The indoor athletics championships of Portugal took place in Braga on Saturday 13 February 2021, with several absences and limited participation of athletes due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The two race walk events on the distance of the 5,000m indoor men and 3.000m indoor women took place on the first day.
5.000m indoor walk men
Rui Coelho (POR), silver in 2020, completely dominated the 5,000 meters race, crossing the finish line in 21:19.52, combining this title with another one already won this year (one month ago) in 50km road walk.
The result of the test tells us of a race in which the champion of the 2021 edition absolutely did not have to struggle to wins to the opponents, and consequently his time was 25 seconds higher than the personal best achieved last 2.2.2020 in Pombal.
Second place to Manuel Marques (POR), who obtained the silver at 42 with a significant personal best of 21: 43.79 (the previous PB - 22:56:44 - was established in Braga, POR on 19.1.2020).
Third place to Rúben Santos in 22: 00.16 also for him personal best (the previous PB - 22:02:53 - was obtained in Pombal, POR on 10.2.2018).
3.000m indoor walk women
Finally a victory for Edna Barros, second classified on three occasions (2017-2018-2019).
The athlete coached by Paulo Murta has now arrived on the first place on the podium after a race commanded from start to finish, with a time of 13:16.21.
Second place in Vitória Oliveira (POR) 6 seconds behind the winner, in 13:22.09 as in last year's edition.
Third place to Maria Bernardo (POR) in 13 49.14, very close to the personal best (13:42.18) obtained on 7.3.2020 always in Braga (POR). On Saturday, however, Maria Bernardo had crossed the line in fourth position, but the jury had then penalized Joana Pontes (POR) because she was penalized by 30 seconds (three red cards) assigning her the bronze.
(Photos by Antonio Sousa - POR)