American record: Tim Seaman, 1:22:02
2007 U.S. Champion: Kevin Eastler, 1:26:43
2004 Olympic Trials Champion: Tim Seaman, 1:25:40
1.) Kevin Eastler, 1:22:56
2.) Tim Seaman, 1:23:38
3.) John Nunn, 1:26:22
4.) Matthew Boyles, 1:28:41
5.) Patrick Stroupe, 1:30:29
In one of the Trials’ only two free events, the men’s 20-kilometer race walk is hidden in relative obscurity. It won’t even be contested at Hayward Field, taking place on Leo Harris Parkway in front of Autzen Stadium. It is also one of the longest events, with the fastest competitor, Kevin Eastler of the U.S. Air Force, taking more than an hour and 20 minutes to finish. Eastler is a three-time U.S. champion at the event and holds the American record at 30 kilometers. In addition to winning the 2007 20-kilometer title, he won at 50 kilometers, as well. His biography says it all, calling him the “preeminent men’s race walker.”
Eastler doesn’t have the top time in the U.S. this year, however. That belongs to Patrick Stroupe, whose time of 1:30:29 is the best by 21 seconds over John Nunn of the U.S. Army. Nunn was an Olympian for the U.S. in 2004 in Athens, where he finished 26th. He is a part of the Army’s World Class Athlete Program.
Stroupe competed in the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in May in Russia after winning the USA Team Trials and IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Eugene in early April.
Another name to watch out for is two-time Olympian and American record holder Tim Seaman, who is seeded second, less than a minute behind Eastler. Seaman’s American record is 1:22:02.
Stayton High School graduate Jared Swehosky is ranked eighth.