BECKLEY, W.Va. — Former WVU Tech national champion and cross country and track & field coach Dan Nehnevaj added another major accomplishment to his race walking career Aug. 29, setting a new American record in the indoor two-mile race walk.
Nehnevaj finished third in an elite international field at the USATF Niagara Indoor 2 Mile Race Walk at Nazareth University's Golisano Indoor Training Center in Rochester, New York. His time of 12:03.31 broke the previous American record of 12:05.94 held by Jim Heiring.
Sweden's Perseus Karlström won the race in 11:46.13, establishing a World Best at the rarely contested distance, while Canada's Evan Dunfee finished second in 12:01.15. U.S. Olympian Nick Christie placed fourth in 12:28.24.
Nehnevaj raced alongside a group that included Olympians Karlström, Dunfee and Christie. After moving into second behind Karlström during the race, Nehnevaj was passed late by Dunfee before holding on for third overall and the American record.
The performance adds another chapter to a career that began at WVU Tech. Nehnevaj finished his Golden Bear career as an eight-time All-Conference performer, six-time River States Conference champion, five-time NAIA national qualifier and two-time NAIA All-American. He captured the 2020 NAIA indoor national championship in the 3,000-meter race walk and held WVU Tech program records in the 5K, 3K and 3K race walk at the conclusion of his Golden Bear career.
Nehnevaj remained with the Golden Bears following his competitive career, first serving as an assistant coach and helping both WVU Tech cross country programs capture RSC championships in 2020. He later served as Tech's head coach for cross country and track & field.
His success also continued on the national and international stage. Nehnevaj placed second in the 20K race walk at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, clocking 1:31:59. He later represented Team USA at the 2022 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Muscat, Oman, competing in the 35K, before representing the United States in the 20K at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Now, six years after capturing an NAIA national championship in a Golden Bear uniform, Nehnevaj can add American record holder to an already decorated résumé.
