Anali Cisneros got involved with race walking as many do, by starting with running. She was fortunate to run cross country with the Elgin Sharks Track Club. Sadly, she was plagued with many knee injuries. However, the Elgin Sharks have great ties to the race walking community and the coaches suggested she try race walking since it had less impact on the knees. She was a natural. She quickly mastered the technique and her potential was obvious.

Coach Diane Graham-Henry was the race walking head coach for the Elgin Sharks track club and Cisneros credits her with “changing my life.” Alongside Coach Diane she has gotten to travel across the US while introducing her to many people. “She truly has become a role model for me. Thanks to Coach Diane and her unconditional support on and off the track, I was able to develop into the race walker that I am today. I truly hope to one day be half the woman she is, for her benevolence and dedication to the race walk community inspires me every day.”

Under Graham-Henry’s coaching Cisneros stepped up quickly, with her first big breakout race occurring at the 2014 Junior Outdoor Championships held in Eugene Oregon. She was seeded around 8th place and hoped to qualify the Team USA vs CANADA dual meet. That meant she had finish in the first 4 places. She diligently hit every split according to her pre-race plan. As the race progressed, she kept passing one girl after another. With three laps to go she was in 3rd place. “I was stoked !!” recalls Cisneros. However, she was not content. After closing hard, she ended up catching 2nd place and finished her first Junior outdoor championships in 2nd place with a “crazy PR.”

Cisneros’ positive experiences continued. She qualified for her first International competition in Arica, Chile for the Pan American Cup. Like many race walkers, the international opportunities give young athletes experiences they never dreamt of. This was Cisneros’ first time leaving the United States. “The experience was unforgettable,” cites Cisneros. “From receiving my first Team USA luggage full of gear to meeting athletes from other teams, it was everything I could have dreamed of as a high school athlete.” However, the joy of travel and swag was nothing compared to the shock as she crossed the finish line find out that she had gotten 3rd place for the NACAC division.

Cisneros’ success continued when Cisneros competed in the Junior World Championships in Bydgoscz, Poland. It was quite a different experience than competing in the USA. The field was deep with athletes around the same time that she was shooting for. Cisneros thrived on the competition. It was a sunny day at the track and the atmosphere was incredible. As they introduced the event they had fire coming out of the shoot as they were walking on to the track. Cisneros recalls, “as they announced our name I felt like a celebrity!!!” She executed each lap perfectly to break the record and she ended up breaking the nearly 10-year old Junior 10,000m record by two-time Olympian Maria Michta.

Cisneros typically trains 75-85 kilometers a week. Like most athletes this varies depending on where she is in the season. She typically walks six days a week. In addition, she will run one of her recovery days or go on the Elliptical machine if her legs need a little break. She claims to have learned to always listen to her body and prioritize what is scheduled for training in the long run. “If my body is feeling really beat up and I can’t go past a certain kilometer than I rather be healthy than push it farther and not train the next day,” says Cisneros. Her favorite workout is probably 4k,3k,2k,1k or a Fartlek.

Cisneros is just getting started. Her goals are to make the Olympics in the 20k racewalk for Team USA and to be a 7 time NAIA National Champion. She is well on her way, having just won the NAIA nationals in 2019.

20K US Ranking by Track and Field News

2018 – 5th
2017 – 8th

50K US Ranking by Track and Field News

Not Ranked 

Major U.S. Championships (Indoors)

N/A

Major U.S. Championships (Outdoors)

2016 Junior Outdoors (Eugene, Oregon)
2015 Junior Outdoors (Eugene, Oregon)

2016- Team USA v Canada ( Edmonton, Canada)
2016- World Race walking cup (Rome, Italy)
2016- World Juniors (Bydgoscsz Poland)
2015- Pan American Race walk Cup (Arica,Chile)
2015- Junior Pan American Championships (Edmonton, Canada)
2015- Team USA v Canada (Albany, New York)
2014- Team USA v CANADA (Vancouver, Canada)

"Stay determined despite the challenges that you can come across. Everybody at some point gets disqualified, gets made fun of and especially loses. But, all the challenges are what make the success even better and there is nothing compared to the feeling of qualifying for a spot on Team USA and getting to travel the world."