Race walking team’s mental toughness put to the test as hot, humid conditions dominated at 2019 Pan American Race Walking Cup

By: Jonathan Yue

The Canadian team of Rachel Seaman, Evan Dunfee, Alger Liang and Kenny Ho gave it their all on Saturday at the 2019 Pan American Race Walking Cup, each completing strong races and leaving Mexico with experiences and lessons for the future.

Seaman toed the start line in the women’s 20-kilometre race to get the day started. It marked her first National Team race in three and a half years and even though she had to overcome some challenges, she would battle it out.

“My attitude throughout the race, there was no point in stopping because it wasn’t going well,” said Seaman. “I wanted to finish for the team and especially because it was my first race back. I wanted to finish.”

She would cross the finish line with a time of 1:40:34 for a 26th-place finish. When asked about her thoughts on the overall experience at the Pan American Race Walking Cup, she says that she’s still thrilled to be back.

“It’s strange, it’s very familiar being back here, but it’s also refreshing and felt like the first time racing for Canada again. Hopefully, I’ll be here on the team for many years to come,” said Seaman. “It’s really fun having Evan on the team, who I’ve been on teams with before, and then having these new guys here, they’re so excited, so fresh, and I love seeing it through their eyes because it brings me back to my first few years on the national team.”

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

👀Sights from the sidelines at the Pan American Race Walking Cup this morning! @seamanrachel looking strong this morning! Results to come! #racewalk

A post shared by Athletics Canada (@athleticscanada) on

Later in the day, it was the men’s turn to take on the Lazaro Cardenas course. Dunfee led the trio with a 23rd-place finish in a time of 1:29:43. After racing in a 50-kilometre race last weekend in Japan, Dunfee had a good mindset going in and was focused on sharing his experience with his younger teammates in Mexico and was happy with the race.

“My mindset in this race was really good, I came into it just trying to put together a race that I was going to be happy with. There wasn’t an expectation of what I wanted my time to be or place, more of a ‘go out there and enjoy it’ and it was a good frame of mind to be in,” said Dunfee. If I can replicate that same frame of reference and add fresher legs and little more fitness, I could actually get the results I was aiming for with that attitude.”

Liang and Ho put up strong races, both coming into the competition with personal best aspirations. This year’s Pan American Race Walking Cup is Liang’s second trip to Mexico, having competed as a junior in the 2017 Pan American Cup. For Ho, this is his first senior National Team and both crossed the finish line having learned a lot about competing at this level.

Liang walked a very smart race from the start, crossing the finish line in 41st place in time of 1:34:10. Although not completely satisfied, as the race went on Liang became more comfortable and believed in his abilities.

“I feel amazing. I thought the heat would be a huge obstacle, but it was a huge advantage as I was able to stay cool throughout,” said Liang. “For a lot of the athletes, competing internationally may not be a representation of what you’re capable of given the travel, acclimatization factor and nerves, but for the conditions I’m proud of my performance. Although the results may say 1:34, I know I’m capable of a 1:29.”

Rounding out the group, Ho was disqualified at the 10-kilometre mark, but is walking away from this competition with lessons learned for his next race and with a new mindset.

“I understand now that mental performance is a really big part in these big competitions,” said Ho. “Even if you have the fitness to do something, it doesn’t mean that you will be able to perform. On the disqualification, I kind of saw it coming when I was walking my fifth lap, because I felt like I was lifting. I learned that having the right attitude, and getting in the right spirit can be something that can be beneficial in the future.”

Do you want to see these four athletes compete live along with other Canadian elites? Tickets for the 2019 Canadian Track and Field Championships in Montreal are on sale now. Buy your tickets today by clicking here.

Discus Form Feature Bg

Subscribe to the Media Distribution List

SUPPORT THE TEAM SUPPORT THE TEAM SUPPORT THE TEAM SUPPORT THE TEAM SUPPORT THE TEAM
Grey Hoodie
SafeSport Website Graphic Small Text

Safe Sport: Promotion. Prevention. Response.

Athletics Canada Safe Sport
surya168 akun pro thailand slot gacor maxwin akunjp daftar slot gacor judi bola situs judi bola resmi