Michael Mannozzi wins National 30k Racewalk

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Sept. 27, 2013 - PRLog -- Youngstown, OH (August 23, 2013) Boardman native Michael Mannozzi won the USA Track and Field National Championship 30k (18.6 miles) Race walk on September 15 in Valley Cottage New York.  Mannozzi won this event by 7 minutes, with a time of 2:31:37.  This was an IAFF certified event, meaning the competition was limited to only elite athletes who meet standards set by the International Association of Athletics Federations who must qualify based on a previous best time.

Not one to sit still, Mannozzi also recently won the half marathon race of the 9th Annual New Albany Walking Classic in New Albany, Ohio on September 8, 2013.  This event is known as the "Premier Walking Event in America" with a field of 3000 competitors.  Mannozzi beat the next closest competitor for the 13.1 mile race by over half an hour, finishing with a time of 1:47:07.  His per mile pace was nearly 2 and a half minutes faster than the next closest competitor, and he stayed ahead of all but one of the 10k competitors.  The 10k is a 6.2 mile race, less than half the distance of a half marathon.

Mannozzi also plans to compete in the 50k National Championship on November 24 in Coconut Creek, Florida.  Mannozzi competes as part of the Shore Athletic Club of New Jersey, a multiple time USA Track and Field National Club Team Champion, which has fielded many Olympians over the years, including three in 2012 alone.

Race walking combines the endurance of the long distance runner with the attention to technique of a hurdler or shot putter.  It is a sport in which the competitor is required to keep one foot on the ground at all times.  Additionally, the leg supporting the body weight must be kept straight.  This combination results in a shorter stride length, which means the racers’ pace must be quickened, reaching a step cadence comparable to an Olympic 800 meter (half mile) runner, but for hours at a time, due to the length of the race.  Race walking became an Olympic sport in 1904.

Mannozzi competed in the 2012 Olympic trials in both the 50k (31 miles) and 20k (12.4 miles) events, placing ninth and fifth overall, respectively.  Mannozzi is currently eyeing the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro as well as the 2020 summer games in Tokyo.

A 2005 graduate of Boardman High School, Michael was a standout athlete in wrestling before attending and wrestling at Youngstown State University and at Notre Dame College in Cleveland.  He currently works as a day camp counselor, while also filling in at the D.D. and Velma Davis YMCA in Boardman.

"I attribute a lot of my success to the help I get from Dr. Michael Lyons at Advanced Chiropractic and Rehab in Boardman.  Dr. Lyons has been a great asset to my training, by helping me to reduce stress injuries, increase my flexibility, and speed up my muscle healing.  Race walking is very stressful on the body, and I need to really take care of myself to achieve my Olympic dream."  Stated Mr. Mannozzi.  Mannozzi also gets a lot of help from Mike Rohl, head men's track coach at Mansfield University, and Bob Gray, a race walker from Eugene, Oregon who just barely missed qualifying for the 1972 Olympics.

Those interested in sponsoring Mannozzi can reach him on Facebook or by email at italianstallian05@hotmail.com.