About the LA28 Racewalk Project
The LA28 Racewalk Project recruits and develops Southern California women and U20 distance runners for U.S. championships, Olympic Trials qualification, and USA international racewalking opportunities.
Because the U.S. field is thin, a serious endurance athlete who converts successfully may move into national relevance much faster than she could in the 5K, 10K, marathon, or track events.
The opportunity is not based on hype. It is based on the current reality of U.S. racewalking depth.
The United States did not send any women racewalkers to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
There are currently less than ten U.S. women competing in the walks.
Most USA racewalk team athletes began as runners before converting to racewalking.
The LA28 Racewalk Project is built on that same idea: find serious runners with endurance, rhythm, mobility, toughness, and coachability — then teach them the technical skills needed to compete in racewalking.
Our Mission
To identify and develop Southern California women and U20 athletes who can compete for U.S. championship placements, Olympic Trials qualification, and USA traveling international racewalk teams.
Who We Are Looking For
The project focuses on two primary groups:
Senior women — competitive women runners, generally ages 20–39, with backgrounds in 10K, cross country, track, half marathon, marathon, club running, triathlon, or post-collegiate distance running.
U20 athletes — high school and college-age runners with potential for 5K and 10K racewalk development. For 2027 U20 opportunities, athletes must be born January 1, 2008 or later.
No racewalk experience is required.
The right athlete may not be the number one runner on her team. She may be a strong, tough, coachable athlete who has the engine to compete but has not yet found her clearest national-level path.
The Opportunity
The goal is not general fitness walking.
The goal is to develop athletes for:
U20 international opportunities
Olympic Trials qualifying races
U.S. championship racewalk events
USA traveling international teams
Pan American Race Walk Cup
World Athletics Race Walking Tour events
The immediate target is to move athletes into the U.S. top 5–10 in their event. In American racewalking, that range can matter. Athletes in that range may become candidates for international teams, national championship fields, and Olympic Trials start lists.
Why Now
The 2028 Olympic Games are coming to Los Angeles.
That creates a rare window for Southern California athletes. LA28 gives this project urgency, visibility, and purpose. The athletes are already here — running on high school teams, college teams, club teams, roads, trails, and tracks across Southern California.
Racewalking may be the door they never knew was open.
A Real Olympic Trials Opportunity for Sub-Elite Women Distance Runners
The United States is entering a new era in racewalking. The Olympic and international racewalk distances have shifted toward the half marathon racewalk and marathon racewalk, creating a rare opening for strong endurance athletes who are willing to learn the event seriously.
For talented women who may be just outside elite status in track, cross-country, road racing, triathlon, or marathon running, racewalking may offer something almost no other Olympic-style event can:
A realistic pathway to the U.S. Olympic Trials, international competition, and Team USA consideration by 2027/2028.
This is not a recreational walking group.
This is an elite-development project for women and U20 with endurance ability, competitive toughness, and the willingness to train for a technical Olympic event.
Our Core Belief
Racewalkers do not simply appear.
They have to be recruited, taught, developed, challenged, and given a reason to stay.
The LA28 Racewalk Project exists to find Southern California runners who may never have considered racewalking — and turn the right ones into nationally competitive athletes capable of earning USA international team opportunities.
