Heartland Racewalkers move outdoor for more national medals
National Senior Games 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA, July 7-9, 2023
After taking a number of medals at the USATF National Masters Indoor championship in Louisville in March, the Heartland Racewalkers started the outdoor track season at the National Senior Games in Pittsburgh at the beginning of July. Due to the relatively mild July, there were a number of excellent times and a couple of records.
The seven racewalkers came away with 4 Gold, 4 Silver, and 2 Bronze medals, along with 4 ribbons in the two races: 1500 meters on a high school track and 5K in a venue paralleling one of the three great rivers in Pittsburgh.
Karen Swisher, a former club President now living in Wisconsin and still a club member, took Gold medals in the 1500-meter and the 5K races, breaking her own record in the 5K in the 70-74 division. Alan Poisner from Overland Park, a veteran walker who was club president for 20 years, also took two Gold medals. This was the third time that he has taken two Golds in the 85-89 division, while beating 22 of the 53 men who were in younger age divisions. David Eisenberg, the current club president, won two Silver medals and continues to show faster times after his breakout racing success at the World Masters races in Torun, Poland in June. Lori Groom won a Bronze medal in the 5K walk, while Eileen McManus won a Silver for her time in the 1500-meter race and a Bronze for her 5K time. Earning ribbons, given to those who finish in the top eight places, were John Anderson and Maggie McCoy.
In the Power Walking 1500-meter race, Sharon Poisner took 4th place in the 85-89 division in the very first race she had ever entered. She beat a woman in a younger age division and is looking forward to her next race.
View race results here