South Korea in the early stages of the pandemic due to Covid-19 was a Country that more successfully managed to limit the spread of the virus.
These days, which are also characterized by abundant rain showers, the National Championships are taking place in Yecheon (KOR), which, as usual, also include the walking events.
Race walk took place on the classic 20km road Olympics distance for men and women, but they were also combined with two 10km (men and women) reserved for U20 of High Schools.
20km men
The men's race was certainly the most fought and interesting of the day, not so much for the result, which is well below the high international standards, but for the fact that the order of arrival has seen three athletes in the space of 2 seconds.
Hyunsub Kim (KOR) won in 1:29:02; today 35-year-old Kim, is one of the best South Korean walkers of all time.
His most important medal was the bronze medal obtained at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, in his hometown, which was recognized years later (unfortunately, by denying him the opportunity to get on the podium in front of his compatriots) after the discovery of doping by Russian athletes and the consequent disqualification in the 20 km race.
The podium of that edition was, on several occasions, completely rewritten.
The gold of Valeriy Borchin (1:19:56), the silver of Vladimir Kanaykin (1:20:27) and the fifth place of Stanislav Emelyanov (1:21:11) and the final ranking distorted with the gold to Luis Fernando Lopez (COL) in 1:20:38), silver to Wang Zhen (CHN) in 1:20:54 and bronze to Kim Hyunsun (KOR) in 1:21:17.
Coming back to our Incheon race the second place went to Joo Hyunmyeong (KOR) in 1:29:03.
In third place arrived Kim Mingyu (KOR) in 1:29:04 who however obtained the victory in the special ranking reserved for university athletes.
20km women
Victory to Kim Minji (KOR), in 1:39:45, which has set a new personal record (previous of 1:40:12, obtained on 8.10.2019 in Seoul).
Second place to Lee Seha (KOR) in 1:42:14
Third place to Lee Boram Lee (KOR) in 1:45:02.
Competitions reserved for high school athletes (U20)
- 10km male (8 participants) victory of Lee Seongyoon Lee (KOR) in 43:25;
- Women's 10km (7 participants), victory of Ka-eun Shin, in 51:01 which represents the new record of the U20 Championships.