Chinese double in junior races
07 Maggio 2016Zhenxia Ma and Jun Zhang won the 10 km in Rome, while China (women) and Mexico (men) were team champions
Zhenxia Ma from China won the women’s 10 km junior race on a sunny and warm day becoming the first champion of the 2016 IAAF World Race Walking Championships in Rome. Zhenxia Ma edged out her compatriot Li Ma in a very close sprint finish. Both walkers shared the same time of 45:25 but Zhenxia Ma prevailed by the narrowest of margins. Valeria Ortuno from Mexico completed the podium in third place three seconds behind the leading duo. Noemi Stella, Olympic Youth bronze medallist in Nanjing 2014 and 2013 World Youth bronze medallist, was the first European walker improved her personal best by one minute to cross the finish-line with 45:55. A nine-women leading group formed by Valeria Ortuno, Zhenxia Ma, Teresa Zurek, Maria Fernanda Montoya, Noemi Stella, Li Ma, Zoe Hunt, Taika Nummi and Vivian Castillo went through the 5 km mark in 23:12. With 30 minutes on the clock the leading pack was whittled down to six athletes Stella, Ortuno, Nummi, Montoya, Zhenxia Ma and Li Ma. The situation changed at the front when Zhenxia Ma, Li Ma and Ortuno pushed the pace at the front breaking away from the rest of the field. Zhenxia Ma increased her pace opening up a gap of 5 metres over Li Ma and Ortuno. With the Nando Martellini athletics stadium on the horizon the two chinese walkers pulled away from Ortuno, who tried to close her gap on the leading duo. The race came down to the wire when Zhenxia Ma and Li Ma were walking neck to neck when they entered the Nando Martellini Stadium in the Baths of Caracalla. There was too little to separate at the finish with Zhenxia Ma taking the win in a breathtaking finish.
China dominated the junior team ranking ahead of Mexico and Australia. “It feels pretty good. I had a strenuous training recently. Today I felt quite good in the race. The race went quite well. I was able to have a relaxed attitude and I am happy with my speed too. I did not think I would win this race because all the other athletes are very strong here. I think my attitude was my strength today”,
Li Ma talked about the very close sprint into the finish-line. “I am not sure who arrived first. We had not planned to cross the line together. I only know we arrived almost at the same time. It went very well. I did not think about the opponents. My only thought was “keep going”, said Li Ma.
Men’s race: China claimed a winning sweep by winning both the men’s and the women’s junior 10 km races. Jun Zhang won the men’s 10 km race in 40:23 beating Manuel Bermudez from Spain by four seconds crossing the finish-line in 40:23. Bermudez set his personal best with 40:27 edging out Mexico’s Noel Ali Chama by two seconds. Callum Wilkinson finished fourth setting the British Under 20 record with 40:30. Jun Zhang went through the halfway mark in 20:22 taking a two-second lead over Wilkinson, Xianggian Jin, Chama, Cesar Augusto Rodriguez from Peru, Masatora Kawano from Japan. Zhang covered the second 5 km half faster than the first part clocking 20:01 to cross the finish-line in 40.23. Mexico placed two athletes in the top five (Noel Ali Chama third and Andrés Olivas fifth) winning the men’s team standing.
“In the beginning I felt my condition was not too good. It must be the weather, as it was a bit too hot. In the last 6 km I felt my energy was not enough, but then I tried to adjust”, said Zhang. He comes from Quijing near Kunming, an area where the tradition for race walking is very popular. “Race walking is very popular. Many previous national champions come from this area”, said Zhang.
Manuel Bermudez was very happy with his silver medal. “I am very satisfied. I gave all the best, the race was very difficult, it was really hot. My family is here. I felt their support. I was hoping for a fast race like it has been. I was not hoping for a podium though. I worked all year for this. It could have been gold, but silver is perfect. I started at 7 with training.
I have a lot of fun race walking. I like travelling and staying with the mates, having a good time together. My idol is Juan Manuel Molina”, said Bermudez.
The programme – The programme features five competitions. Each race will determine the team ranking: the two 10 km junior walking races and the two 20 km races will be held on Saturday 7th May, the 50 km walking race will take place on Sunday 8th May.
Saturday 7th May 9.30 women’s 10 km junior race
10.35 men’s 10 km junior race
16.00 Opening ceremony
16.30 men’s 20 km senior race
18.15 women’s 20 km senior race
Sunday 8th May 9.00 50 km
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