50km uomini/men
Passano il primo giro di due km in 9:20 e subito in testa sono in cinque: Hirooki Arai, Kay Kobayashi, Satoshi Maruo, Yuki Ito, Hayato Katuski, tutti del Giappone assieme a Perseus Karstrom (SWE) e Karl Junghanns (GER).
Dopo 4km Arai, Kobayashi, e Maruo passano in 19:41 assieme a Karlstrom e Junghanns con qualche metro di vantaggio su Ito e Katsuki.
Il passaggio ai 5km avviene in 22:53, con un tempo prospettico all'arrivo di 3:49:00.
Ai 10km
Sono sempre in cinque in testa e passano in 45:27-45:28 con i secondi 5km in 22:34.
Il gruppo è guidato da Hirooki Arai.
Il giro successivo Evan Dunfee (CAN) allunga il passo e va a prendere Hayato Katuski.
Ha ceduto Karl Junghanns (GER) e si stanno avvicinando Aleksi Ojala (FIN) e Quentin Rew (NZL).
Il passaggio ai 15km avviene in 1:07:49 (terzi 5km in 22:22).
Cede qualche metro Kay Kobayashi che viene anche raggiunto da Evan Dunfee.
Ai 20km
Guidano il gruppo Maruo, Arai (1:30:06), Karstrom e Dunfee (1:30:07), mentre Kobayashi ha perso 10".
I quarti 5km sono coperti in 22:17.
Nel frattempo Aleksi Ojala (FIN) che già era stato fermato nella Pit Lane Area per 5 minuti viene raggiunto dalla quarta red card e quindi viene squalificato.
I quattro leader passano ai 25km in 1:52:29 con i quinti 5km coperti in 22:23.
Seguono: Karl Junghanns (1:52:47), Hayato Katuski (1:53:16), Quentin Rew (1:53:22), Wang Qin (1:53:29) e Kay Kobayashi (1:53:44).
Yuki Ito (JPN) viene fermato nella Pit Stop Area e lo stesso accade poco dopo per Karl Junghanns (GER).
Ai 30km
I leaders sono: Hirooki Arai, Satoshi Maruo, Perseus Karstrom e Evan Dunfee che passano in 2:14:56 (i 6° 5km in 22:37)
I primi quattro passano ai 35km in 2:37:22 (i 7° 5km in 22:26).
Nel frattempo Kay Kobayashi decide di por fine alla sua fatica.
Seguono: Hayato Katuski (2:38:07), Wang Qin (2:38:07) e Quentin Rew (2:38:42).
Ai 40km
I leaders sono: Hirooki Arai, Satoshi Maruo, Perseus Karstrom in 2:59:56 (gli 8° 5km sono coperti in 22:34).
Seguono Hayato Katuski (3:00:25), Wang Qin (3:00:35) che hanno superato Evan Dunfee (3:00:31).
Poco dopo Arai forza l'andatura e stacca Karlstrom e Maruo.
Ultimi 5km
Il passaggio ai 45km vede in testa Arai (3:22:13) seguito da Hayato Katuski (3:22:22), Wang Qin (3:22:30), Satoshi Maruo (3:22:31), Perseus Karstrom (3:22:40).
I giochi sembrano fatti almeno per la gara a squadre.
Ai 38km Katuski raggiunge Arai e continuano spalla a spalla.
Vittoria per Hirooki Arai (JPN) in 3:44:25
Secondo posto per Hayato Katuski (JPN) in 3:44:31
Terzo posto per Satoshi Maruo (JPN) in 3:44:52.
Quarto posto a sorpresa per Maryan Zakalnytstyi (UKR) in 3:44:59
Quinto posto per Wang Quin (CHN) in 3:35:29
Classifica a squadre
Non ci possono essere dubbi per la vittoria a squadre del Giappone (punti 6).
Seguono l'Ucraina (punti 29) e la Polonia (punti 27) che per il miglior piazzamento del terzo atleta batte la Cina (punti 37).
Quinto posto per Spagna (punti 67)
Sesto posto per Germania (punti 74)
Settimo posto per Italia (punti 76)
Ottavo posto per Svezia (punti 86).
(English version)
They pass the first lap of two km in 9:20 and immediately in the lead are five: Hirooki Arai, Kay Kobayashi, Satoshi Maruo, Yuki Ito, Hayato Katuski, all of Japan together with Perseus Karstrom (SWE) and Karl Junghanns (GER).
After 4km Arai, Kobayashi, and Maruo pass in 19:41 along with Karlstrom and Junghanns with a few meters ahead of Ito and Katsuki.
The passage to the 5km takes place in 22:53 with a prospective time at the arrival of 3:49:00.
At 10km
They are always in five heads and pass in 45:27-45:28 with the second 5km in 22:34.
The group is led by Hirooki Arai.
The next round Evan Dunfee (CAN) force the pace and catched Hayato Katuski.
Karl Junghanns (GER) lost positions and are approaching Aleksi Ojala (FIN) and Quentin Rew (NZL).
15km are covered in 1:07:49 (third 5km in 22:22).
He gives Kay Kobayashi a few meters and is also catched by Evan Dunfee.
At 20km
They lead the group Maruo, Arai (1:30:06), Karstrom and Dunfee (1:30:07), while Kobayashi has lost 10".
Fourth 5km are covered in 22:17.
Meanwhile, Aleksi Ojala (FIN) who was already stopped in the Pit Lane Area for 5 minutes is reached by the fourth red card and then is disqualified.
The four leaders go to 25km in 1:59:29 with the fifth 5km covered in 22:23..
Follows: Karl Junghanns (1:52:47), Hayato Katuski (1:53:16), Quentin Rew (1:53:22), Wang Qin (1:53:29) e Kay Kobayashi (1:53:44).
Yuki Ito (JPN) is stopped in the Pit Stop Area and the same happens shortly after for Karl Junghanns (GER).
At 30km
The leaders are: Hirooki Arai, Satoshi Maruo, Perseus Karstrom and Evan Dunfee passing in 2:14:56 (the 6th 5km in 22:37).
The first four pass to 35km in 2:37:22 (the 7th 5km in 22:26).
Meanwhile, Kay Kobayashi decides to end his fatigue.
Follows: Hayato Katuski (2:38:07), Wang Qin (2:38:07) and Quentin Rew (2:38:42).
At 40km
The leaders are: Hirooki Arai, Satoshi Maruo, Perseus Karstrom in 2:59:56 (the 8th 5km are covered in 22:34).
Followed by Hayato Katuski (3:00:25), Wang Qin (3:00:35) who passed Evan Dunfee (3:00:31)
Shortly thereafter, Arai forces the pace and cuts off Karlstrom and Maruo.
Last 5km
At 45km leds Arai (3:22:13) followed by Hayato Katuski (3:22:22), Wang Qin (3:22:30), Satoshi Maruo (3:22:31), Perseus Karstrom ( 3:22:40).
The games seem to be made at least for the team competition.
At 38km Katuski reaches Arai and continue shoulder to shoulder.
Victory to Hirooki Arai (JPN) in 3:44:25
Second place to Hayato Katuski (JPN) in 3:44:31
Third place to Satoshi Maruo (JPN) in 3:44:52.
Fourth place in surprise to Maryan Zakalnytstyi (UKR) in 3:44:59
Fifth place to Wang Quin (CHN) in 3:35:29.
Team standings
There can be no doubt about the team victory of Japan (points 6).
Followed by Ukraine (points 29) and Poland (points 37) for the best placement of the third athlete beats China (points 37).
Fifth place to Spain (points 67)
Sixth place to Germany (points 74)
Seventh place to Italy (points 76)
Eight place to Sweden (punti 86).
(from IAAF website)
Japan had never won a gold medal in the history of the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships, or a medal of any colour in the 50km race walk, but history was rewritten in Taicang on Saturday (5).
Pre-competition favourite Hirooki Arai paced the race almost from gun to tape and held off a strong challenge from teammate Hayato Katsuki on the final two-kilometre lap to lead a sweep of the podium for Japan. Naturally, Japan wrapped up the team gold with the lowest possible points score.
Arai’s winning mark of 3:44:25 may be more than four minutes shy of his personal best of 3:40:20 achieved three years ago, but he didn’t need a lifetime best to win today. The 27-year-old Katsuki, meanwhile, bettered his career best by more than four minutes to take the silver in 3:44:31 in what was his international championships debut.
Satoshi Maruo lagged 21 seconds behind Katsuki to grab the bronze medal.
It is the fourth consecutive year in which Arai has improved his placement in global competitions. He finished fourth at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, took the bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and silver at the World Championships in London last August.
Japan had sent arguably the strongest 50km team to Taicang with three out of their five entrants boasting a sub-3:45 lifetime best. And their dominance was quite clear from the gun.
The quintet, which also included world bronze medallist Kai Kobayashi and Yuki Ito, took the leading position soon after the race started in cloudy and windy weather conditions. Germany’s Karl Junghannss was the only non-Japanese athlete in the early leading group, with Swedish record-holder Perseus Karlstrom as the sole chaser in front of a crowded following pack.
After the first two kilometres, Karlstrom managed to catch up, leaving Poland’s Rafal Augustyn, Finland’s Aleksi Ojala, New Zealander Quentin Rew and Canada’s Evan Dunfee trailing 10 seconds in arrears.
Ito and Katsuki were the first leaders to slide off the back and the remaining five kept pushing the race to five kilometres in 22:53 and 10 kilometres in 45:27, before Junghannss was shown his second red card and started to drop back.
After the seventh lap, Dutchman Rob Tersteeg became the first athlete to visit the pit lane in the history of the event. The 41-year-old had to serve a five-minute time penalty before rejoining the race, but he was later disqualified for receiving a fourth red disc.
The 27-year-old Dunfee, the fourth-place finisher at the Olympic Games in Rio, managed to claw his way up to the lead pack. When he passed 15 kilometres in 1:08:00, the Canadian was only 11 seconds behind the leading four. He went on to overtake Kobayashi to seize the fourth position and finally reeled in the leading group after 19 kilometres.
But still, Japanese duo Arai and Maruo were taking the front row and controlling the rhythm of the pace. The four leaders remained together for another 10 kilometres and passed 30 kilometres in 2:14:56 while Katsuki and China’s Wang Qin were 45 seconds behind as the chasers.
After 30 kilometres, rain started to fall. The in-form Arai launched a series of surges over the next few laps that Dunfee was unable to keep up with. He was overtaken by Katsuki and Wang, while the chasing duo were still trying to narrow the gap between them and the leading trio.
Arai finally seized a sole lead after 22 laps as Maruo and Karlstrom fell back one after the other. Katsuki climbed back to the second position with Maruo and Wang eight seconds further behind.
The culmination of the race came after Arai took the bell. Katsuki fought back to the front row once again after more than 40 kilometres of chasing. The two Japanese race walkers wanted to break away from the other in a see-saw battle, but Arai took the opportunity when Katsuki walked aside to grab a sponge. Arai walked straight passed the water stations and never looked back before breaking the tape.
“I am very happy,” said Arai. “Some of the top 50km race walkers weren't here, so I had been hoping to win the gold medal.
“Apart from the individual races, there is also the team standings. Before the race, we all believed that as long as we all gave it our best, we will be able to win a medal.”
After covering the final 10 kilometres in 43:39 – by far the fastest 10-kilometre split of any athlete at any point in the race – surprise package Marian Zakalnytstyi of Ukraine cut nearly nine minutes off his PB to take fourth place in 3:44:59 and also help his country to take the team silver. The team bronze went to Poland, who narrowly edged out China.
Vincent Wu for the IAAF
20km uomini/men
Ai 5km: In testa hagen Pohle (GER) e Wang Kaihua (CHN) in 20:31
Segue il gruppo guidato da Giorgio Rubino (ITA), Daisuke Matsunaga, Mauricio Arteaga 6 6 secondi.
E già la prima sorpresa: Cai Zelin, uno dei favoriti della squadra di casa, è costretto al ritiro per una probabile rottura del menisco. Si complica di molto per la Cina la vittoria nella classifica a squadre. Ora l'indiscusso favorito è il Giappone.
Ai 10km, sempre in testa hagen Pohle (GER) e Wang Kaihua (CHN) in 40:48.
A 10” segue il gruppo ancora abbastanza folto guidato do Jin Xiangqian (CHN), Isamu Fujisawa )JAP), Cai Zelin (CHN), Eider Arevalo (COL) e Eiki Takahashi (JPN). Nel gruppo anche Massimo Stano (ITA) e Diego Garcia (ESP)
Subito dopo Wang Kaihua allunga il passo e stacca Hagen Pohle, mentre Massimo Stano si pone in testa al gruppo degli inseguitori nel quale Daisuke Matsunaga è garbato da due red cards.
A 49:30 dall’inizio della gara Stano ed il gruppo degli inseguitori raggiunge Pohle e cominciano a ridurre il distacco con wang Kahihua (ora 7”)
Allungano Eiki Takahashi e Koki Ikeda che raggiungono dopo poco Wang Kaihua, mentre Tom Bosworth viene fermato per 2min. nella Pit Lane Area.
Ai 15km la situazione è la seguente: Wang, Ikeka, Yamanishi e Takahashi in testa 1:01:09
Jin, Fujisawa e Stano dietro in 1:01:12
Arevalo ancora dietro in 101:29
Massimo Stano va a ridurre il gap con i primi e riporta gli altri nel gruppo di testa (ora sono in sette), dietro Arevalo.
Forza il passo Massimo Stano e va a guidare la gara.
Ai 16 km Yamanishi e Ikeda davanti a Stano.
Allungano ancora Yamanishi, Ikeda e wang Kaihua, mentre Stano e Takahashi sono distanziano da una decina di metri.
Yamanishi riceve la seconda red cards.
Ultimo giro: in testa Koki Ikeda e wang Kaihua, segue Yamanishi, ancora dietro Stano e Takahashi.
Allunga Ikeda e stacca Wang Kaihua,
Vittoria per Koki Ikeda in 1:21:13
Secondo posto a Wang Kaihua in 1:21:22
Terzo posto a Massimo Stano in 1:21:33
Quarto posto a Toshikazu Yamanishi in 1:21:53
Quinto posto a Brian Pintado (ECU) in 1:22:21
Gli altri Italiani
Francesco Fortunato è 9° in 1:23:31
Giorgio Rubino è 17° in 1:24:03
Marco De Luca fa parte della folta schiera dei DNF (ben 13 atleti)
Speriamo che nessuno ce ne voglia a male, ma il cambio generazionale in Italia è in pieno corso, e questa è già di per se sempre una bella notizia.
Classifica a squadre
Vittoria per il Giappone (punti 12)
Secondo posto per l'Italia (punti 29)
Terzo posto per la Cina (punti 42)
Quarto posto per l'Ecuador (punti 47)
Quinto posto per la Spagna (punti 49)
(english version)
At 5km: leaders are Hagen Pohle (GER) and Wang Kaihua (CHN) in 20:31
Following is the group led by Giorgio Rubino (ITA), Daisuke Matsunaga (JPN), Mauricio Arteaga (ECU) detached by 6 seconds.
And already the first surprise: Cai Zelin, one of the favorites of the home team, is forced to retire due to a probable breaking of the meniscus. The victory in the team standing is very complicated for China. Now the undisputed favorite is Japan.
At 10km
Hagen Pohle (GER) and Wang Kaihua (CHN) were in the lead in 40:48.
At 10" follows the still quite large group led by Jin Xiangqian (CHN), Isamu Fujisawa (JAP), Cai Zelin (CHN), Eider Arevalo (COL) and Eiki Takahashi (JPN). In the group also Massimo Stano (ITA) and Diego Garcia (ESP).
Immediately after force the pace Wang Kaihua catches Hagen Pohle, while Massimo Stano puts himself ahead of the group of pursuers in which Daisuke Matsunaga is charged by two red cards.
At 49:30 from the start of the race Stano and the group of pursuers catch Pohle and begin to reduce the gap with wang Kahihua (now 7")
Eiki Takahashi and Koki Ikeda (JPN) who reach after a while Wang Kaihua, while Tom Bosworth (GBR) is stopped for 2min. in the Pit Lane Area.
At 15km
The situation is as follows: Wang, Ikeka, Yamanishi and Takahashi in the lead 1:01:09
Jin, Fujisawa and Stano behind in 1:01:12
Arevalo still behind in 101: 29
Massimo Stano forces the pace to reduce the gap with the first and brings the others in the leading group (now there are seven). Arevalo is behind.
Forces the pace Massimo Stano and goes to lead the race.
At 16 km Yamanishi and Ikeda are in front of Stano.
Yamanishi, Ikeda and Wang Kaihua still in the lead, while Stano and Takahashi are a distance of about ten meters.
Yamanishi receives the second red card.
Last lap: Koki Ikeda and Wang Kaihua lead the way, followed by Yamanishi, still behind Stano and Takahashi.
Force again Ikeda and pull off Wang Kaihua,
Victory to Koki Ikeda in 1:21:13
Second place to Wang Kaihua in 1:21:22
Third place to Massimo Stano in 1:21:33
Fourth place to Toshikazu Yamanishi in 1:21:53
Fifth place to Brian Pintado (ECU) in 1:22:21
The other Italians
Francesco Fortunato is 9th in 1:23:31
Giorgio Rubino is 17th in 1:24:03
Marco De Luca is part of the large group of DNF (13 athletes)
We hope that no one wants to hurt, but the change of generation in Italy is in full swing, and this is already in itself always good news.
Team Standings
Victory to Giappone (points 12)
Second place to Italy (points 29)
Third place to China (points 42)
Fourth place to Ecuador (points 47)
Fifht place to Spagna (points 49)
(from IAAF website)
The IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships Taicang 2018 reached an exciting climax as Koki Ikeda led Japan to double gold in the men’s 20km race walk.
On a warm and muggy Sunday morning in Jiangsu province, Ikeda bided his time and waited until the final turn to stride away from the last of his opponents to become Japan's first 20km winner in the history of these championships. With strong performances from his teammates, Japan also secured the team title.
Long-time leader Wang Kaihua held on for the silver medal and led the host nation to a team bronze, while Italy’s Massimo Stano finished strongly to take individual bronze and team silver.
In the humid conditions, the pace was consistent but never too fast. Germany’s 2009 world U18 champion Hagen Pohle forged ahead at the start and was joined by Wang as they passed three kilometres in 12:21 and four kilometres in 16:28.
After two laps, just 10 seconds separated the top 50 men. Pohle and Wang reached five kilometres in 20:30, six seconds ahead of the 25-strong chase pack. The gap continued to grow over the next two laps; with heavy rain starting to fall at seven kilometres, reached in 28:37, they were 10 seconds ahead. At nine kilometres, passed in 36:44, they were 13 seconds ahead.
But after passing the half-way point in 40:48, their lead had reduced to 10 seconds. The chase pack was also beginning to shrink and Australia’s Olympic bronze medallist Dane Bird-Smith was one of the first casualties of the race. The recently crowned Commonwealth champion pulled up with what appeared to be cramp at the half-way mark.
World leader Eiki Takahashi started to force the pace in the chase pack and encouraged his Japanese teammates to go with him.
The sun made a brief appearance about 45 minutes into the race with Wang now the sole leader as Pohle was drifting back towards the chase pack. Wang passed 12 kilometres in 48:54 and Pohle became part of the following group soon after, joining Takahashi, Ikeda, Isamu Fujisawa, Toshikazu Yamanishi, Stano, world champion Eider Arevalo, China’s Jin Xiangqian and Britain’s Tom Bosworth.
A minute after passing 13 kilometres in 52:59, Wang was joined at the front by Takahashi and Ikeda. Just a few strides behind them, Bosworth received his third red card and had to head to the pit lane for a two-minute penalty.
Arevalo started to struggle after 14 kilometres, while Wang, Takahashi, Ikeda and Yamanishi made a bit of a break. A few minutes later, the lead quartet was joined by the chase trio to form a lead pack of seven.
Stano enjoyed a brief stint at the front of the pack as they approached 16 kilometres, but Yamanishi then made a move. Ikeda and Wang went with him, but Stano and Takahashi held back while Jin and Fujisawa started to fade.
The metronomic pace continued as Ikeda and Wang hit 17 kilometres in 1:09:16. Yamanishi then started to drop back and Takahashi was shown a third red card, meaning he had to head to the pit lane at a crucial part of the race, effectively ending his chances of an individual medal.
As the bell sounded for the final two-kilometre lap, Wang and Ikeda were side by side. They upped their pace and covered the next kilometre in 4:00 but were still inseparable. It was only when they headed back down Shanghai Road and turned the final bend that Ikeda moved into top gear and suddenly opened a decisive gap on Wang.
Ikeda, who turned 20 just three days ago, couldn’t hold back his smile as he approached the finish and crossed the line in 1:21:13. Wang followed nine seconds later, while Stano produced a storming finish to overtake Yamanishi in the closing stages, taking bronze in a personal best of 1:21:33.
"I raced quite conservatively for the first 15km, but I accelerated over the last five kilometres and fought hard," said Ikeda.
"My next goal is to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. There are many good race walkers in Japan, so I would like to learn from them."
With three finishers in the top seven, Japan won team bronze. Italy secured team silver, while China overtook Ecuador in the team standings in the closing stages to earn team bronze.
Jon Mulkeen for the IAAF
10km U20 uomini/men
10km U20 uomini
Subito in testa Zhang Yao (CHN) e la coppia giapponese composta da Hiroto Jusho e Sho Sakazaki.
Al primo giro il gruppo è compatto guidato da Hiroto Jusho in 8:15
Al secondo giro allunga David Kuster (FRA) e guadagna qualche metro. e passano ai 4km in 16:27
A metà gara passano in 20:32 ed il gruppo di testa ridotto a una decina di unità
Ai 6km forza il passo Zhang Yao (CHN) e viene seguito dai due compagni di squadra Sun Shuai e Wang Zhaozhao, da David Hurtado (ECU) e Jose Eduardo Ortiz (GUA).
Distanziati i giapponesi e David Kuster (FRA).
Zhang Yao (CHN) passa ai 7km in 28:24 con qualche metro di vantaggio sugli altri quattro.
Poco raggiungono Zhang Yao e restano quattro in testa alla gara quando suona la campana dell’ultimo giro.
Finale thriller. Allunga Zhang Yao (CHN) e guadagna qualche metro.
Wang Zhaozhao (CHN) e Jose Eduardo Ortiz (GUA) cercano di resistere.
Hurtado viene squalificato, mentre Wang Zhaozhao stacca Jose Eduardo Ortiz (GUA).
Vittoria per Zhang Yao (CHN) in 40:07
Secondo posto per Wang Zhaozhao (CHN) in 40:09
Terzo posto per Jose Eduardo Ortiz (GUA) in 40:16
Quarto posto per Sun Shuai (CHN) in 40:24
Quinto posto per Sho Sakazaki (JPN) in 40:55
Gli italiani
Nicolas Fanelli è 15° con il nuovo personl best di 42:10
Riccardo Orsoni è 24° con il nuovo personl best di 42:58
Davide Finocchietti è 30° con il nuovo personl best di 43:39
Classifica a squadre
Vittoria per Cina (punti 3)
Secondo posto per Giapppone (punti 14)
Terzo posto per Australia (punti 24)
(english version)
10km U20 men
Immediately in the lead is Zhang Yao (CHN) and the Japanese couple composed of Hiroto Jusho and Sho Sakazaki.
On the first lap the group is compact leaded by Hiroto Jusho in 8:15
On the second lap early break by David Kuster (FRA) and gains a few meters. and pass at 4km in 16:27
Halfway through the race they pass in 20:32 and the lead group is reduced to about ten units
At 6km, force again the pace Zhang Yao (CHN) and is followed by his teammates Sun Shuai and Wang Zhaozhao, David Hurtado (ECU) and Jose Eduardo Ortiz (GUA).
The Japanese and David Kuster (FRA) are more behind.
Zhang Yao (CHN) passes at 7km in 28:24 with a few meters ahead of the other four.
Shortly after they reach Zhang Yao and remain four ahead of the race when the bell of the last lap rings.
Final thriller. Force again Zhang Yao (CHN) and earn a few meters.
Wang Zhaozhao (CHN) and Jose Eduardo Ortiz (GUA) try to resist.
Hurtado is disqualified, while Wang Zhaozhao detaches Jose Eduardo Ortiz (GUA).
Victory to Zhang Yao (CHN) in 40:07
Second place to Wang Zhaozhao (CHN) in 40:09
Third place to Jose Eduardo Ortiz (GUA) in 40:16
Fourth place to Sun Shuai (CHN) in 40:24
Fifth place to Sho Sakazaki (JPN) in 40:55
The Italians
Nicolas Fanelli is 15th with the new personl best of 42:10
Riccardo Orsoni is 24th with the new personl best of 42:58
Davide Finocchietti is 30th with the new personl best of 43:39
Team standings
Victory to Cina (points 3)
Second place to Japan (points 14)
Third place Australia (points 24)
(from IAAF website)
Zhang Yao added another global age-group title to his collection by winning the U20 men’s 10km race walk at the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships Taicang 2018.
In an enthralling battle on the final lap, the world U18 champion led a Chinese 1-2 finish to win in a personal best of 40:07 from teammate Wang Zhaozhao (40:12).
A large pack of 13 athletes were together for the first half, passing through five kilometres in 20:32. Zhang, Wang and compatriot Sun Shuai were all in the lead group alongside the likes of David Kuster of France, David Hurtado of Ecuador, Declan Tingay of Australia and Jose Eduardo Ortiz of Guatemala.
The pace increased with each lap and Zhang tried to put in some surges to open a gap on his opponents. He broke free at one point, but was soon reeled back in by his two teammates, Ortiz and Hurtado.
Despite having been shown two red cards, Zhang picked up the pace once more on the final lap to forge a decisive lead. Behind him, the race for medals was heating up as Ortiz battled with Wang and Sun. Hurtado, meanwhile, had been disqualified while Tingay had to spend a minute in the pit lane, effectively ending his pursuit of an individual medal.
Zhang went on to cross the finish line in 40:07 while Wang followed him home five seconds later, securing the first ever 1-2 finish by a single country in the U20 men’s race at these championships.
Ortiz was a further five seconds back, clocking a national U20 record of 40:17 and earning Guatemala’s first medal in the history of the championships.
China duly won the team title while Japan took silver. Despite Tingay’s time penalty, Australia earned the team bronze medal.
Jon Mulkeen for the IAAF