GAINESVILLE, Florida — Lauren Harris bettered the American women's record for the half marathon race walk and she and Nick Christie chalked up resounding victories Sunday at the USATF Half Marathon Race Walking World Team Trials at Celebration Pointe. Athletes were competing for berths on Team USATF for the World Athletics Race Walking Team Trials, scheduled for April 12 in Brasilia, Brazil.
Harris dominated the women's race, speeding to a big lead right from the start, and she had a lead of more than five minutes over her nearest challenger by the halfway mark. She maintained that lead and finished strongly to win in 1:44:03 to cut more than nine minutes off the pending American record of 1:53:26 by Katie Burnett in January.
Silver went to Evergreen State student Izabelle Trefts, who won the NAIA indoor 3K title two days ago, as she crossed the line in 1:52:13, 10 seconds up on bronze medalist Katie Burnett.
Christie, who has won more than two dozen U.S. titles in his storied career, captured the men's gold in 1:34:29, taking the lead almost immediately and never relinquishing it. He was never under serious threat as he had a three minute margin over the chase pack by the halfway point and progressively stretched that lead through the closing 10K.
Jordan Crawford was the best of the challengers, earning silver with a time of 1:39:49, and Jason Cherng claimed bronze in 1:40:38.