St Anne's park in Rhaeny is set to host over 100 athletes from across 10 countries at 11am on Sunday 19th Decemeber 2021.
The highlight of the day will be the Irish Debut of Perseus Karlstrom (SWE).
Karlstrom is the 2019 World Championship bronze medallist from Doha, 2-time European Cup champion (2019 & 2021) and the previous winner of the world walking tour will be looking to set a marker for the 2022 season with a victory in the first race of the World Athletics Walking Tour.
Karlstrom won’t be having it his own way with 3-time Olympian Brendan Boyce (IRL) to debut over 35km. Boyce may test himself towards Robert Heffernan’s (IRL) national record of 2:31:18 as the 50km specialist debut’s over 35km. With David Kenny (IRL) missing through exams and Alex Wright (IRL) focusing on the shorter distances, Boyce will be outright favourite for the national gold. However, the race podium will be a hotly contested affair with Polish pair Rafael Sikora (POL) and Jakub Jelonek (POL) along with Stefano Chiesa (ITA) poised to challenge.
All three have posted strong marks over both 20km and 50km. With the 50km resigned to the history books there will be some young and hungry 20k specialists looking to resign the 50km specialists to the past. European U23 champion Jose Manuel Perez (ESP) and Olympic 20km 10th place Callum Wilkinson (GBR) looking to demonstrate that speed trumps endurance when it comes to 35km. Finally, there will be a number of international athletes looking to post World Team Champs and World Championships qualifying times on Irish soil including British twins Dan and Domnick King, Bruno Erent (CRO), Nick Christie (USA) and Johnathon Hobbs (GBR).
In contrast to the men’s race the women’s race will be a wide-open contest that will go right to the final kilometres. Mayara Luize Vicentainer (BRA) and Elianay Pereira (BRA) are likely to show their intent early. Elianay Pereira, the two-time Brazilian champion will have a stern test from Agnieszka Ellward (POL). Just one minute separates their 20km and 50km PB’s. Ellward, faster over the 20km while Pereira holds the better mark over 50km. Many international eyes will be watching to determine what distance the new event favours. Domestically Kate Veale (IRL) will front the fight to the international athletes. A 35km debut for the West Waterford star, should the race be tight in the final kilometres, the travelling Dungarvan contingent may spur Veale on to victory.