Maria Michta Wins U.S. Racewalk Championship

Maria Michta continues to make strides in the racewalk event.

This past weekend, she won the USA Outdoor Track and Field 20K racewalk National Championship in Des Moines, IA with a time of 1:39:46.12.

Michta, who graduated from Sachem High School in 2004, finished nearly four minutes ahead of Joanne Dow, who finished second in 1:43:18.14.

Teresa Vaill, who holds the American record in the 20K race (1:33:28.15), did not finish the event in Iowa.

In April, Michta returned to Sachem to race at the U.S. Track and Field Racewalk World Cup trials at High School North. She finished fourth overall and recorded the best time of any American woman in the 20K (1:43.47).

Michta is one of the most decorated racewalkers in the country. She is a three-time indoor state champion, a six-time national champion and is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Mt. Sinai Medical School in Manhattan.

She is the nation's top-ranked racewalker and won a national racewalk title at the U.S. National Indoor Track & Field Championships in February (3,000-meter racewalk in 13:51.33).