CARSON, Calif. – A Maine racewalking contingent comprised of Ben Shorey, United States Air Force Capt. and 2004 Olympian Kevin Eastler, and Lauren Forgues, all walked away with medals at the United States National Track and Field Championships last weekend at the Home Depot Sports Center.

Shorey (1:32:28.03), an Ellsworth native and University of Wisconsin graduating senior who finished fifth in the 2004 Olympic Trials in both the 20- and 50-kilometer racewalk events, walked a strong third-place behind Olympians Tim Seaman (1:26:41.36) and John Nunn (1:27:15.75).

Eastler (1:33:15.04) was not far behind in fourth place. The three walkers have been preparing for this race for months. Eastler, a Farmington native, took a nine-month hiatus from racewalking right after competing in Athens. He has just started his three-year program to make the 2008 USA Olympic Team.

Shorey and Eastler walked smart races.

Shorey took off at the gun and was never seriously challenged for third place.

Eastler walked at a pace he calculated would not overtax him since his recent return to training and competing. In both cases, the strategy won out, and Maine captured two of the top national places.

Eastler will be joining fellow Olympians Seaman and Nunn at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland this August.

In the Junior National Track and Field competition, held concurrently with the open National competition, Forgues, of Boothbay, once again showed that she can handle the top national competition. In her 10-kilometer race, Forgues easily made her way into a three-way battle for third place, and with just a few laps left was walking neck-and-neck with Tina Peters from Ohio.

With just one lap to go, Peters put down the hammer (55:07.75), and Forgues was unable to match her adversary, but she did record her personal best with a time of 55:14.03. Her fourth-place finish earned Forgues yet another All-American award, and the opportunity to once again represent the United States in international competition this summer.

Shead High School’s Helen Pottle and Mt. Blue graduating senior Carly Lochala finished eighth and 10th respectively to give Maine’s high school walkers yet another milestone in racewalking.