HRW SHINES AT WMA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
World Masters Association TORUN’, POLAND 26-31-March 2023
Two Heartland Racewalkers ventured abroad to show their walking skills and made a very impressive showing in this international athletic event.
Karen Swisher, our former president and a current member who resides in Wisconsin, made a dramatic entrance to international walking by taking a Silver medal in the 3000-meter race on March 27. Her time of 18:27.4 earned her an amazing 91.2% age-graded status, the highest value ever garnered by a member of our club. She was the top American and beat 9 of the other 10 elite walkers in the 70-74 division in this typically indoor event.
Four days later, she did another fast time in the 10K (outdoor) race and finished in 5th place in a time of 1:06.56, allowing Team USA to take the Gold medal in team competition.
On the men’s side, our current president, David Eisenberg, was also the top American and finished the 3000-meter race in 18:47.1, good for 7th place in a star-studded field of 18 walkers. This was a dramatic start of international racing in David’s short racewalking career (just 3 years).
In the 10K event, David not only made a PR (1:07:02), good for 8th out of 20, but also led the American team to Bronze medal status in the team competition. The times of the three fastest from each country are added to determine the ranking.
Members of Heartland Racewalkers have now been on Gold medal teams in international competition in both indoor and outdoor races (2011) and can now add a Bronze to the medal collection. We can expect more in the future. (see Results link).