2009 USATF National Championship 20k racewalk participants Miranda Melville and Concordia University’s Chris Tegtmeier have each been named the recipients of the Al Heppner Scholarship Grants. This is the second straight year Tegtmeier has earned this honor, as he was co-winner of the Heppner Award last year as well.
The Al Heppner Memorial Fund was established in honor of Al Heppner, an outstanding race walker and aspiring journalist, who was 29 years old when he died in 2004. The annual award is made from the Al Heppner Memorial Fund managed by the North American Racewalking Institute (NARI) to young athletes who best meet the qualifications set by the Fund’s protocol. Set up as an endowment fund, it provides a permanent vehicle for members of the race walking community to aid young race walkers who demonstrate great promise in international competition.
Tegtmeier, a native of Jansen, Neb., finished seventh at the 2009 20k USATF National Championship in Eugene, OR. He will look to continue competing at the international level with the proceeds from the Al Heppner Scholarship.
Chris is the son of Bruce and Beth Tegtmeier.