Quirke, Taylor win USA 50 km Race Walk titles
By Tom Surber, USATF
Posted Thursday, 11 February, 2010
INDIANAPOLIS - Stephen Quirke won the men's title and Erin Taylor captured the women's crown Sunday at the 2010 USA 50 km Race Walk Championships in Surprise, Arizona.
In winning his first-ever 50 km national title, Quirke, a resident of Racine, Wis., trailed Jonathan Matthews of Helena, Mont., for most of the race until he made a final pass with less than 2 kilometers remaining. Although Matthews continued to make it interesting the rest of the way, Quirke held on for the victory by a narrow 13-second margin.Quirke was first to the finish in 4 hours 23 minutes 2 seconds, with Matthews finishing as the runner-up in 4:23:15. Allen James of Sanborn, N.Y., finished third in 4:24:0 and Ray Sharp of Atlantic Mine, Mich., was fourth in 4:31:41.
The suspense in the women's race disappeared quickly as Erin Taylor grabbed the early lead and was never challenged in winning the race easily in 4:57:11. A resident of Johnson City, N.Y., Taylor finished well ahead of distant runner-up Kathryn Grimes of Sherwood, Ore., who crossed the line in 5:37:10. Nana Bellerud of Gresham, Ore., placed third in 6:03:27, with 2009 champion Karen Karavanic of Portland, Ore., fourth in 6:15:16.
Barron resets his own American Junior 20 km record
The winner of the men's 20 km Open and USATF 20 km Western Regional Race Walk Championship Sunday in Surprise was 17-year old Trevor Barron of Bethal Park, Pa., who completed the course in 1:31:51. Barron's performance shattered his own American Junior record of 1:37:49 set at last year's USA 50 km Championships in Santee, Calif.
Also in 20 km competition, Vicki Pritchard of Cave Creek, Ariz., was victorious in the women's race in 2:09:17.
For more information on the 2010 USA 50 km Race Walk Championships, including the complete results, visit: www.usatf.org.
