South Texas Walking Club

http://www.themonitor.com/NewsPub/News/Stories/2002/08/06/10286904452.shtml Tuesday, August 6, 2002 9:20 pm South Texas Walking Club dominates — again By Jennine Zeleznik The Monitor PHARR — Claudia Ortiz of Mission is pretty humble about her accomplishments. The 9-year-old broke a national racewalking record this weekend, and placed first in the Junior Olympics National Racewalking Championship in Knoxville, Tenn. “I guess I’m very excited,” Ortiz said quietly. “I mean, this is my first year of competing, though I’ve been practicing for two years.” The young champion is a member of the South Texas Walking Club, coached by A.C. Jaime of Pharr. The rest of the club didn’t do too badly themselves at the weekend’s meet. Twenty of the 22 kids who competed placed, Jaime said, and the club overall won first place for the third year in a row. “I had five coaches approach me and complement us. They told me we have the best racewalking team in the whole nation,” Jaime said. “They went out of their way to let us know we have a wonderful team.” Olympian Tim Seaman of San Diego also helps the kids with tips on form and style, and comes to their big meets to cheer them on. “This is a great team to be able to work with,” Seaman said Monday. He was headed back to Texas with the team, using Jaime’s cell phone to crow about his favorite team. “I’ve seen the tremendous potential this club has and the great successes they’ve already accomplished,” he said, “and I wanted to assist them to getting to the next level.” Which, with hope, would include full racewalking scholarships. “I want to continue (racewalking) in college, with a scholarship,” said Adrian Jaime, 16. “Hopefully, and God willing, I want to go to the Olympics. I think I have a shot at it.” Adrian, Jaime’s grandson, has been racewalking since he was 9. He won third place in the weekend’s race. “This is a really fun sport and it’s getting bigger and bigger,” he said. “You get to compete with all different kinds of people.” And in all different kinds of places, too. “I’ve been to San Antonio, Knoxville, Houston and Omaha, Neb., — all this summer,” said Samantha Olivarez, 11. “I like it because it’s healthy and you get to go out of town.” The Edinburg resident won fourth place in her race this weekend. “It’s a lot of fun, because you get awards,” she said, laughing. Bailey Shannon, 9, of Mission, often competes against her twin sister Brooke, who is younger by two minutes. “When you go to races, you’re like, ‘Oh, goody, this is going to be a fun race,’” Bailey said. “You don’t know what’s going to happen.” She and Brooke are hoping their baby sister, Adrianna Aguilar, will be a racewalker, too. “When we’re at practice, she moves her arms like she’s racewalking, and when she sees us doing it,” Bailey said, laughing. But Adrianna may have a few years to wait. Racewalkers can’t begin competing until they’re 9, Jaime said. Races are broken up by age: 9-year-olds race 9-year-olds, etcetera, he said, until they’re 18. After that, racewalkers compete in collegiate or adult open meets. In the meantime, Jaime will continue teaching Rio Grande Valley kids how to racewalk and would love for more kids to join the club. “Anybody can do walking,” he said. “It doesn’t cost anything but a good pair of shoes and a pair of shorts, and away you go.” For information on joining the South Texas Walking Club, contact Jaime at 956-686-2337.