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South Texas Schools Racewalk Pilot Program

Posted by Adrian Jaime at Sep 8, 2008 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )

The Pharr–San Juan–Alamo Independent School District, more commonly known as PSJA, has adopted a developmental elementary school Racewalk program that is proving to be a big hit with school coaches and parents.

 Recently, 131 elementary school physical education coaches from PSJA and surrounding school districts attended the second coaches-level Racewalk clinic sponsored by the South Texas Walking Club.  Led by national team member and noted Racewalk author Dave McGovern, and assisted by accomplished national-level Racewalker Loretta Schuellein, the second clinic proved to be just as inspiring and motivational for the coaches as was for the first clinic given by international-level judge Gary Westerfield back in March. 

Taking the lead after the clinics, PSJA ISD plans to educate all its elementary school coaches on the “Art of Racewalking” before November 1.  Then, the coaches will begin teaching Racewalking to the district’s entire third, fourth, and fifth graders--approximately 6500 youngsters.  The administration has also requested that all coaches teach Racewalking at their 26 elementary schools for a period of three weeks and to allow any child that desires to continue Racewalking do so during their Friday classes.  

At our request, PSJA ISD is considering allowing 7th and 8th graders, and high school students, ½ credit per semester for participation in the existing Racewalking program.  Other area school districts are considering starting a similar effort—a major reason why clinic attendance significantly increased from 57 in March to 131 in August. 

To give developing athletes, supportive parents, and involved coaches an additional long-term resource, the club commissioned Gary Westerfield and University of Maine’s Dr. Tom Eastler to write a children’s Racewalking book that may be used in this racewalk pilot program.  Eventually, the book will have contributions by Dr Eastler, Gary Westerfield, Diane Graham Henry, Dave McGovern, Vern Muck, Jeff Salvage, Vince Peters, Chris Real, Mary Kirk Cunningham and other prominent names from the world of Racewalking.  We expect the book to be finished soon and in the hands of Bedazzled Ink Publishing Company—hopefully in time for the pilot program. 

Obviously, much remains to be done to make this pilot program a viable success.  We have invested much of our funds in this project but could use further assistance from businesses and parents. Any financial assistance would be greatly appreciated.  

 In December, Gary Westerfield has been invited to give a program update to all teachers at the Texas Teacher State Convention in Corpus. We hope that coaches will adopt Racewalking as a key fitness tool to their training programs.  We see an enormous amount of potential for South Texas youngsters to learn the long-term health benefits of Racewalking, and have fun while in physical education classes.  

A.C. Jaime

621 N. 10th St.

McAllen, TX 78501

956-686-2337(o)  956-821-6659(c)

 800-383-5733                                                        

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National Champions-Again

Posted by Adrian Jaime at Aug 3, 2008 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )
 The South Texas Walking Club won its 11th and 12th consecutive National Junior Olympic Team Championship this week in Omaha, Nebraska and Detroit, Michigan. USA Track & Field National Racewalk Chairman Vince Peters was partly right when he predicted that fifteen year old high school All-American Jessica Reybal of McAllen and five time fifteen year old high school All- American Alex Chavez of Pharr would wound up being the apparent club heirs once the Edinburg Vergara twins graduated and went off to college. What Vince did not know was that five time National fifteen year old Racewalk Champion and two time record holder Claudia Ortiz of Mission was going to return after a three year absence and once again assist the club in maintaining its reputation of being the top powerhouse of Racewalking in the Nation as Dr. Tom Eastler of the University of Maine refers to the South Texas Walking Club. Claudia and Alex led the team by each winning a gold and silver medal at the AAU Junior Olympic and USATF Junior Olympic Championships respectively. Also contributing much to the clubs success were five and two time National Champions thirteen year old Steven Valadez of McAllen and eleven year old Jennifer Vargas of Pharr as they each won two silver medals in some very, very stiff competition. Other silver medal winners included last year’s National thirteen year old gold medalist Diana Lee Flores and her twelve year old brother Geraldo Flores of Pharr plus nine year old new comer Cherylene Chavez of Edinburg. Fifteen year old high school All-American Jessica Reybal of McAllen was able to win a 4th and 5th place medal in spite of her recent knee surgery. Also coming back from recent injury was fourteen year old, three times National Champion Ariana Guzman of Mission. She won a 6th and 7th place medal along with a 6th place medal won by two time National Champion Josefine Vargas of Pharr and a 15th place medal won by new comer Alanna Chavez of Edinburg. Eight year old Bianca Garza of Palmer Elementary School in Pharr was the youngest club member to qualify to attend the USATF Junior Olympic Championship in Omaha. She competed against twenty-six of the top nine and ten year olds in the country and managed to win a 5th place medal with a time of 9:47 in the 1500 meter Racewalk. She could have easily won 3rd place at the AAU National Championship against the nineteen nine year old participants at that meet but unfortunately AAU does not allow eight year olds to participate in Racewalking. Claudia Ortiz of Mission set a 9:08 National nine year old record in 2002 that no other child has ever been able to break but Bianca certainly has a good chance of breaking said record next year with the speed and determination that she is showing image
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Lock in these dates: December 26th thru January 4th, 2009

Posted by Adrian Jaime at Jul 17, 2008 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )

We will be having a Jr./Sr. Training camp in the McAllen/Pharr area from December 26th thru January 4th.  This is going to be a training camp not a "talking" camp, so if you are interested in attending, please bring your walking shoes and contact Coach Jaime.

 

Tentative Schedule:

Friday December 26th - Arrival

Saturday December 27th - 1 hour RACE on the track in honor of 1956 Olympian Elliott Denman

Sunday December 28th - 20-25km walk for the Sr. Athletes, 12-15km for the "kids".

Monday Dec 29th -12-15km in the morning + technique work, 8km run in the afternoon. (kids do less)

Tuesday Dec 30th - FARTLEK

Wednesday Dec 31st - 20-25km for the Sr. Athletesin the morning, 6km easy run in the afternoon?

Thursday January 1st - TBD

Friday January 2nd - 1-Mile walk for the kids to qualify for the Indoor Nationals

Saturday January 3rd - Largest Judged 5km racewalk in Texas

Sunday January 4th - 20-25km in the morning, in the afternoon Training Camp ends, travel home.

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Westerfield Invited to Texas Teacher State Convention

Posted by Adrian Jaime at Apr 29, 2008 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )
Gary Westerfield was invited to present a race walking clinic titled “Race Walking –A Step in the Right Direction” at this years upcoming Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Convention in December after having made a presentation in Pharr Texas last month.  The March clinic was attended by fifty-seven area elementary school physical education teachers and was a great success. Gary is a USA Track & Field International Race Walk Official, Author, and Clinician from New York.  Coach A.C. Jaime of the South Texas Walking Club is attempting to introduce race walking to all elementary school teachers in South Texas so that they in turn can teach the same to their students.  The PSJA Independent School District Superintendent has already agreed to allow all his elementary school teachers to teach race walking for three weeks during October 2008 and a similar agreement is soon expected from the large Edinburg Independent School District.   Gary presented much information to the teachers in attendance including a copy of "Walk Like an Athlete", the book he and Jeff Salvage authored.  Jeff had donated more than 100 of the books to coach Jaime.  The extra books were made available to other teachers unable to attend Gary's clinic.   Gary's clinic is already paying dividends.  Many of the coaches in attendance have begun to distribute literature to their students on upcoming area walks and teach race walking to some extent.  Two of those coaches have asked Coach Jaime to present race walking clinics to the teachers at their schools and so has one county organization whose employees teach nutrition and exercise to the communities in the area.  It is hoped that other schools and organizations will join the move to learn our sport and to teach it to our children and others.  The South Texas Walking Club members have prepared more than 15,000 flyers on their upcoming free spring walk series and are making said flyers available to all area children and parents through the schools.  Much remains to be done.  Any financial assistance that can be provided will be greatly appreciated.  Contact A.C. Jaime at 686-2337 for further information
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Vergara Heading to Russia

Posted by Adrian Jaime at Apr 8, 2008 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )
Vergara Heading to Russia Edinburg High School senior Roberto Vergara (17) qualified to participate at the World Cup of Race Walking. The qualifying meet was held in Hauppauge, Long Island, NY Sunday April 6, 2008. Trevor Barron (15) from Pennsylvania won the meet in a time of 48:05 with Roberto and Mathew Forgues (15) of Maine winning silver and bronze medals in times of 48:11 and 48:43 respectively. The boys will join the top the three finishers in the junior women’s race. The World Cup of Race Walking competition will be held in Cheboksary, Russia on May 10, 2008 but Ricardo, Roberto’s twin brother and his junior race walk co-leader in the USA, will not be making this trip. He was diagnosed with a virus during the One Mile National Championship on March 15th and is expected to be out of competition for another four to eight weeks. Roberto, while himself under medication, was nevertheless able to compete and did very well in representing his club, school and the Rio Grande Valley. He was able to walk the last 5k of the 10k competition in a time of 23:42. That time was very close to his prior best 5k performance of 23:25 at the December Texas Largest 5k Race Walk event in Pharr. A total of 55 countries and more than 600 athletes are expected to compete at the World Cup of Race Walking competition. Roberto also qualified to participate at the USATF Junior National Track and Field Championship to be held in Columbus, Ohio in late June.