| ONTARIO RACEWALKERS - ATHLETES |
| Members |
We walk in all seasons, but sometimes train indoors in winter to avoid
the ice underfoot.
Newcomers are always welcome. They receive an introductory lesson,
usually on the first Tuesday of the month. The emphasis is on learning
correct racewalking technique, but the camaraderie of the group always
contributes to the experience.
SPECIAL NOTE: GET TO KNOW YOUR FELLOW MEMBERS
We need a digital photo of all members and a short Bio to add to this
page. Please send your picture and Bio to Lily Whalen
the ice underfoot.
Newcomers are always welcome. They receive an introductory lesson,
usually on the first Tuesday of the month. The emphasis is on learning
correct racewalking technique, but the camaraderie of the group always
contributes to the experience.
SPECIAL NOTE: GET TO KNOW YOUR FELLOW MEMBERS
We need a digital photo of all members and a short Bio to add to this
page. Please send your picture and Bio to Lily Whalen
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Who We Are...
Most of us live in the Toronto
and Etobicoke areas, but we
do have members in other
parts of the province. Some of
us are walking for fitness;
others compete on a regular
basis.
Most of us live in the Toronto
and Etobicoke areas, but we
do have members in other
parts of the province. Some of
us are walking for fitness;
others compete on a regular
basis.
Rebecca Christensen (formerly Lavallee) began racewalking at the start of high school.
After taking a 4 year break from the sport while attending University, she has decided to
take it up again. She was a member of the Canadian Junior team for Pan American
Games in Argentina 2001 where she placed 7th. She was the first finisher on the Canadian
team for the Canada-USA Dual Meet in 2000,2001 & 2002. Rebecca is planning to attend
Nationals (20Km) in Ottawa this August.
Personal Bests: 1,500m - 6:52; 3k - 14:45; 5k - 25:14; 10k - 52:28
Goals for 2006: Return to past form then up it a notch each month.
After taking a 4 year break from the sport while attending University, she has decided to
take it up again. She was a member of the Canadian Junior team for Pan American
Games in Argentina 2001 where she placed 7th. She was the first finisher on the Canadian
team for the Canada-USA Dual Meet in 2000,2001 & 2002. Rebecca is planning to attend
Nationals (20Km) in Ottawa this August.
Personal Bests: 1,500m - 6:52; 3k - 14:45; 5k - 25:14; 10k - 52:28
Goals for 2006: Return to past form then up it a notch each month.
Nanci Patten Sweazey started walking in the summer of 1978. In 1979 she set a new 1,500m
indoor record of 7:04:22. 26 yrs later at age 45 she walked 7:04 & in '06 at age 50 - 7:08:45.
She was a member of the 1983 Can. World Cup team in Norway.
World Masters Wins: Buffalo '95 - silver & bronze; Australia '01 - silver & bronze; Italy '02 -
gold & silver; Puerto Rico '03 - gold, 2 silvers & gold in steeplechase; Germany '04 - bronze;
Spain '05 - bronze & silver in steeplechase; Austria '06 - gold.
In 2002, she won the City of Mississauga and the Ontario Masters Athlete of the Year awards.
She presently holds 22 Canadian master records & continues to race in the open Senior
Championships.
Personal Bests: 1,500m - 6.47, 3k - 14:17, 5k - 24:12, 10k - 51:24, 20k - 1:54:12
Goals for 2006: To have fun training, racing and travelling.
indoor record of 7:04:22. 26 yrs later at age 45 she walked 7:04 & in '06 at age 50 - 7:08:45.
She was a member of the 1983 Can. World Cup team in Norway.
World Masters Wins: Buffalo '95 - silver & bronze; Australia '01 - silver & bronze; Italy '02 -
gold & silver; Puerto Rico '03 - gold, 2 silvers & gold in steeplechase; Germany '04 - bronze;
Spain '05 - bronze & silver in steeplechase; Austria '06 - gold.
In 2002, she won the City of Mississauga and the Ontario Masters Athlete of the Year awards.
She presently holds 22 Canadian master records & continues to race in the open Senior
Championships.
Personal Bests: 1,500m - 6.47, 3k - 14:17, 5k - 24:12, 10k - 51:24, 20k - 1:54:12
Goals for 2006: To have fun training, racing and travelling.
Rachel Lavallée
Career Highlights (just a few of many!):
USA 50km RW National Champs, Clermont FL, USA (20km road walk) 1st 1:39:57 20K PB
Pan American Race Walk Cup, Lima - Peru (10km Race Walk) 1st 47:37.00 Canadian Junior Road Record
OFTA Championships, Ottawa, ON - Canada (5000m Race Walk) 1st 22:48.00 Track PB
Hamilton Indoor Games, Hamilton, ON (1,500m Race Walk) 1st 6:24.56 Ontario Indoor Junior & Espoir Records
Rachel's training update (Jan. 31, 2008):
"I am in San Diego training and finishing up my last 3 courses online for my
program. Training has been going really well and I finally feel like I'm getting in
shape after a 2.5 month set back in the fall. I will be in San Diego for a month
total and then I will be going to Flagstaff, Arizona to train at altitude with 4 of the
top 10 women in the world. They are all from Europe (Germany, Norway and
Portugal), one is the 2000 Olympic Silver Medallist and another is the 2005
World Championships Bronze Medallist. Their coach is my boyfriend, Tim
Seaman's coach and so myself along with a few other Americans will be going
there for training. I will be there for 4 weeks total and am really excited about it!
My first race won't be until our World Cup qualifier race on March 29th in Toronto.
I have technically already qualified for the Canadian team but I have to prove
fitness to ensure my spot on the team. Right now my big goal for the season is to
have a really good race at the World Racewalk Cup (Cheboksary, Russia - May
10 and 11, 2008) or at one of my races in Europe since I plan on being there for
a month in the spring. Otherwise, I don't have any other racing plans other than
Nationals the first weekend in July (Sunday July 6, 2008 - see upcoming events).
I am really excited about my season and look forward to some big
improvements!"
Career Highlights (just a few of many!):
USA 50km RW National Champs, Clermont FL, USA (20km road walk) 1st 1:39:57 20K PB
Pan American Race Walk Cup, Lima - Peru (10km Race Walk) 1st 47:37.00 Canadian Junior Road Record
OFTA Championships, Ottawa, ON - Canada (5000m Race Walk) 1st 22:48.00 Track PB
Hamilton Indoor Games, Hamilton, ON (1,500m Race Walk) 1st 6:24.56 Ontario Indoor Junior & Espoir Records
Rachel's training update (Jan. 31, 2008):
"I am in San Diego training and finishing up my last 3 courses online for my
program. Training has been going really well and I finally feel like I'm getting in
shape after a 2.5 month set back in the fall. I will be in San Diego for a month
total and then I will be going to Flagstaff, Arizona to train at altitude with 4 of the
top 10 women in the world. They are all from Europe (Germany, Norway and
Portugal), one is the 2000 Olympic Silver Medallist and another is the 2005
World Championships Bronze Medallist. Their coach is my boyfriend, Tim
Seaman's coach and so myself along with a few other Americans will be going
there for training. I will be there for 4 weeks total and am really excited about it!
My first race won't be until our World Cup qualifier race on March 29th in Toronto.
I have technically already qualified for the Canadian team but I have to prove
fitness to ensure my spot on the team. Right now my big goal for the season is to
have a really good race at the World Racewalk Cup (Cheboksary, Russia - May
10 and 11, 2008) or at one of my races in Europe since I plan on being there for
a month in the spring. Otherwise, I don't have any other racing plans other than
Nationals the first weekend in July (Sunday July 6, 2008 - see upcoming events).
I am really excited about my season and look forward to some big
improvements!"
Lily Whalen has been racewalking for 30 years and has no plans to stop anytime soon. She
has won the Canadian Senior outdoor championships twice and has held many records as a
senior and now as a Master. Lily has won gold, silver and bronze medals at the last 2 World
Masters Championships. At age 49 she walked 56.46 for 10k early in the season but had to
cut the season short for a knee operation which put her out for a year and a half.
Goals for 2006: Get under 30 minutes for 5k and 60 minutes for 10k.
Personal Bests: 1,500m - 6:57; 3km - 15.37; 5km - 26:57; 10km - 56:44; 20km - 2:00
has won the Canadian Senior outdoor championships twice and has held many records as a
senior and now as a Master. Lily has won gold, silver and bronze medals at the last 2 World
Masters Championships. At age 49 she walked 56.46 for 10k early in the season but had to
cut the season short for a knee operation which put her out for a year and a half.
Goals for 2006: Get under 30 minutes for 5k and 60 minutes for 10k.
Personal Bests: 1,500m - 6:57; 3km - 15.37; 5km - 26:57; 10km - 56:44; 20km - 2:00
Sarah Raetsen started racewalking in May 2004 after learning the basic technique from Lora
Rigutto, a former Canadian Junior racewalking record holder. Sarah joined the Ontario
Racewalkers in March 2005 and since then has been training hard and participating in
several track & road races. She is enjoying competing as a Masters athlete and is looking
forward to continuing to racewalk for many years to come.
Goals for 2008: Have fun first and foremost - achieving PB's will just be a plus!
Personal Bests: 1,500m - 7:43; 5km - 29:33; 10km - 60:00
Rigutto, a former Canadian Junior racewalking record holder. Sarah joined the Ontario
Racewalkers in March 2005 and since then has been training hard and participating in
several track & road races. She is enjoying competing as a Masters athlete and is looking
forward to continuing to racewalk for many years to come.
Goals for 2008: Have fun first and foremost - achieving PB's will just be a plus!
Personal Bests: 1,500m - 7:43; 5km - 29:33; 10km - 60:00
Hans Dinger has been a runner for over 30 years. He wanted to learn racewalking and in
the summer of 2005 he started training under the watchful eye of his coach Stafford Whalen.
He successfully completed his first two races as a racewalker in the fall of the same year. In
addition to racewalking, Hans is also very competitive in middle distance running.
2008 Goals: Compete in Racewalking, meet the Masters standard for both the 3000M
Steeplechase and 400M Hurdles and run a 5K in under 20 minutes.
the summer of 2005 he started training under the watchful eye of his coach Stafford Whalen.
He successfully completed his first two races as a racewalker in the fall of the same year. In
addition to racewalking, Hans is also very competitive in middle distance running.
2008 Goals: Compete in Racewalking, meet the Masters standard for both the 3000M
Steeplechase and 400M Hurdles and run a 5K in under 20 minutes.
Kitty Cashman is a Registered Dental Hygienist with her own private practice in Toronto.
She has been racewalking since the spring of 2000 and seriously since January, 2003
under coach Stafford Whalen. She won 3 gold in 2003 at the World Masters in Puerto Rico
and a silver & bronze in 2005 at the World Masters in Spain. She has won many medals at
the provincial/national Masters meets and has a few masters age group records.
Goals: for 2006: 26 minutes for 5k and under 57 minutes for 10k.
Personal Bests: 1,500m - 7.38; 3k - 16:09; 5k - 26:49; 10k - 57:23
She has been racewalking since the spring of 2000 and seriously since January, 2003
under coach Stafford Whalen. She won 3 gold in 2003 at the World Masters in Puerto Rico
and a silver & bronze in 2005 at the World Masters in Spain. She has won many medals at
the provincial/national Masters meets and has a few masters age group records.
Goals: for 2006: 26 minutes for 5k and under 57 minutes for 10k.
Personal Bests: 1,500m - 7.38; 3k - 16:09; 5k - 26:49; 10k - 57:23
Stuart Summerhayes took up racewalking at age 55. In his 2nd competition he broke the
Can. M55 indoor 3k record and has been in love with the sport ever since. He currently
holds 23 Cdn records and has been Can. age-group champ. for the past 16 years. In
2000, at age 66, he won the OTFA 10k Ontario gold medal making him the only old age
pensioner ever to do so. In 2005, Stuart won 2 gold medals at the World Masters Games in
Edmonton & at the World Master T&F Champs. in Spain finished 5th -5k (31:01) & 4th - 20k
in 2:13:55.
Goals for 2006: Keep on Walking
Personal Bests: 1,500m - 7:29: 3k -15:29; 5k -26:15; 10k - 54:07; 20k - 1:55:25
Can. M55 indoor 3k record and has been in love with the sport ever since. He currently
holds 23 Cdn records and has been Can. age-group champ. for the past 16 years. In
2000, at age 66, he won the OTFA 10k Ontario gold medal making him the only old age
pensioner ever to do so. In 2005, Stuart won 2 gold medals at the World Masters Games in
Edmonton & at the World Master T&F Champs. in Spain finished 5th -5k (31:01) & 4th - 20k
in 2:13:55.
Goals for 2006: Keep on Walking
Personal Bests: 1,500m - 7:29: 3k -15:29; 5k -26:15; 10k - 54:07; 20k - 1:55:25
John Kittredge
Personal Bests:
5K outdoors - 29:32 5,000m indoors - 29:02.40
3000m indoors - 16:33.60 1,500m indoors - 7:52.13
Personal Bests:
5K outdoors - 29:32 5,000m indoors - 29:02.40
3000m indoors - 16:33.60 1,500m indoors - 7:52.13
Ann Marie Rosenitch
Canadian Records:
W60 1,500m outdoor track - 8:36.16 W60 1,500m indoor track - 8:49.99
W65 1,500m outdoor track - 8:46.0 W55 3,000m indoor track - 17:30.58
W60 3,000m outdoor track - 18:24.6 W60 3,000m indoor track - 17:32.1
W65 3,000m indoor track - 19:13.65
Canadian Records:
W60 1,500m outdoor track - 8:36.16 W60 1,500m indoor track - 8:49.99
W65 1,500m outdoor track - 8:46.0 W55 3,000m indoor track - 17:30.58
W60 3,000m outdoor track - 18:24.6 W60 3,000m indoor track - 17:32.1
W65 3,000m indoor track - 19:13.65
