Announcement
PRESS RELEASESubmitted by A.C. Jaime (956.821.6659)
April 25, 2009
CHAVEZ WINS AT PENN RELAYS
Alex Chavez of PSJA High School, the apparent heir to the South Texas Walking Club as referred to by USA Track and Field National Racewalk Chairman Vince Peters, won the prestigious one – hundred year old Penn Relays Junior 10K Racewalk today. The seven time national high school All – American is the first South Texas Walking Club athlete ever to win this meet.
The Edinburg thirteen and fifteen time high school All – American twins Roberto and Ricardo Vergara were a sure bet to win this meet last year but cancelled the trip at the last minute because of their high school graduation banquet. The PSJA High School sophomore, who is often times seen walking up and down I Road from the Pharr Stadium to the river, experienced a hard time in winning this championship. A 10K is not the norm for the sixteen year old youth who, until this year, was accustomed to the short one mile and 3K racewalks. He won and set a new Junior Olympic 3K record in Virginia two years ago and last month he won the prestigious Boston One Mile Racewalk Championship.
Coach Charlie Smith of Virginia, who has come to know and respect the South Texas Walking Club members and Alex in particular, frantically began yelling at Coach A.C. Jaime telling him that Alex had fallen down half way through his nineteenth lap. By then Alex was already getting up and gradually getting his composure back as he finished his nineteenth lap but he had six more to go and looked exceptionally tired. It could be seen that he was struggling and in danger of being disqualified if he did not maintain good technique. He then made a smart decision slowing down to laps of 2:00 to 2:07 instead or the blistering 1:54 – 1:57 laps he had been walking. He finally got his full composure back and managed to walk a 1:56 last lap finishing well ahead of his competitors. Surprisingly, Judge Michael Roth of North Carolina was heard telling a group of judges and others having lunch after the event that Alex demonstrated the best form and technique among the fifteen competitors on the field.
