Long Island racewalker Lauren Harris, ranked 34th worldwide and holds several American records for distances as long as a half marathon and as short as a 5K, is aiming for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. Despite her reluctance to commit to the sport after college, local two-time Olympian Maria Michta-Coffey, the wife of her coach Joseph Coffey, saw the undeniable skills. Harris took three years off from the sport in 2021 to focus on her teaching career. She also qualified for the World Championships in Tokyo last year and finished 13th in the 2026 World Championships.