Ecuadorians Rolando Saquipay and Mesías Zapata highlighted the 17th South American Race Walking Championships that took place in Cochabamba on 6-7 March.

Competing at the always challenging altitude of 2574m, the thirty-year-old Saquipay won the 20km event in 1:24:50 7 March, leaving Colombian Gustavo Restrepo in second place with 1:27:40, and Chilean Yerko Araya in third 1:30:45.

To win the event for the second time in his career, after his triumph in Los Ángeles, Chile in 2004, Saquipay took an early lead, and was ahead of compatriot Andrés Chocho by 8 seconds at the 5km split 21:18; by 27 seconds at 10Km 42:34; and by 15 seconds by 15km 1:03:49. Chocho crossed the finish line in 1:26:10, but was disqualified after ending the race.Saquipay, who has a PB of 1:19:21 2005, has recorded his best international performances at the 2004 Olympic Games 17th, 2007 World Championships 12th, and 2004 and 2008 World Cup 12th. The Ecuadorian won the 2005 Pan American Cup, where he set his PB, and was also silver medalist at the 2007 Pan American Games.

via iaaf.org – Ecuadorians shine at South American Race Walking Championships.