On Saturday 20/4/2019 , the AΒΑF and the Greek athletic Federation SEGAS, with the colaboration of the perfecture of Evros and the municipaly of Alexandropoulis, organised the 18th race walk balkan championship, during of this competiton held the Greek national championship in 20km, for men and women.
The wonderfull hosting city is 800 km north/east from Athens and only 40km from the borderline with Turkey, on the seaside.
The championship had participation of athletes from Greece, Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Bulgaria and are organised under the IAAF rules.
In total there were 85 athletes in all categories, with good performance althougth the cool and windy weather.
Many of the athletes made personal or season best. The Turkish team won most of the medals, with a high level performance!
The most intresting event was the 20km men, with Alexandros Papamichail (GRE), winner on the finish line the gold medal after a great fight with Şahin Şenoduncu (TUR). Third on the line was George Tzatzimakis (GRE) with new personal best.
In the Greek national championship the winners are Alexandros Papamichail (GRE) and Panagiota Tsinopoulou (GRE). The latter obtained the seaon best with this doble victory since they won the gold medal in 20km on Balkan and National championship.
In 20km women Antigoni Drispioti, the favorite of the eve, for both champioships didn't make it to finish.
The race, however, has seen good moments: in addition to the victory of Panagiota Tsinopoulou to note the second place of Ivana Renic (CRO) in 1:36:23 which represents the new Croatian national record and the third place of Mihaela Puscasu (ROU) in 1:41:39.
Of the young Croatian we allow ourselves to point out the constant growth from 2015 over the Olympic distance.
| PERFORMANCE | PLACE | DATE |
| | | |
2019 | 1:36:23 | Alexandropoulis (GRE) | 20 APR 2019 |
2018 | 1:37:15 | Dublin (IRL) | 07 DEC 2018 |
2017 | 1:46:36 | Borsky Mikulás (SVK) | 22 APR 2017 |
2016 | 1:52:41 | Dudince (SVK) | 19 MAR 2016 |
2015 | 2:00:31 | Dudince (SVK) | 21 MAR 2015 |
Also in U20 women two good results of young new entry athletes from the Balkans:
- Pevec Eli (CRO) confirmed on the 10km U20 women in 53:18 the result he had obtained in Dudince a month ago and that represents the personal best;
- Eva Čanadi (SLO) has obtained the new personal best, as well as the new National Record of Slovenia, in 53:29 on the 10km U20 women (previous of 55:24 obtained in Zagreb, CRO on Nov. 3, 2018, but the athlete also boasts a 55:26.13 on track obtained in Velenje, SLO last week.
- Bruna Jancek (CRO) has obtained on 5km U18 girls the new National Record of Croazia in 25:21
For Papamichail was a preparation performanse since he is preparing to participate in 50 km in European race walk Cup in Alytus & to make the standar for the world championship in Doha.
Another Greek athlete Filtitsakou Kiriaki obtained the entry standard for the European championship in Boras.
The Greek federation SEGAS, by the deputy vice president Mr Athanasios Raptis, the Municipality of Alexandroupolis by the deputy mayor Mr. Vatamidis and the perfecuture of Evros by the deputy Mr Petrovic as the ditectors accompined by experied clerks, made their best for a high level event.
The race walking judges was represeting by Mara Baleani (Italy), Gaye Bekler (Turkey) and Vesna Repic (Serbia).
Zoe Gkini - Greece