Gustafsson, who represented Sweden in 2009 and 2011 at the World Championships, prevails at U.S. Olympic Trials; Stevens primed for big year following coaching change

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Andreas Gustafsson has already represented one country in the race walk in a major international competition.

Now, the former Swedish national team member has a potential opportunity to do the same for the United States at the Tokyo Olympics following his performance at the Olympic Trials in Santee, Calif.

Robyn Stevens has already captured a 50-kilometer race walk national title, but with a new coach in Spain’s Jacinto Garzon organizing her training, a repeat championship Saturday could be a sign of even bigger things to come this year in her pursuit to qualify in the 20-kilometer event June 27 at the second part of the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.

RESULTS | PHOTOS | INTERVIEWS

Despite a strong start from Nick Christie, Gustafsson remained patient and eventually took over the lead at the 45-kilometer mark and held off defending champion Matthew Forgues to capture his first U.S. title in 4 hours, 12 minutes, 11 seconds.

Forgues placed second in 4:14.44 and Christie took third in 4:27.29.

Gustafsson competed for Sweden at the 2009 and 2011 World Outdoor Championships and earned the opportunity last year to finally represent the U.S. after transferring allegiance following marriage to his American wife Molly.

Gustafsson, who used to coach Stevens, didn’t meet the automatic Olympic standard qualifying mark of 3:50.00, which is 47 seconds faster than his personal best from 2012. But the 38-year old is the top American on the world descending order list during the qualification period that began last year and concludes May 31.

With each country only allowed up to three athletes to compete in the 50-kilometer event in Tokyo, Gustafsson must rank among the top 60 individuals on the descending order list at the conclusion of the qualification period in order to participate in the Olympics. He will also have the opportunity to compete in the 20-kilometer event June 27 at the Olympic Trials in an attempt to meet the automatic qualifying standard of 1:21.00.

Gustafsson, Forgues, Christie and fourth-place finisher AJ Gruttadauro (4:42.32) are also eligible to represent the U.S. at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in May in Belarus.

Stevens, who became the first American female athlete to capture 20-kilometer and 50-kilometer national titles in the same year in 2019, led from the outset and clocked 4:37.33.

Stevens is scheduled to compete Feb. 8 in the USATF Championship Mile Race Walk at the 113th NYRR Millrose Games at The Armory, followed by the 3,000-meter event Feb. 15 at the U.S. Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.

Erin Taylor Talcott (4:47.01) and Katie Burnett (4:53.26) finished second and third, with Lydia McGranahan (5:16.18) placing fourth, making her eligible for the pool of athletes to compete at the Race Walking Team Championships in Belarus.

In the invitational 20-kilometer event, a pair of athletes representing New York Athletic Club secured victories.

San Diego State graduate Emmanuel “Natos” Corvera produced a personal-best 1:26.35 to win the men’s race, with eight-time Canadian national champion and record-holder Rachel Seaman prevailing in the women’s competition in 1:36.25. Amberly Melendez was the top American female competitor, achieving a personal-best 1:39.17.

In the 10-kilometer invitational events, Mexico’s Andres Gonzalez-Aquino, 17, was the men’s winner in 47:10, with Canada’s Joanna Yu, 18, clocking 1:03.40 to triumph in the women’s competition.