May
17
China posts the kind of times that are a constant of any year’s top 10.
So it’s always been something of a mystery they’ve only had two men’s IAAF World Race Walking Cup win – until now that is.
When Hao Wang cut the binds that tied him to team-mate Yafei Zhu over the last kilometre of the race, there was even time for the man with a 1:18:13 PB to be the first of the weekend to give a victory wave some distance before the finishing line.
Chinese take team gold too!
As a result China picked up their first men’s golds since 1995 when they were at home in Beijing – and better still – got a silver to go with it and a team victory on top.
But the race for third was the most dramatic of the five races in this 24th edition of walking’s showcase.
via iaaf.org – Wang saves best for last for Chinese sole individual gold in Chihuahua.
May
16
An emotional Maria Vasco laid bare the truth of a trying year – until now.The 34-year-old Spaniard has managed the juggling act of nursing a sick mother while trying to train for her first victory in the IAAF World Race Walking Cup – in fact, her first major victory anywhere.But not only did the tears flow at the medal ceremony, her bank account will look a little more fluid with the $30,000 first prize to help out at home.
She said: “My father died four years ago, and my goal was to make sure my mother who is sick doesn’t want for anything. It was very emotional.“I thought Vera Santos would be favourite today, but I was watching things closely, and although I was vomiting a little at one point – in the end I was stronger than her.
via iaaf.org – This win was the best race ever for me, says Vasco.
May
15
Matej Toth came out of the blue to win the first event of the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in searing conditions.
Slovakia’s first ever medallist – never mind winner – didn’t hit the front until the last kilometre of a race in which the man whose face adorns every street corner in Chihuahua had led for all but the first 10km.
Horacio Nava is the one member of his team to come from the host city, and cheered on by fans with banners, hooters and drums, he nearly rescued his bid for gold at 40km.
via iaaf.org – Surprise winner Toth spoils Mexican Party – Men’s 50km Race Report.
May
06
BETH Alexander will step on to the international arena this month to take on some of the world’s best walkers in Mexico.
The 17-year-old Rowville athlete was selected as one of three competitors to represent Australia in the under-20 10km event at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Chihuahua, Mexico on May 15-16.
Her selection comes after she earned a silver in Hobart at the trials in February, where she walked 10km in 49min 3sec.
Beth also took out the 2009 Australian All Schools and Youth Track and Field Championships 5km event in Hobart last Decem-ber. The Junior Sports Star nominee said it was a tough sport, ensuring both technique and fitness were at the absolute peak.
“I don’t think people know how hard it is and how hard you work,” Beth said.
via Beth on track to take on world’s best – Local News – News | Knox Leader.
Apr
29
Jackson dominates race walking and won the recent national championships over 20km by over six minutes, despite falling ill before the start.
And she was nearly ten minutes inside the qualifying time after clocking one hour 32 minutes 37 seconds in Italy earlier this year.
It will be her second appearance at the Commonwealth, having missed out on the medals in Melbourne, finishing seventh.
“Four years ago it was a big learning experience for me but this time round I will be looking for a medal, hopefully gold,” said Jackson.
“I've never been out to India, however, I realise racing conditions could be difficult, but they will be the same for everyone.
“With the right preparations I hope to have a successful Games.”
via Walker Jackson earns Commonwealth Games call-up | More than the games.
Apr
29
Russia will be without its three world champions at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Chihuahua, Mexico, on May 15-16 but their team coach Alex Melnikov is still confident of success.
Valery Borchin, Sergey Kirdyapkin and Olga Kaniskina, the men's 20km, men's 50km and women's 20km gold medallist from last year's World Championships in Berlin, are all focusing on the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona this summer.
“We made the decision at the start of the year that our three world champions would not be selected for this event and that they would concentrate on the main event of the season, the European Athletics Championship in Barcelona,” explained Melnikov.
via European Athletics – Russia ready to defend its walking honour.
Apr
29
Mexico City, Mexico – Mexico has a long and victorious history in the world race walking, and now a new generation of Mexican athletes has the chance to write an even more successful chapter for their country at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Chihuahua, Mexico, 15/16 May.
World 20Km bronze medallist Eder Sanchez and Horacio Nava, who finished sixth over 50Km at the 2008 Olympics, will lead the Mexican squad who will be looking to expand upon their past success on their home soil.
In his career Sanchez has won three medals in World Race Walking Cup events: a bronze in the 20Km at Cheboksary 2008, and four years before that, in 2004, as a junior he won the silver medal at 10Km and junior team gold. Despite his past success, the 23-year -old Sanchez thinks Chihuahua 2010 is an important challenge.
“This is a very important event for all the Mexican athletes,” said Sanchez, who is also a Second Sergeant in the Mexican Army. “Not just because we have a great world history in race walking, and not just because I won a bronze medal at Cheboksary 2008, but because this is the first time for us, the new generation of Mexican race walkers, that we will have the opportunity to compete in our country in such a big event. We all make big efforts to give to our country a wonderful result, especially in this important year that all Mexicans celebrate two centuries of the Independence Movement, and one century of the Mexican Revolution. This World Cup means a lot more for Mexican athletes.”
via iaaf.org – Sanchez and Nava lead Mexican squad for Chihuahua – World Race Walking Cup.
Apr
14
UK Athletics today announced Jo Jackson (Andi Drake / Maureen Jackson) has been selected to represent the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland team at the IAAF Race Walking World Cup to be held in Chihuahua, Mexico on the 15-16 May 2010.
National record holder Jackson was selected for the 20k distance following her international standard performance of 92:37 in Lugano, Switzerland in March 2010 and a convincing win at the World trials and UK Championships held in Victoria Park, London on Sunday 11 April.
Despite being ill during the race, Jackson stormed to victory in the capital city in 99:14 with over six minutes to spare over Niobe Menedez (Steyning) in second in 105:45 and Fiona McGorum (Leicester) 113:06.
UKA Latest News from UKA.
Apr
13
Rarely can it be said one man is responsible for an entire country’s worldwide success in athletics – and a success that he started from scratch.History has many examples of coaches rekindling a long-held tradition, perhaps, or a country fetching up a bunch of talented athletes for no particular reason other than coincidence.But an ex-boxer in a foreign country preaching a discipline barely heard of before?
And what is even more remarkable about Jerzy Hausleber is that as a Pole, he went to a country about as far removed from his own in culture and ideas – and still produced a hotbed of Mexican Olympic, World, and IAAF Walking Cup champions for 40 years.
To grasp the enormity of the Hausleber phenomenon, imagine if you will, a Norwegian going to Brazil to teach cricket and still producing the World Cup winners for the best part of two decades.
via iaaf.org – Jerzy Hausleber, the architect of Mexico’s Race Walking tradition – IAAF Race Walking Cup.
Apr
09
Top British race walker Jo Jackson (Redcar WC) will compete at Victoria Park, London on Sunday 11 April in a bid to make the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team which will contest the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Chihuahua, Mexico, 15-16 May.
Jackson, who set two British 5000m walk records in 2009 including an early season world-leading mark of 20:46.58 and then a British 20km walk record of 1:31:16, will make her third outing of the season in the senior women’s race.
She said: “Winter prep has gone really well. After spending the last two winters training out in Australia I decided to stay home this year and tough out the English weather with my new training group in Leeds. The big change for me since the summer has been relocating to Leeds Met Carnegie now the UK National Race Walking Centre. Its great to finally have training partners pushing me in sessions on a daily basis after training solo for so long. After the disappointment of being disqualified in Berlin I've also worked very hard on improving my technique over the winter months.
“I'm looking forward to the trial race this weekend and feel confident that I'm in shape to break my PB and finally break 91 mins, I've already broke my 10km PB by a minute this season so my 20km time definitely needs revising.”
The London venue also encompasses the National 20km Race Walking Championships, junior 10km Championships and RWA Younger Age Group Championships in a four race format beginning at 13:00.
via UKA Race Walking Preview.