By Mike Allen
Photo: Winners of 10K race: 1) Celina Lepe-Corvera 2) Mina Shull 3) Johanna Flipsen. All photos by Mike Allen
January 13, 2025 (Santee) -- Under sun drenched skies, some of the best race walkers in the world shattered several records as they traversed the Santee Trolley Square course on Jan. 12.
The USA Track & Field National event featured competition in 35 kilometers, 20K, 10K, 5K, and 3K for both men and women.
The overall 35K winner, Perseus Karlstrom of Torshalla, Sweden crossed the finish line in 2:27:19, nearly 17 minutes faster than the previous course record. Karlstrom, 34, is the winner of multiple medals in both the World Track & Field Championships and other major races. A three-time Olympic athlete, he is gearing up for the 2026 Los Angeles Olympic Games. He took $8,000 for his first-place finish.
He was followed by Mexico’s Ever Jair Palma Oliveres, 32, and Nick Christie, 33 from El Cajon, who finished at 2:45:31. Christie holds the U.S. record for the event and took $4,000 for his third-place finish.
Photo, right: women’s Winner of 35K race: Valeria Ortuna Martinez of Mexico City, MEXICO. Her time of 2:51:33 was nearly 6 minutes faster than previous record.
The women’s 35K winner was Valeria Ortuna Martinez, 26, of Mexico City, who finished in 2:51:33, breaking the course record by nearly six minutes. She was followed by Nadia Gonzalez, 27, of Toluca, Mexico, and Olivia Lundman, 22, of Vancouver, Canada.
The USA Championship women’s winner was Katie Burnett,36, of Bellevue, WA.
Santee City Manager Marlene Best said the city was honored to host both the US Championships and International Race Walk Invitationals 15 of the past 17 years. “We love being the race walk capital of the United States!”
Photo, left: the winner of the men's 35K championship Perseus Karlstrom of Sweden shattered the previous record for this event by nearly 17 mins at 2:27:19. Seen here after collapsing at the finish line. Karlstom is a professional athlete who has competed at three Olympic Games, three World Championships, and is gearing up for the 2026 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Photo, right: El Cajon’s Nick Christie, the best American race walker, finished third in the 35K race. First was Perseus Karlstom of Sweden and second was Ever Jair Palma Olivares of Mexico.