Boardman race walker set to compete in China

April 26, 2014 at 12:09a.m.

Mannozzi’s goal is to qualify

for 2016 U.S. race walking team

BOARDMAN

With his ultimate goal to become a member of the U.S. race walking team, Boardman’s Michael Mannozzi will continue his quest for a 2016 Olympic berth in Rio de Janiero or Tokyo in 2020 when he competes in the World Race Walking Cup 20K in Taicang, China on May 3-4.

Mannozzi qualified for the event with a personal-best 1:31.1 clocking at the recent IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) World Cup Trials in the 20K Masters open race walking event this past March 30 in Manchester, New Jersey.

“I want to get to China a few days ahead of the race so that I can train as I am tapering — slowly bringing down my intensity level,” he said. “This weekend will be four weeks since my last race and it took me 14 days just to get back to my training procedure as I needed time for my body to recover. Also, I don’t want to over train or get hurt so that’s where experience definitely helps with my training regimen.”

The IAAF World Race Walking Cup has been held every year since 1961 on a biennial basis and was formerly known as the Lugano Cup; site of the city in Lugano, Ticino, Switzerland that first hosted the event.

“This event remains the largest race walking championship in the world in terms of number of competitors, attracting over 60 nations in the process. In fact, more world class race walk athletes will partake in the World Race Walking Cup than will participate in the world championships or even Olympics,” Mannozi stated. “The race will serve as a world championship since it is a non-Olympic year. Each country can send a delegation of five men and five women in the 20K and five more men in the 50K.”

All qualifiers for the world championships had to meet two standards, the first of which was finishing in the top five in the USA World Cup Trials and the other by meeting their 1:32.00 cut-off time.

“This year my qualifying time was four minutes faster than what was needed the previous two years. I fell just short for both of those teams so I hope to make the most of this opportunity,” he said. “It’s really an honor for me to represent our fine nation and most especially the Mahoning Valley. I cannot say thank you enough to my supporters and sponsors. It’s a very humbling feeling to be on the world stage as I represent my hometown.”

To help gauge to distance of Mannozzi’s upcoming race, 20K is the equivalent of 50 laps around the track at an area high school or the new YSU Farmers Bank Field.

“I can honestly say that I am in my best shape in quite some time; relatively fit and injury-free and that’s important to a race walker or runner. I spent nearly five weeks in Eugene, Oregon training with Bob Gray for my last event and that really helped me out with my preparation,” he stated.

When the World Race Walking Cup 20K is completed, Mannozzi will take time off for his body to regenerate and then get ready for the USA 5k National Championships in Albany, N.Y. on June 1.

His final race, the U.S. Track and Field Outdoor Championships 20K, will take place June 25-29 in Sacramento where he is scheduled to race in the morning of the days’ final competition.

“I’ve been very busy the last 15 weeks but I guess that comes with the turf. I want to remain busy the next six weeks or so because this really is an exciting time for me,” he said. “The U.S. Olympic Committee doesn’t provide funds or a budget to develop race walkers so our sponsors remain a very important part of our everyday preparation.”

Mannozzi will leave for China on Sunday and can be reached at italianstallian05@hotmail.com.