place. |
Rohl may have been saving herself in an attempt to double up at tomorrow's 10km Warrior/Valley Championship Run held in conjunction with the National 10km racewalk.
This was Rohl's 17th US National Title and her second at this distance. She also won here in 2000.
Curt Clausen walked away from the men's field at the start. He held an 18-second lead after the first 2 km lap and was 36 seconds ahead of Dave McGovern by four kilometers.
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| Curt leads wire-to-wire en route to capturing the 10km title. |
"I wanted to go out and put some distance between myself and the competition and then cruise. I was hoping to walk faster, but this course is tough. Combined with the weather, it's not easy," Clausen said.
Al Heppner passed McGovern at 4.5 km, but still trailed Clausen at 5 km 21:45 to 22:22. Places held with Heppner coming in second (44:47), McGovern third (46:10), and 1988 Olympian Gary Morgan fourth (48:39).
Clausen also won the National 10 km Championship in 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2002. This was his 22nd US Title. He is fast approaching USATF Hall of Famer Larry Young, who is third on the all-time list with 25. Tomorrow, Clausen heads to Paris for the IAAF World Championships where he will compete in the 50 km walk.
 Curt defeats a deep field at the 2003 USATF 10km National Championships. |
 Al Heppner battles Dave McGovern in the early goings before laying claim to a 2nd place finish. |
 Gary Morgan, an 1988 Olympian, finishes strong in fourth. |
11th Annual Valley Classic Races
USATF 10 km National Championship Racewalk
TOP TEN finishers
Women's 10 km
Competitor Time Town Club
1 Michelle Rohl 48:01 Mansfield, PA Moving Comfort
2 Teresa Vaill 49:00 Pine Plains, NY Walk USA
3 Bobbi Jo Chap. 50:41 Charleston, WV World Class
4 Sam Cohen 52:51 Racine, WI Parkside AC
5 Loretta Schuel. 55:32 Oyster Bay, NY
6 Laura Feller 57:08 Syracuse, NY
7 Cheryl Rellinger 57:54 Troy, NY Walk USA
8 Maria Michta 58:02 Nesonset, NY Walk USA
9 Lee Chase 58:27 S. Glastinbury, CT CT Racewalkers
10 Gloria Rawls 58:37 Mountain Top, PA
Men's 10 km
Competitor Time Town Club
1 Curt Clausen 43:57 Chula Vista, CA NYAC
2 Al Heppner 44:47 Chula Vista, CA US Army
3 Dave McGovern 46:10 Mobile, AL New Balance
4 Gary Morgan 48:39 Clarkston, MI NYAC
5 Theron Kissinger 49:03 Waterbury, CT New Balance
6 Nicholas Bdera 49:22 Rosevelt Is., NY
7 Clifford Mimm 50:08 Willingboro, NJ Shore AC
8 Bill Vayo 50:26 White Plains, NY
9 John Soucheck 50:46 Little Silver, NJ Shore AC
10 Steve Pecinovsky52:00 Woodbridge, VA Potomac Valley TC
USA Track & Field National Championship 10K Racewalk
Team Awards
1. New Balance (McGovern, 46:10; Kissinger, 49:03; Pecinovsky, 52:00).
2. Shore Athletic Club (Mimm, 50:08; Soucheck, 50:46; Quattrocchi, 58:29).
3. WALK USA (Vayo, 50:26; Bartholomew, 58:00, Roth, 1:01:48).
1. WALK USA (Vaill, 49:00; Schuellen, 55:32; Rellinger, 57:54).
2. World Class Racewalking (Chapman, 50:41; Feller, 57:08; Monetta Roberts, 1:02:27).
3. Shore Athletic Club (Rawls, 58:37; Joan Venslavsky, 1:09:43, Ruby Tolbert, 1:13:20).
