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As 2011 draws to a close, more awards came to HRW President Alan Poisner. Because of his record this year of taking Gold Medals in the USATF National Masters Indoor 3000-meter racewalk in Albuquerque in March, the 1500-meter and 5K racewalks in Houston in June and the 5000-meter and 10K racewalks and 10K team race in Sacramento in July, the USATF National Masters Racewalk Committee selected Alan as the NATIONAL RACEWALKER OF THE YEAR in the 75-79 age division. Some age divisions had no one selected because of criteria that had to be met.

In addition, in each of these races his age-graded times were greater than 80% and thus qualified for the ALL-AMERICAN AWARD given by the USATF National Masters Committee to runners and walkers.

Finally for the second year in a row, Alan received the PHIDIPPIDES AWARD from the USATF Long-Distance Running Committee for successful completion of a significant number of road races, including two half-marathons (track races do not count). Although Alan only racewalked in races that were open to runners, he did win Gold in all but two of the 16 road races that he entered this year. In two he got a Silver when the Gold medal winner was a runner. This was the second year in a row that Alan entered 25 races and it was his most successful year since he started racewalking in 1985. He attributes his success to luck (not getting injured), a supportive spouse, and the help of many national racewalking coaches who have visited Kansas City over the years. The Heartland Racewalkers have been a major support and inspiration for him as well.

A picture of some of these awards and medals can be found at the site below. Clicking on each photo will bring up a description. http://s1095.photobucket.com/albums/i465/apoisner/Racewalking%20awards/ or http://www.flickr.com/photos/racewalker/sets/72157628528184201/