Concordia University, Nebraska sophomore Chris Tegtmeier finished fifth at the 2008 USA Team Trials for the IAAF World Race Walking Cup held this morning in Eugene, Ore., thus earning the right to represent Team USA at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup, to be held May 10-11 in Cheboksary, Russia.
Tegtmeier, a Fairbury, Neb. native, finished with a time of 1 hour 34 minutes and 46 seconds on the 20K course. Tegtmeier held on to fifth place for the majority of the race, then fell back to seventh and was able to battle back and pass a fading walker to take back sixth. As the race neared the end a racer ahead of Tegtmeier was declared to be using an illegal form. The disqualification opened the door to Tegtmeier's top-five finish.
Tegtmeier's time was just a mere four seconds off the pace of the race's winner, Patrick Stroupe. Stroupe and Tegtmeier have competed against each other in previous NAIA national events. Tegmeier's time was also a personal best by over a minute.
Tegtmeier will use the next month to prepare for the IAAF World Race Walking Cup as well as the U.S. Olympic Trials which will be held the last week of June and the first week of July in Eugene, Ore. The race walk trial race will be held July 5 at 7:30 am.