The competition is a scoring match between the USA and Canada in the event of Race Walking, coordinated between USA Track & Field (USATF) and Athletics Canada (AC).
First held in 1989, this is the 23rd annual match. The location alternates between USA and Canadian sites; this will be the first time it is held in New England. The match is also the longest continuously conducted international dual match in any track and field discipline for both countries.
It will be the first international country-based athletics/T&F competition to be held in Massachusetts since the World Cross Country Championships was held in Franklin Park in 1992.
Race walking is an Olympic event within athletics / track and field. It is also part of the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) World Championships on the Open, Junior, and Youth levels (the World Youth Track & Field Championship is being held this week in France). There are also stand-alone race walk competitions including a national team based World Cup and, in this hemisphere, a Pan American Cup.
Walk competitions and championships may be held on either road or track courses. Because of the element of technical judging, road courses are on restricted in length to between 1 kilometer (single loop) to 2 kilometers (if out-and-back on the same roadway, 1km each direction). The circuit in East Boston Park on the recreation path around the fields and stadium is just a bit longer than 1 kilometer and almost dead flat. The course will be measured by an internationally recognized measurer and eligible for national records.
Juniors are at least age 14 on the day of competition, and do not turn 20 during the calendar year. The USA team is selected based on their finish at the USA Track & Field Championship meet recently held in Eugene Oregon June 23-26. Canada’s team was picked on a combination of their national meet and committee selection. Both teams are fully recognized national teams, receiving national team uniforms for competition. Each team has one or two adult team coaches selected to coordinate athlete activities from arrival to departure.
In this particular competition, each country may enter 4 to 6 team members, with the top 3 finishers from each country figuring in the scoring. Additional non-scorers may compete in the meet at their own travel expense, and the meets generally allow additional “open” competitors to give the races a better competitive feel.
Women race 5 kilometers / 5 laps; men will cover 10 kilometers / 10 laps. We expect the totals in each race to be about 20 walkers. There will also be a novice/open/youth race of 3 kilometers following the international races to give local race walkers a chance to compete, and youth a chance to be part of a big event. That should have 20-30 participants. We are inviting any past “Team USA” members to attend, support, and even compete in the day’s activities. That includes 2 past Olympians living in the region (MA and NH), which will help present an “elite feel” to the day.
Travel and partial lodging cost is paid by the respective federations (USATF and AC). The local organizers – in this case, USA Track & Field – New England based in Brighton, and New England Walkers Club – cover all event management/operation costs We will provide certified officials to judge, count laps, and time the competitors.
There will be 16 team athletes and 4 staff coming in to Boston and staying 2 nights (some may stay 3). There will be some additional competitors already committee to coming in from Maine and New York (those who did not make the US team), with more expected. Our picking up the hosting of the event a bit late in the process may keep potential participants from outside New England down a bit.
This match may be the only national team some young athletes ever make, but a number of competitors from both countries have competed in as high a level as the World Championships and Olympic Games; the only male race walker on the 2008 US Olympic Team was a multi-time competitor in the match in the 1990’s.
While this is no a large-impact competition this year, and race walking is not a high profile event in the sport (though it is one that does draw attention), it is a recognized international competition that the city and state will be able to put on their host resume. East Boston Park was a surprise hidden gem in our search for a site, as other venues with higher visibility or familiarity first came to mind but in comparison didn’t have some of the requisite pieces.
We expect the event could return every few years if all enjoy a successful competitive experience this year, and the park could potentially be a site for a future US national race or, with some work, an international event such as the Pan American Race Walk Cup. We are looking forward to staging a quality event.
Steve Vaitones
Managing Director, USATF New England
svaitones@usatfne.org