This morning the Oceania and Australian 20km Walking Championships took place at Fawkner Park in Melbourne.
While waiting to receive the usual detailed report from our friend Tim Erickson, we give our readers this initial flash of the day.
20km women
In perfect weather conditions, Jemima Montag (coached by Brent Vallance) recorded the best home soil by an Australian when she crossed the line in 1:28.:50 and made her route to "Tokyo bound" already easy.
Montag's performance was accompanied by a two-minute personal best (previous of 1:30:51 in Adelaide on 10.2.2019) and sets the tone for her Olympic debut in Tokyo later this year.
"It's really exciting to take this win. I knew this would be the fast hit out for the season because Tokyo will be humid and probably come down to tactics, but I've waited over a year to do a 20km race and I'm so happy to make the most out of todad", Montag said.
Second place to Katie Hayward (AUS) in 1:30:41 dips below the Olympic qualification standard but does not improve her personal best (1:29:25)
Third place to Rebecca Henderson (AUS) in 1:32:12 but unfortunately she missed the standard for the Olympic qualification even if she achieved an excellent result for her debut in the 20km.
20km men
In the men's race, it was a battle between the final winner Rhydian Cowley (AUS), who clocked 1:22.28, and Declan Tingay (AUS).
In an effort to stamp his authority on Australian race walking, it was Tingay who crossed the line 1 second ahead of Cowley, but sadly the wins was not to be for him.
Tingay, following a third red card in his final lap of Fawkner Park, was penalized by 2 minutes and placed behind Kyle Swan (AUS) who won silver, just as he was still happy to take home his first national 20km title in his career.
Second place then to Kyle Swan in 1:24.08 which touches the personal best of 1:23:54 obtained in Melbourne on 1.12.2019
Third place to Declan Tingay in 1:24.27 the result was however a personal best of almost two minutes (previous of 1:26:22 obtained in Adelaide on 10.2.2019).
"It was definitely a odd way to finish, but I've been trying to win the 20km National Championship for over a decade, so I'll take it whatever way I can get in that respect" he said post-race.
Other results
10km U20 men
Victory to Will Thompson (AUS) with the personal best of 41:34 (previous of 44:18 obtained in Melbourne on 6.12.2020) which qualifies him for the Under 20 World Championships
Second place to Corey Dickson (AUS) in 44:56
Third place to Jack McGinniskin (AUS) in 50:29
10km U20 women
Victory for Alanna Peart (AUS) in 48:04 who got the U20 world qualification.
Second place to Olivia Sandrey (AUS) in 48:58
Third place to Gabriella Hill (AUS) in 51:23