Tim Seaman and Curt Clausen, America's top two race walkers at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, put their talents on display Sunday at the 66th annual USA Track and Field 40 km Race Walk Championships in Ocean Township, N.J., and came through with a 1-2 finish.

In their first competitive start since the Athens Games - where Seaman led all USA walkers in the 20-kilometer event and Clausen was first USA finisher in the 50-kilometer race - Seaman won the men's 40 km title at Joe Palaia Park in 3 hours, 20 minutes and 14 seconds. Clausen, a three-time Olympian, was the runner-up in 3:32:45. This was the 19th career national walk title for Seaman, who holds nine American records at assorted distances.

Shore AC's John Soucheck of Little Silver (3:40;25) surged past Theron Kessinger of Waterbury, Conn. (3:41:08) on the 20th and final two- kilometer loop around Joe Palaia Park to snare third place.

The battle for the USATF women's national 40 km title was much closer, with Erin Taylor of New York City (4:42:22) holding off Marie Woodland of Philadelphia's Phast club (4:45:12) and Jennifer Marlborough of East Rockaway, N.Y. (4:46:12.).

The race was hosted by Shore AC of New Jersey, sponsored by Oxford Health Plans, and staged in cooperation with Ocean Township Recreation and USATF of New Jersey.

For more information on the 2004 USA 40 km Race Walk Championships, including the complete results, visit www.usatf.org.