Penn Relays: Huge racewalk news!

Here’s what was written up (by me) for GoredFoxes.com … huge racewalk news from Penn Relays this morning, further validating Coach Chuck Williams as the creator and curator of a national-caliber racewalk tradition here at Marist!
 
PHILADELPHIA -- Freshman racewalker Marissa Sciotto zoomed to a personal-best time by more than two minutes, in the process qualifying for the USATF U20 National Championships in June in Oregon, after her stellar performance early Saturday morning at the Penn Relays.
 
Competing in the Olympic Development 5,000-meter racewalk elite, which started at 8 a.m., Sciotto placed 12^th overall, covering the 12.5-laps, 3.1-mile race in 26:25.83. This time easily exceeds the USATF U20 championship standard of 28:30. Those championships will be held at historic Hayward Field at the University of Oregon from June 23-25.
 
“So unbelievably proud of Marissa with her breakthrough performance at Penn Relays today,’’ Marist women’s head coach Chuck Williams said. “She has been training so well on her own and to open the season with a monster personal best validates all of the hard work she has been putting in! She becomes the latest in the long tradition of Red Foxes to qualify for the USATF Under 20 National Championships. Now we focus on training for that opportunity at famed Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.”
 
In the same race, two former Marist racewalkers also notched personal-best times. Katie Miale, now representing New England Walkers, was seventh overall in 24:43.80. Kayla Shapiro, now representing Walk USA, was 11^th in 26:22.90. Both Miale and Shapiro – along with Lauren Harris – participated in the US Olympic Trials in the 20km racewalk last summer.
 
Penn Relays
Franklin Field, Philadelphia, PA
Saturday, April 30
Olympic Development 5,000-meter racewalk elite
7. Katie Miale (New England Walkers) 24:43.80
11. Kayla Shapiro (Walk USA) 26:22.90
12. Marissa Sciotto (Marist College) 26:25.83 *USATF U20 National Championship qualifier