The last weekend of August also gave us an interesting competition in Turkey.
The team race walking championships for U18, U20 and seniors were held in Gaziantep, a city in southern Turkey and the largest in the South Eastern Anatolia region.
Gaziantek (formerly known as Antep, but called Aintab by the Ottomans and Arabs, while it was known by the Armenians as Antal) is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the World. The first urban settlements date back to 3,650 BC. approximately.
The city and its entire area is known as the largest center of pistachio cultivation in Turkey.
On a sunny day, with a very high temperature (33° Celsius), but with an acceptable humidity rate (40%) and a slight breeze that gave a little relief, the athletes competitions were held with a participation of all respect.
5km U18 girls
Eleven athletes at the start.
Victory to Aysenur Buse Gunaslan (TUR) in 25:48 (with a 3km pass in 15:32)
Second place to Elif Nur Ozbey (TUR) in 25:54 (with a 3km pass in 15:32)
Third place to Esma Oztekin (TUR) in 26:34 (with a 3km pass in 15:37)
In the team standings the victory went to the Istanbul Enka Spor Club in 51:52
5km U18 boys
Twenty-four athletes at the start.
Victory to Ramazan Ozdemir (TUR) in 23:38
Second place to Rojhat Bozkurt (TUR) in 24:29
Third place to Murat Gude (TUR) in 24:48
In the team standings the victory went to Malatya Buyuksehir Belediye Spor Club in 52:53
5km U20 women
Sixteen athletes at the start.
Victory to Sukran Ayaz (TUR) in 26:30
Second place to Selin Cadir (TUR) in 26:43
Third place to Songul Kocer (TUR) in 27:35
In the team standings the victory went to the Batman Petrol Spor Club in 54:50
5km U20 men
Fifteen athletes at the start.
Victory to Mert Kahraman (TUR) in 20:41
Second place to Mazlum Demir (TUR) in 21:20
Third place to Hayrettin Yildiz (TUR) in 23:05
In the team standings the victory went to Ankara PTT Spor Club in 43:56
5km senior women
Twenty-three athletes at the start.
Victory to Meryem Bekmez (TUR) in 23:16
Second place to Kader Dost (TUR) in 23:41
Third place to Evan Demir (TUR) in 25:18
In the team standings the victory went to the Istanbul Enka Spor Club in 48:34
5km senior men
Twenty-eight athletes at the start.
Victory to Sahin Senoduncu (TUR) in 21:06
Second place to Abdulselam Imuk (TUR) in 21:06
Third place to Serkan Dogan (TUR) in 21:45
In the team standings the victory went to Ankara PTT Spor Club in 42:51