AL HEPPNER
Events: Race Walk
Height: 5-8
Weight: 140
PR: 20 km walk 1:26:50 (1999), 50 km walk 3:58:45 (1999)
Born: April 24, 1974 in Columbia, Md.
Current Residence: Chula Vista, Calif. |
High School: Howard (Ellicott City, Md.) 92
College: Wisconsin-Parkside 97
Coach: Enrique Pena
Agent: Self |
Club: U.S. Army

Career Highlights: 2nd at 1999 U.S. 50 km Champs; 3rd at 2001 USA Indoors; 4th 2001 U.S. 50km; 1996 NAIA race walk champion at Wisconsin-Parkside and national record holder; 1996 Collegiate 20km road walk champ.

One of America's finest race walkers,  Spc. Albert (Al) Heppner died on February 19, 2004. He was 29. A member of the United States Army World Class Athlete Program, Heppner was a resident athlete who trained at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. He placed fifth in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the 50 km Race Walk on Sunday, February 15, in Chula Vista. One of Americas most accomplished race walkers, Heppner had achieved several top finishes in national competitions, including placing first at the USA 5 km Race Walk Championships in 2002, second at the USA 30 km Race Walk Championships in 2004, second at the USA 15 km and 20 km Race Walk Championships in 2002, and second at the USA 50 km Race Walk Championships in 1999, and represented Team USA at the Pan American Race Walk Cup in 2001 and 1998, as well as the IAAF World Race Walk Cup in 1999. He was ranked #2 nationally in the 20 km race walk in 2002 by Track & Field News. As a collegian at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Heppner was an NAIA All-American and the NAIA 5 km Race Walk National Champion in 1997, the year he graduated. Born April 24, 1974 in Columbia, Md., Heppner graduated from Howard High School in Ellicott City, Md., in 1992. He was introduced to race walking in 1989 when one of his track teammates bet him a dollar not to enter a race. He later went to Wisconsin-Parkside and embarked in earnest on his walking career. In addition to his athletic endeavors, Heppner also was an aspiring journalist. "Al was a great athlete and a great advocate for the entire sport of track and field, most particularly the race walk, said USATF CEO Craig Masback. The entire track and field community mourns his passing and will miss him. Our sympathies go to his family."

2003: 7th at USA Outdoors 20km (1:32:22)2nd at Kenosha 20 km (1:32:33)runner-up at USA 15 km (1:06:58) & 10 km Championships (44:47)best of 1:32:22.
2002: 2nd at USA 20 km Champs (1:27.56.46)1st at USA 5 km Champs (21:51)2nd at USA 15 km Champs (1:09.43)DQ at USA 10 km Champs4th at U.S. 40 km Champs (3:27.43)ranked #2 in U.S. at 20 km by T&FNbest of 1:27.56.46.
2001: 3rd at USA Indoor 5km (20:28.60)4th USA 50km Champs (4:22:03)4th at USA 20km Champs (1:31:23)DQed at Pan American Race Walk Cupranked #6 in 20K & #4 at 50K in U.S. by T&FNbest of 1:27:48 and 4:22:03
2000: DNF at Olympic 50km Trials3rd at USA Indoor 5km (21:13).
1999: 2nd at USA 50km Race Walk Champs/World Cup Trials81st in 20km walk at IAAF World Race Walk Cup in Mezidon/Deauville, France (1:34:35)7th in 20km at USA Outdoors (1:29:34).ranked #6 at 20km and #2 at 50km in U.S. by T&FNbests of 1:26:50 and 3:58:45.
1998: 5th at USA Outdoors3rd at USA Indoor 5km (20:39)11th at Pan Am Race Walk Cup, ranked #5 at 20km #4 at 50km in U.S. by T&FNbests of 1:37:29 and 4:18:01.
1997: Won NAIA 5km walk in new NAIA record9th in 20km at USA Outdoorsranked #10 in U.S. at 20km by T&FNbest of 1:29:43.
1996: 11th at Olympic Trialswon NAIA 20km race walk titlebest of 1:29:12.
1995: 12th at USA Outdoors3rd at NAIA 5kmbest of 1:31:53.
1994: 2nd in 5km walk at NAIA5th at Olympic Festival8th at USA Indoor 5km (21:31)best of 1:32:18.
1993: 2nd in 5km walk at NAIA3rd at USA Juniorsbest of 1:34:02.

3/9/04