Tokyo hopefuls primed for 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men’s 50 km Race Walk

SANTEE, California -- The first selection event for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track & Field team takes place Saturday with the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men’s 50 km Race Walk. A field of fifteen men will conquer a 1.25 km course over the course of several hours, joined by both USATF Women’s and USATF Masters 50 km Race Walk Championships competitors. 
 
This event will also serve as the men's selection event for Team USA to the 2020 World Athletics Race Walk Team Championships. Live updates will be available via Twitter using the hashtag #RaceWalkTrials20. Video highlights will be available post-event on USATF.tv. 
 
The Olympic hopeful group is led by 17-time national champion and local Nick Christie (El Cajon, California), who will vie for a podium finish and the Olympic standard along with 2019 Toyota USATF Champion in men’s 50 km race walk Matthew Forgues (Boothbay, Maine) and renowned race walker Andreas Gustafsson (Coronado, California). Click here for the full roster.
 
On the women’s side, the championship event will feature reigning national champion Robyn Stevens (Vacaville, California), American record holder Katie Burnett (Bellevue, Washington), and women’s 50 km pioneer Erin Taylor-Talcott (Owego, New York). Additionally, 74-year-old Masters world record holder Darlene Backlund (Palm Springs, California) will compete in honor of her late husband and coach, John. 
 
The 50 km championships will conclude with Masters, followed by an international challenge and invitational races. 
 
Trials will begin at 7:00 a.m. PST, followed by the women’s and Masters championship events at 7:20 a.m. Click here for a full schedule and here for live results. 
 
Contact:
USATF Communications
communications@usatf.org