Olympic hero sets the pace at Kingsport race
(Kingsport, October 9, 2004)

 Tim Seaman returned from a brilliant performance at the Olympics without a 
 medal but took a gold in Kingsport on Saturday with a dominant display of 
 racewalking at the national 5 kilometer championships. The Chula Vista, 
 California resident went into the lead on the first slope of the 3.1 mile 
 course and never looked troubled by the field even though it included 
 several other US international racers. "It's been a long season and I'm 
 going to take a three week break with my wife."  Seaman commented after 
 finishing with a 63 second winning margin. He has not yet decided if he 
 will continue training at the top level in preparation for the Beijing 
 Olympic games or move his focus to coaching.

 Behind Seaman, the chase pack quickly broke into groups with perennial 
 bridesmaid Dave McGovern of Kingston NY nipping South Carolina record 
 holder Ian Whatley for the silver medal. Under almost perfect racing 
 conditions, the crowd were treated to a great tussle for fourth with Bill 
 Vayo of White Plains NY besting the elite Pegasus club racers, Dan O'Brien 
 and Rod Craig of Michigan. Team Pegasus took a small measure of revenge by 
 winning the club title on points.

 The New Balance sponsored race also featured the national masters 
 championship's for age groups over 40. Leon Jasionowski celebrated his 
 sixtieth birthday with an exceptional 25 minutes 48 seconds winning time 
 in the 60-64 class. Still making young competitors green with envy was 
 Robert Mimm of Willingboro NJ, just days short of his eightieth birthday. 
 His time of 35:26 confirmed that Olympians tend not to lose their physical 
 talents as quickly as average sportsmen. Bob was part of the US track team 
 in Rome at the 1960 games.

 The women's race lived up to expectations with last year's winner, Bobbi 
 Chapman of Charleston, WV going 21 seconds under her own course record. 
 Even that effort from the Olympic trials third place finisher wasn't good 
 enough for victory as Deb Huberty of Greendale, WI held her off for the 
 American title by a scant nine seconds. Asked about her achievement as she 
 warmed down, Huberty confided, "I can't believe I won. I am so happy. I 
 have worked most of my life for this moment." Currently spending ten hours 
 a day as a research scientist, Deb is looking at a new career with more 
 flexible time for training to improve her chances of reaching the podium 
 in Beijing.

 The chase pack sprinted home with Oyster Bay, NY star walker Loretta 
 Schuellein bettering Marcia Gutsche of Newton, MA and Carolyn "Killer" 
 Kealty of Coral Springs FL. All three were under 26 minutes for 5 
 kilometres. Kealty looked tired but satisfied with the outcome of an event 
 which closes a roller coaster year in her life. "I only started racing 
 eighteen months ago and managed to reach the US Olympic trials in June." 
 Although she refused to commit to race in Kingsport next year, several 
 coaches agreed that Carolyn is very likely to improve her placing in 
 coming years.