Mannozzi wins 7th USA Track & Field National Championship title less than 2 days after his wedding! It all started when I requested fellow USA team member Jonathan Hallman to serve as one of my groomsmen. He gladly accepted and his father Tom had invited me to join them as they were heading to the 40k following the wedding, even if I was not racing. Elliott Denman -1956 Olympian, who is a great advocate for Race Walking and Track & Field, had reminded me that our club, the Shore AC hosts the USA 40k (24.8 mile) Race Walk National Championships. This is the signature Race Walking National Championship of the year, for close to 50 years if not more! He also, mentioned that he would love to have the awards ceremony serve as a wedding celebration for the first time in history of the event. It is worth mentioning that Jemma knows many people connected to Track & Field and Race walking. I found out that she had never been to NJ, nor experienced NYC. She is from the Philippines and lived in Hong Kong as well most of her life before immigrating to Toronto, Canada. She knew about the 40k and that we both would benefit. The Shore AC would put us up the night before since they would have a full team if I went. My coach had approved it to see how I am responding to the training as well as my technique in front of the judges since I am not able to see my coach often. One of the most appealing aspects to Jemema and I was the road trip there with Jon and Tom Hallman. The 4 of us have experienced poverty on some level and have had to find a way to carry on while doing without. This has created a bond between us that blossomed into a lifelong friendship. The fact that we are excelling at what we love in spite of many obstacles is victory in itself. This road trip with what we consider family with the Hallmanozzis as Tom calls us, was an on! This trip was the first time Jemema had the opportunity to see the leaves changing colors along the Appalachian Mountains, images she had only seen in books and post cards before. I started off the race in 3rd. I had a time goal to stick too based off my training and had to trust it and my coach that the benefit from the event/distance work and recover effectively as I close in on the final 2 months of training for the 50k. It was a thrill to work with 2012 Olympian from El Salvador, Emerson Hernandez from 25-30k and I was on my own for the last 10k but I knew this was the time not to let any aches, pains and mental doubts break my stride as I was now solely the leader. As I focused on technique and keeping the rhythm, I also drew strength from the memory of my father who had passed from M.S, and how at my tender age of 28 the pain I feel will remain for the event, but his struggles in life were much more serious and long term as his M.S. was taking its toll on his body. Just a day and a half sooner, I was wearing his Italian pin striped suit, class ring and living a life that I surely do not take for granted thanks in large part to him. Hence my tribute via the moniker; The Italian Stallion of USA Track and Field that Olympic legend and hall of famer Dan Obrien helped to establish! At the awards ceremony where there was a special wedding cake made for Jemema and I to celebrate with all there! Seeing the Jersey Shore and NYC was memorable. Before venturing into NYC the next morning, I wanted a nap for what seemed like the past 2 weeks, but my mind had so much to come to terms with. In the past 48 hours I had said goodbye to our family dog, finalize many other last minute touches, I married the finest human being I had ever met, and amazed that she loves me and accepts me in spite of anything one could think of as a reason not to I had won my 7th USA National Title at the USA 40k with a time of 3:33.30. (8:35 per mile average) This win marks my 4th major race victory in a row. My wins reach back to August where I won the USA 1 Hour National Championship, I won the 10th Annual New Albany Walking Classic on September 7th in New Albany, Ohio which is dubbed the premier walking event in America. the third was winning the overall 20k race in the Ontario Championships on Sunday September 28th, in Welland, Ontario, Canada. On October 12th I won the USA 40k National Championship where almost every USA Olympian from 1939 to now has made a stop along with many Olympic medalists worldwide. Next up is the USA 50k National Championships in San Diego, California on December 14th. My goal is to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Trials. sincerely, Michael Mannozzi The Italian Stallion of the USA Track & Field
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 17:57:00 +0000