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
14
ATHLETICS : World Championship silver medallist Olive Loughnane has decided to skip this weekend’s IAAF World Race Walking Cup to focus on the European Athletics championships in Barcelona at the end of July, writes Ian O’Riordan.
The World Cup, which is being staged in Mexico, is arguably the most important race walking event of 2010 – and certainly the richest – but Loughnane is more interested in the championship race on offer in Barcelona.
via Sports Digest – The Irish Times – Fri, May 14, 2010.
May
11
… spare a thought for the one Briton who toes the line for her country in Chihuahua.
Johanna Jackson shoulders GB expectations in a competition where the Union flag used to fly frequently at medal ceremonies in the early days of what was then called the Lugano Cup.
The Yorkshire girl has made impressive progress over the last two years since the last Cup, and could be her country’s first top-12 finisher since Lisa Langford achieved the feat 23 years ago in New York.
via iaaf.org – Russian Affair in Chihuahua? – WOMENS RACES PREVIEW.
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.
Mar
17
26th IAAF World Race Walking Cup
The Chinese Athletics Association and City of Taicang, that originally submitted a bid to host the 2012 edition, accepted the Council’s proposal to host the Cup in 2014.
via iaaf.org – IAAF Council Meeting – Doha 2010, 15 March.
Feb
27
iaaf.org – The evolution of the IAAF World Race Walking Cup, and its strong Mexican connection.
Race Walking tends to appeal to individuals, nations even, with the mindset of the dogged and determined. The underdog – passionate, defiant, yet unassuming.
While, in this toughest of endurance tests, success requires inspiration from within, more often than not, supreme triumph occurs when a group of athletes share the same passion, often inspired by a visionary leader.
For historic reasons, Mexico shares this passion, arising from the Olympics Games, and the IAAF World Race Walking Cup, a competition that was formed from one man’s vision for breaking down barriers between people.
Nov
23
The IAAF also agreed that the 2012 edition of the IAAF World Race Walking Cup will be hosted by the city of Saransk in Russia. The capital of the Mordovia region, located in the centre of the European part of Russia, the city has a long tradition in race walking. It has hosted a number of IAAF World Race Walk challenges over the years but also is one of Russia’s top specialist walking training centres. The date of the competition remains to be confirmed.
The IAAF then proposed that the city of Taicang in China, which also bid for the 2012 edition, be given the possibility to host the 2014 World Race Walking Cup, pending confirmation by the Chinese authorities. Located close to Shanghai, this harbour city has hosted previous editions of the IAAF World Race Walk Challenge.
via iaaf.org – Council agrees new hosts for IAAF World Championship events – IAAF Council Meeting, second day.