It's been a busy year in the racewalk, as Long Island looks to claim back a State Title that has gone to LI more times than not in State History. Last year, Ciara Durcan (Pearl River) captured the walk State Title, the first time someone outside Long Island did so since 2015. Durcan returns as a Junior in 2020, with a strong 6:51 to her name already.
However, two new names have popped up, breaking the 7-min barrier, a magic standard in the walk that signifies the shift from good-to-great. Emily Porti (East Islip) became the first to break that barrier this season, walking 6:57.08 in the opening weeks of the season. And then there is Isabella Rogler, one town over in West Islip.
At the Ocean Breeze Invite, Rogler walked to 6:39.14 performance, bettering her previous PR by 7-seconds, set in early January. The time is now the 7th best performance All-Time by a New Yorker, and the fastest time since the State Record went down in 2017. Because of the limited participation outside of New York, the mark is also good for US #8 All-Time in the event Indoors.
The mark sets up a good matchup at the State Meet between these three athletes, although no outcome is guaranteed. Racewalk is the one track event that see's officials at every turn, and Racewalking infractions are common at Championship Meets, when the pressure is ramped up. It's not always about the fastest time, but who can do so the cleanest as well. With that in mind, anything can happen on race day.