Harris shatters American record at World Race Walk Team Championships

BRASILIA — Lauren Harris smashed her own American record Sunday in the half marathon race walk and turned in the highest placing by a U.S. woman this millennium at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships, finishing 13th. Harris picked up her fourth national record of 2026 as she covered the 13.1-mile distance in 1:39:28 to chop almost five minutes off the previous AR of 1:44:03 she set at Gainesville last month.

Harris set off conservatively in the 70+-woman field and was 30^th at 5K in 23:23. She moved up 10 places over the next five kilometers, going by 10K in 20^th place at 46:49. Harris picked off six more walkers by 15K, going through in 1:10:23 in 14^th place, and she finished strongly to cross the finish line 4:28 behind gold medalist Kimberly Garcia Leon of Peru.

Silver went to Alejandra Ortega of Mexico, with Spain's Aldara Meilan nabbing the bronze. The team trophy was claimed by Ukraine with 25 points, and Team USATF ended up 10^th with 127. Izabelle Trefts was 54^th in 1:54:42, and Miranda Melville was the third U.S. scorer, placing 60^th in 1:58:39. Angelica Harris was 62^nd in 2:01:03.

In the women's marathon event, Maria Michta-Coffey also turned in a stellar performance, placing 16^th in 3:52:38 to lead Team USATF to a fifth place finish. Katie Burnett was 22^nd in a lifetime best of 3:55:14, and Lydia McGranahan was 24^th in 3:57:39, also a career best. Stephanie Casey was 34^th and Katie Miale was 35^th to round out the U.S. squad. Ecuador took the individual and team trophies with Paula Milena Torres winning in 3:24:37 to help her country edge Italy 12-13. Sofia Forini of Italy earned silver in 3:25:42, and Nathaly Leon of Ecuador took bronze in 3:31:47.

Nick Christie led U.S. men's efforts in the half marathon, placing 39^th in 1:35:36 to help the American trio score 140 points in 13^th place. Emmanuel Corvera was 49^th in a lifetime best of 1:38:03, and Jordan Crawford placed 52^nd in 1:39:39, also a PB. Jason Cherng was 58^th in 1:43:01, with Nathan Limas 71^st in 1:53:08.

Gael Plasencia finished a very respectable 27^th in the U20 men's 10K, clocking a PB of 45:42 as  the lone American entrant. Bricyn Healey was the top U.S. finisher in the men's marathon, placing 46^th in a PB of 3:48:15, three spots ahead of Michael Mannozzi, who was 49^th in 4:06:59.