Western Washington University Athletics

In 1987, placed third (46:44.3) in the race walk at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) nationals to earn All-America honors after winning the district title for WWU that same year.
After graduation, focused on training for the upcoming 1988 Olympic Trials 50-kilometer race walk. Placed fifth, just one spot shy of making the team, serving as an alternate with a time of 4:15:51. This brief taste of Olympic success was enough to train diligently for the 1992 Games.
The commitment paid off with a breakthrough year in 1989, setting personal bests at both the World Cup in L’Hospitalet, Spain, and the USSR national championships in Leningrad. Then improved his personal best again, breaking the American record for the track 50k with a time of 4:04:24.
Became a two-time U.S. Olympian. Competed in the men’s 50-kilometer walk at both the 1992 (Barcelona, Spain, 32nd, 4:25:48) and 1996 (Atlanta, U.S., NT) Games.
In 1992, finished second at the U.S. Olympic Trials with a time of 4:04:39, beating the qualifying standard by 21 seconds. His qualifying time in 1996 was 3:59.41.
Then won three U.S. championships: the two-hour marathon in 1993 (25,918 meters) and 1998 (23,694) and the 30k in 1997 (2:28:07).
Ranked in the top 10 nationally in the U.S. by Track & Field News – four times in the 20k walk (1996, 10th; 1995, 2nd; 1993, 4th; 1989, 8th) and seven times in the 50k walk (1997, 7th; 1996, 8th; 1994, 3rd; 1993, 3rd; 1992, 2nd; 1991, 3rd; and 1989, 2nd).
Concluded career by winning the 1997 Canadian 50k national championship in 4:33, although not officially presented with the title.
In 1986, Nelson placed 10th at the NAIA nationals in the 10,000-meter race walk after finishing second in the District 1 championships. He also took fourth in the district marathon.
Completed his first marathon at age 12.
Member of the Seattle Prep Hall of Fame.
Proudest accomplishment as a racewalker was setting a personal best in the 50k with a time of 3:59.41. This occurred on June 9, 1996, at Edmonds Stadium, only American to accomplish this on a regulation track in under four hours. That time still ranksNo. 9 on the all-time U.S. list at any venue.