PHARR, Texas – Racewalker Christie Bernier, a freshman at Edward Little High School in Auburn, finished first in her age group with an outstanding personal best of 28:53 in her first-ever 3.1-mile competition at a week-long racewalk camp last weekend.

University of Maine at Farmington freshman Michael Boucher, 20, of Ellsworth, led a contingent of four Maine racewalkers. Boucher also captured a gold medal with his first-place, age-group finish and a fourth-place overall time in “the largest judged 5k racewalk in Texas.”

Boucher’s time of 24:02 bettered that of 53 of the 57 racers, and places him among the top young (23-and-under) elite racewalkers in the United States. Not to be undone, Bernier placed an excellent 23rd overall.

The Forgues siblings, Lauren, 18, a freshman at the University of Maine, and Matthew 14, a freshman at Boothbay High School also turned in impressive performances. Lauren was the gold medalist in the 1-mile walk, and she planned to walk 10 kilometers using the 5-kilometer race as the first half of her workout. Her time of 25:14 was good enough for a bronze medal in her age group and 12th overall in the race. Matthew Forgues captured a silver medal in his age group with an excellent time of 25:09, good enough for 10th place overall.

Lauren will be traveling to Miami in March to compete for a position on the U.S. Junior Pan American Cup team, which will compete in Brazil in April.