Racewalk.com - Bios - Victoria Herazo

Victoria “Tori” Herazo and her 21 National titles are as much a product of her hard work and determination as of her coach, Jim Bentley. Bentley was there from the beginning. While out running in late 1987, Herazo noticed him coaching age-group athletes and thought she would like to help. Bentley quickly converted Herazo to race walking and the two formed a very successful bond.

Herazo mastered the technique of race walking quickly. She qualified for the 1988 L.A. Times 1-mile walk, finishing 5th. She was hooked. Bentley laid out his philosophy: Work on technique, break records, and win national titles. Herazo was a quick study. She continued to improve and qualified for the USATF Indoor Nationals. Not finishing top-three didn’t bother the upstart; there were many many more races to come.

By 1989, Herazo began racing internationally, her first experience Swedish Walk Week. Finishing in the top three, her confidence continued to build. That same year on the domestic front, Herazo started racking up National titles, winning both the 5K and the 15K.

In 1991, Herazo went on the world tour. She returned to Swedish Walk Week, but it was no longer her final destination. Instead she traveled to Seville, Spain, for the World Indoor Championship. The many walkers on the small track required heats. Finishing 6th in her heat, Herazo was confused by the finals qualifying requirements. It wasn’t until later that evening that she was informed she had another race to walk. After a rough first race, Herazo wasn’t sure what was left for the final event. But with a gutsy effort and a few disqualifications in front of her, she finished 9th in the world.

Herazo continued to showcase her talent on the world stage, finishing 28th in the Outdoor World Championships later in the year. She remembers that she and teammate Debbie Lawrence were seeded far back in the pack. Not understanding why, Coach Bentley jokingly suggested it must have been their height. Lawrence and Herazo were amongst the tallest in the field.

Herazo, however, did not remain in the back of the pack for long. The following year, she started off strong and finished 3rd in a tough battle with the Mexicans at the Pan Am Cup. The race remains one of the greatest highlights of her career. Walking at altitude in a Mexican-friendly environment, Herazo snuck between the favored trio of Mexicans to capture the bronze medal.

Coach Bentley convinced Herazo that she had Olympic potential. The two moved to Las Vegas to train in the heat and acclimate to conditions Herazo would face and the Olympic Trials and Games. The move paid off as Herazo became one of three women to walk in the inaugural women’s race walk at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. The games were “such a thrill”, because unlike her teammates Herazo was not an elite runner throughout college. She had never dreamed of being an Olympian. With a tough uphill climb for the last two kilometers, Herazo battled the heat, hills, and competitors to finish 28 th.

The following Olympics were not as successful; unfortunately Herazo was disqualified late in the race. Not feeling “right” at the starting line, she never got in her grove.

After battling injuries in 2000 and failing to qualify for her 3 rd Olympic Games, Herazo refocused on school. The many hours of training required to be competitive at an international level just didn’t hold a high enough priority in Herazo’s life. She is currently finishing her undergraduate requirements for admission into veterinary school. While school still takes up a great deal of time, she hopes to one day soon regain her form and race in some shorter National competitions. After all, she only needs one more title to match the Broddock’s record holding the most women’s National titles. She better watch her back though, because Michelle Rohl also competes for the same crown.