Racewalker Herazo forced to sidelines by injury
Monday, Feb. 8, 1999 | 11:17 a.m.
Victoria Herazo used to be one of the best walkers in the world.
Now she's frustrated from having to walk away.
Herazo, a two-time Olympian from Henderson, suffers from a mysterious hip injury and was forced to withdraw from the half-marathon racewalk on Sunday. The race was part of the Las Vegas International Marathon.
"I feel really good," Herazo said. "But my hip gets numb, and I can't get my stride. I start to drag my leg, and then my form falls apart. I start running the risk of getting disqualified and, at that point, I drop out."
Herazo, who was ranked No. 1 in the nation as recently as 1997, withdrew shortly beyond the 10-kilometer mark, where her split was an impressive 46:25.
"I would have been happy with 48 minutes," she said. "It's a very competitive time."
But racewalking rules state a competitor must straighten her leg as she steps forward and must never have both feet simultaneously off the ground. Repeated violations result in disqualification, which was Herazo's fate at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. That time, it was a hamstring problem.
"I don't know why she tried," her doctor, Robert Voy, said of Sunday's race. "I didn't think she'd make it."
Voy said Herazo's problem likely is in her hip extensor and an attached tendon. He said the injury could also be affecting her sciatic nerve. She will have an MRI done today in hopes of determining the exact cause of the numbness.
"Race walkers have a different gait," Voy said. "Oftentimes they have a lot of hip and knee problems because it's not a normal gait."
Herazo needs the problem corrected by next Sunday, when she intends to walk a 3-kilometer race in Reno. If she can finish in 14:40, she will qualify for the U.S. Track & Field national indoor meet Feb. 26 in Atlanta.
"I'm fine in the sprints," Herazo said. "So I'm hoping to have a good, fast race in Reno."
If she doesn't qualify, she will miss her first indoor national in 12 years.
Herazo will be eligible to compete at the masters level in June, when she turns 40.
She still holds U.S. records in the mile as well as the 5- , 10- , 15- and 20-kilometer walks. She also holds the world record in the one-hour walk, which is determined by farthest distance.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Scientology foe’s arrest raises issue of rights
- ‘Stripper-mobile’ with live dancers raises safety, decency concerns
- Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto arrive at MGM Grand
- Cada cherishes moment as poker’s youngest champ
- Miguel Cotto camp says big cut in June fight an asset now
- $5.1 million later, life goes on for Darvin Moon
- Vegas resorts get new places on Monopoly game board
- Fight snapshot: Arum takes a pot shot during Pacquiao training
- Rebels old and new celebrate anniversary of 1990 title
- Harrah’s launches program to focus on small group travel
Blogs
Shark Bytes
Players on championship team always worked hard (5 Comments)
Sports: Upon Further Review
Fight snapshot: Predictions for Pacquiao-Cotto (1 Comment)
The Kats Report
A lesson in information dissemination, with a little Twitter and a lot of Agassi
Now and Then
Ichabods were tougher than they sound
Politics: Ralston's Flash
I shudder to think what the “amazing door prize from the governor” might be (6 Comments)
Pew Center report finds what others have: Nevada's economy depressed, future in doubt (6 Comments)
Elsewhere
Kelly Pavlik to fight in hometown on Dec. 19
Calendar »
- 11 Wed
- 12 Thu
- 13 Fri
- 14 Sat
- 15 Sun
-
Foreigner at Star of the Desert Arena
Star of the Desert Arena
-
Days of the New at Wasted Space
Wasted Space | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
DJ Boris at Godskitchen
Body English | 10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
-
Holding on to Sound at Beauty Bar
Beauty Bar | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Rockabilly Wednesay at Revolution Lounge
Beatles Revolution Lounge | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati












