USATF Nationals and Junior Nationals
Hayward Field
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
27-28 June, 2009

Tom Eastler, Maine USATF Racewalk Coordinator
Correspondent; 207-778-6703


****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE****

SHOREY, DUNN, FORGUES MEDAL AT NATIONALS IN EUGENE; VINCENT,
COURT-MENENDEZ, AND SWERDLOW EARN ALL-AMERICAN STATUS

Ben Shorey, former Ellsworth HS racewalking standout, two-time Olympic
Trials competitor, and prospective Olympian in 2012 took the early lead
in the USATF National 20km Racewalk in Eugene on Sat 27 June, led for12
kilometers of the race and stayed in the lead pack for nearly 17 km
until two-time Olympian Tim Seaman and 2008 Olympic trials medalist
Patrick Stroup pulled away to finish 1st (1:26:14) and second (1:26:41)
respectfully with Shorey finishing a strong 3rd (1:27:17) `for the
Bronze medal. Shorey promises to be a 20k walker to contend with in the
2012 Olympic Games in London. Matthew Forgues, a senior this coming
Fall at Boothbay HS, walked a personal best 46:50.09 for 3rd place in
the 10km Junior racewalk Championships and has been named to the USA Pan
American Junior Team and will be racing for the USA in Trinidad. Evan
Vincent, a junior at Maranacook Community School this Fall, walked a
personal best of 53:14.11 to capture 7th place and 5th position on the
USA Junior Team competing against the Canadian Junior Team later this
summer. Charlie Swerdlow, a senior this Fall at Falmouth HS, walked a
very impressive personal best of 53:30.58 to take 8th place.
All-American status was earned by the top 8 finishers in all
competitions at the USATF Nationals. Tyler Campbell who graduated this
year from Lisbon HS and who will be in Culinary school next Fall, was
walking a strong race when he suffered back problems half way through
the race and yet still managed to walk a 56:56.78 for 10th place.

In the Junior women's 10km race Abby Dunn, a sophomore this Fall at
Edward Little HS, walked in 2nd position for the entire race and along
with Allison Chin from Ohio, the eventual winner (56:01.21), pulled away
from and lapped the entire field. Abby finished a very strong 2nd place
(56:47.86) and qualified for the USA Pan American Team based on her
silver medal position, but has to settle for the USA Team Canada
competition because she is not old enough to compete at the Pan American
competition (minimum age requirement is 16 years old...Abby is 15).
Nicole Court-Menendez also walked a personal best of 1:02:39.72 for a
7th place finish. Both young women earned all-American status.

Ten Maine high school racewalkers earned 15 all-American Track and Field
Athlete awards in four national races in 2009, bringing Maine's
all-American Awards total to 163 earned by 58 racewalk athletes
representing 30 high schools across the state since 1993.