20km donne
Sono in 54 alla partenza in rappresentanza di 18 nazioni.
Subito si pone in testa a fare l'andatura Antonella Palmisano (ITA). E' lei la favorita principale della gara e lo sa: non si sottrae quindi ai suoi obblighi: passa al 1km in 4:34.
Ai 2km Antonella Palmisano (ITA) ha già allungato e guida con 2" di vantaggio sul gruppo.
La musica non cambia: assistiamo ad uno spettacolare assolo dell'italiana quarta a Rio de Janeiro con una marcia da manuale.
Palmisano: ai 3km in 13:29 - ai 4km in 17:56 - ai 5km in 22:23 (con un vantaggio di 14")
Nel gruppo delle inseguitrici ci sono Nadiya Borovska (UKR) e Inna Kashina (UKR), Ines Henriques (POR), Ana Cabecinha (POR), Laura Garcia Caro (ESP) ed Emilie Menuet (FRA).
Ai 6km: Palmisano in 26:48
Ai 7km: Palmisano in 31:13 e le altre a 14"
Agli 8km: Palmisano in 35:35 e le altre a 20"
Ai 9km: Palmisano in 39:58 e le altre a 23"
A metà gara Antonella Palmisano passa in 44:21.
Seguono Nadiya Borovska (UKR), Ines Henriques (POR), Ana Cabecinha (POR), e Laura Garcia Caro (ESP) in 44:48.
Alla tornata successiva il vantaggio della Palmisano (48:41) sulle quattro inseguitrici è aumentato a 35".
Ines Henriques ha due red cards a suo carico, ma rimane nel gruppo delle inseguitrici nelle quali cerca di farsi luce Ana Cabecinha.
Ai 12km: Palmisano in 53:03 e le altre in 53:44 a 41"
Ai 13km: Palmisano in 57:26 e le altre in 58:13 a 47"
Nella gare per le medaglie minori forza il passo Nadiya Borovska (UKR) ma le altre resistono.
Ai 14km: Palmisano in 1:01:48 e le altre in 1:02:43 a 55"
Poco prima dei 15km viene squalificata Ines Henriques (POR)
La Palmisano è passata ai 15km in 1:06:10
Allunga per il secondo posto Ana Cabecinha e guadagna metri su Laura Garcia Caro (ESP).
Ai 16km: Antonella Palmisano guida in 1:10:33, seguono a 1:12 Ana Cabecinha e ad 1:15 Laura Garcia-Caro (ESP).
Ai 17km: Antonella Palmisano guida in 1:14:52, segue Ana Cabecinha (1:16:16) a 1:24 e Laura Garcia-Caro (1:16:21) a 1:29.
Ai 18km: Antonella Palmisano guida in 1:18:12, segue Ana Cabecinha (1:20:47) a 1:35 e Laura Garcia-Caro (1:20:54) a 1:42.
La parte finale della gara è uno spettacolo: Antonella Palmisano devia dalla linea ideale di marcia per andare a prendere la bandiera italiana che le cade a terra. Ritorna indietro, e la riprende per teminare con la sua bandiera in mano in 1:27:57.
Anche Yohann Diniz aveva fatto così a Zurigo in occasione del mondiale della 50km. Che sia un sogno premonitore per Londra 2017 ?
Secondo posto per Ana Cabecinha POR) in 1:29:44
Terzo posto per Laura Garcia-Caro ESP) in 1:29:57
Quarto posto per Inna Kashina (UKR) in 1:30:11 (personal best)
Quinto posto per Nadiya Borovska (UKR) in 1:30:26
Sesto posto per Maria Perez (ESP) in 1:30:52 (personal best)
Settimo posto per Valentina Trapletti (ITA) in 1:30:58 (personal best)
Ottavo posto per Brigita Virbalyte-Dimsieme (LTU) in 1:31:32
Classifica a squadre
1.- Spagna: punti 18
2.- Italia: punti 34
3.- Lituania: punti 36
4.- Ucraina: punti 37
5.- Francia: punti 64
6.- Gran Bretagna: punti 75
10km donne
Sono in 37 alla partenza in rappresentanza di 17 nazioni e una "authorized neutral athlete".
La lotta per la vittoria sembra ristretta a tre atlete:
- Meryem Berkez (TUR) iscritta con un 44:58 mentre è stata squalificata a Podebrady lo scorso 8.4.2017.
- Teresa Zurek (GER) con un personal best di 45:09 ottenuto proprio qui a Podebrady lo scorso 8.4.2017 e favorita d'obbligo visto che nel 2017 a livello U20 ha subito una sola sconfitta a Lugano da Ma Zhenxia (CHN)
- Yana Smerdova ANA) che è stata ammessa a gareggiare dalla decisione IAAF in qualità di authorized neutral athlete; il suo personal best è si 45:05 ottenutoi a Sochi, RUS il 28.2.2016, mentre è stata iscritta con il tempo di 45:48, ottenuto a Podolsk, RUS il 9.5.2015.
Subito in testa Enni Nurmi (FIN), Meryem Berkez (TUR), Teresa Zurek (GER) e Yana Smerdova (ANA) che passano al 1km in 4:41.
Presto restano in tre e sono le favorite.
Ai 4km: Meryem Berkez (TUR), Teresa Zurek (GER) e Yana Smerdova (ANA) in 18:53 mentre Enni Nurmi (FIN) segue in 19:03 (+11").
A metà gara non cambiano le posizioni: in testa Meryem Berkez (TUR), Teresa Zurek (GER) e Yana Smerdova (ANA) in 23:38. Quarto posto per Enni Nurmi (FIN) che segue in 19:54 (+26").
Ai 7km le tre atlete passano in 33:02 e agli 8km in 37:44. Le medaglie sono assegnate; il colore non ancora.
Agli 8km passano in 37:44 e ai 9km in 42:23. Subito dopo allunga Yana Smerdova (ANA) e guadagna circa 30m. Sembra vedere una giovane Olga Kaniskina: stesso passo lungo, stesso movimento delle braccia, stessa elevata frequenza.
Vince Yana Smerdova (ANA) in 46:38
Secondo posto per Meryem Berkez (TUR) in 46:48
Terzo posto per Teresa Zurek (GER) in 46:51
Classifica a squadre
1.- Spagna: punti 10
2.- Grecia: punti 12
3.- Germania: punti 14
4.- Portogallo: punti 18
5.- Turchia: punti 21
6.- Ucraina: punti 36
7.- Italia: punti 38
8.- Polonia: punti 41
(English version)
20km women
They are in 54 at the start representing 18 Countries.
Immediately he is headed for the run by Antonella Palmisano (ITA). She is the main favorite of the race and she knows that she does not lose her obligations and pass at 1km in 4:34.
At 2km Antonella Palmisano (ITA) has already forced the pace and leads with 2" of advantage over the group.
The music does not change: we assist a spectacular solo of the Italian fourth in Rio de Janeiro with a manual gear.
Palmisano: at 3km at 13:29 - at 4km at 17:56 - at 5km in 22:23 (with an advantage of 14")
In the leading group there are Nadiya Borovska (UKR), Inna Kashina (UKR), Ines Henriques (POR), Ana Cabecinha (POR), Laura Garcia Caro (ESP) and Emilie Menuet (FRA).
At 6km: Palmisano in 26:48
At 7km: Palmisano in 31:13 and the other at 14"
At 8km: Palmisano in 35:35 and the other at 20"
Ai 9km: Palmisano in 39:58 and the other at 23".
At mid-race Antonella Palmisano passes on 44:21.
Following are Nadiya Borovska (UKR), Ines Henriques (POR), Ana Cabecinha (POR), and Laura Garcia Caro (ESP) in 44:48.
At the next lap, Palmisano's advantage (48:41) over the four chases has risen to 35".
Ines Henriques suffers two red cards, but remains in the group ofchasers in which Ana Cabecinha tries to shed light on.
At 12km: Palmisano in 53:03 and the other in 53:44 at 41"
Ai 13km: Palmisano in 57:26 and the other in 58:13 a 47"
In the less noble medal contest Nadiya Borovska (UKR) force the pace, but the others resist.
At 14km: Palmisano in 1:01:48 and the other at 1:02:43 at 55".
Shortly before the 15km is disqualified Ines Henriques (POR)
Palmisano pass at 15km in 1:06:10.
At 16km: Antonella Palmisano leads in 1:10:33, follow at 1:12 Ana Cabecinha and at 1:15 Laura Garcia-Caro (ESP).
Ai 17km: Antonella Palmisano leads in 1:14:52, follows Ana Cabecinha (1:16:16) at 1:24 and Laura Garcia-Caro (1:16:21) at 1:29.
Ai 18km: Antonella Palmisano leads in 1:18:12, follows Ana Cabecinha (1:20:47) at 1:35 and Laura Garcia-Caro (1:20:54) at 1:42.
The final part of the race is a show: Antonella Palmisano deviates from the ideal line of walk to get the Italian flag that falls to the ground. She returns back and resumes it to finish with her flag in her hand in 1:27:57.
Yohann Diniz had done so in Zurich at the 50km world championship. Perhaps a premonitory dream for London 2017 ?
Second place to Ana Cabecinha (POR) in 1:29:44
Third place to Laura Garcia-Caro ESP) in 1:29:57
Fourth place to Inna Kashina (UKR) in 1:30:11 (personal best)
Fifth place to Nadiya Borovska (UKR) in 1:30:26
Sixth place to Maria Perez (ESP) in 1:30:52 (personal best)
Seventh place to Valentina Trapletti (ITA) in 1:30:58 (personal best)
Eight place to Brigita Virbalyte-Dimsieme (LTU) in 1:31:32
Team Standings
1.- Spain: points 18
2.- Italiy: points 34
3.- Lituuania: points 36
4.- Ukraine: points 37
5.- France: points 64
6.- Great Britain: points 75
10km women
They are in 37 at the start representyin 17 nations and one "authorized neutral athlete".
The fight for victory seems to be restricted to three athletes:
- Meryem Berkez (TUR) entered with a time of 44:58 but recently disqualified in Podebrady last April 8,2017.
- Teresa Zurek (GER) with a personal best of 45:09 obtained right here in Podebrady last April 8, 2017 and our favored by the fact that in 2017 U20 suffered only one defeat in Lugano by Ma Zhenxia (CHN)
- Yana Smerdova (RUS) who was allowed to compete by the IAAF decision as an authorized neutral athlete; her personal best is 45:05 obtained in Sochi, RUS on February 28, 2016, while she was entered with the time of 45:48, obtained in Podolsk, RUS on May 9, 2015.
The race
Immediately go to lead Enni Nurmi (FIN), Meryem Berkez (TUR), Teresa Zurek (GER) eand Yana Smerdova (ANA). Their split time at 1km is 4:41
Soon they stay in three and they are the favorites.
At 4km: Meryem Berkez (TUR), Teresa Zurek (GER) and Yana Smerdova (ANA) in 18:53 while Enni Nurmi (FIN) follows in 19:03 (+11").
At half race they do not change positions: lead Meryem Berkez (TUR), Teresa Zurek (GER) and Yana Smerdova (ANA) in 23:38. Fourth place to Enni Nurmi (FIN) following in 19:54 (+26").
At 7km the three athletes pass together in 33:02 and at 8km in 37:44. Medals are awarded; the color is not yet.
At 8km they pass ain 37:44 and at 9km in 42:23. Immediately after force the pace Yana Smerdova (ANA) and earning about 30m. It seems to see a young Olga Kaniskina: same long step, same movement of the arms, same high frequency.
Victory to Yana Smerdova (ANA) in 46:38
Second place to Meryem Berkez (TUR) in 46:48
Third place to Teresa Zurek (GER) in 46:51
Team standings
1.- Spain: points 10
2.- Greece: points 12
3.- Germany: points 14
4.- Portugal: points18
5.- Turkey: points 21
6.- Ukraine: points 36
7.- Italy: points 38
8.- Poland: points 41
(from the web-site of European Athletics)
Senior women’s 20km
The seemingly foregone conclusion that Antonella Palmisano would dominate in Poděbrady proved sound. Dominate she did.
In the lead almost from the gun, the Italian piled it on and at halfway she was already 27 seconds ahead of a chasing group of four.
The Rio 2016 Olympic Games fourth-place finisher but this was her first senior title after first coming to prominence at the 2010 IAAF World Cup when she came out of the blue to lift the U20 title in Mexico.
Easy to spot thanks to wearing long blue compression socks, the 25-year-old was lapping backmarkers before the fourth 1km lap, and after missing the 27-year-old 10km world record by a single second last month, she must be considered a medal contender at the IAAF World Championships in London this coming August.
Her personal best of 1:27:51 was also in danger coming up to the last 50 metres but she darted over to the side of the course, clutched at a supporter’s Italian flag with ‘Forza Antonella’ on it, dropped it, picked it up and strolled to the line to finishing in 1:27:57, missing her best by six seconds.
Palmisano looked surprised when told she had missed out on a personal best time but quickly recovered to say it was “unimportant.”
"What mattered,” she added, “was having the flag in my hand to win my first major senior race.”
A long way behind, with Palmisano hitting the halfway mark in 44:23, Portugal looked strong with both Ana Cabecinha and Ines Henriques in contention for medals as the quartet of chasers passed 10km in 44:50.
However, the latter’s dream was dashed just shy of the 15km mark when she incurred the judges’ displeasure and was shown the dreaded red disc.
This left Cabecinha and race surprise Laura Garcia-Caro from Spain in the frame for silver and bronze.
The Portuguese walker dug on vast reserves and experience to edge ahead and take second in 1:29:44 with Garcia-Caro third in 1:29:57 but the Spaniard stood on the top of the podium a little later as she lead home Spain to team gold with all three of their scorers inside the top 10.
U20 women’s 10km
Russia’s Yana Smerdova – racing as an Authorised Neutral Athlete –looked as if she was about to breakaway on the eighth lap out of 10 but, when she heard the bell, she changed gear so fast it was clear the 19-year-old had been coasting until that point.
A 10-metre lead became 50 metres in less than two minutes as the black-vested athlete headed for the finish line before winning in 46:39.
Behind her, Germany’s Teresa Zurek was hoping to repeat her April win in Poděbrady while Turkey’s Meryem Bekmez was just hoping to get to the finish this time.
Bekmez, still only 16 and the European U18 champion last year, had recorded a 5km personal best in the previous race but was then disqualified after crossing the line.
The Turk had an eye on the board in this race too after picking up one card but the 16 was able to outsprint Zurek over the last 100 metres to claim a deserved silver in 46:48 with the German three seconds further back.
In the final race of the day, Spain took its third team title in Poděbrady with Greece second and Germany