Former European champion Maria Perez is back to the main stage with a boom: She established new world record in 35K with a breakaway win. The 27-year-old from Granada grabbed her first Euro Walking Cup title in six appearances as Spain swept the podium first time in the history.
Race walkers have contested for the European Cup titles nearly perfect conditions in early Sunday morning (21) in Czech city Podebrady, famed of its race walking culture. In just second running of newly-established 35K event, Spanish women dominate whole race from start to finish. 2018 European champion Maria Perez, who recently broke Spanish 20K record with 1:25:30 in March 26, proved her superb form ahead of the World Championships in August. She built 37-seconds lead over follower group of three in opening 5 kilometres, then accelerate in every sectors. The Spaniard passed 20K mark just under one hour 31 minutes while rest of the field touched same point at least five minutes later. Perez continued to attack Peruvian Kimberly Garcia’s world record to keep her momentum high until the end. She brilliantly walked final five kilometres in 21:53 – one minute 37 seconds faster than opening sector, to established new world record in 2:37:15, beat Garcia’s previous mark by 29 seconds which was made in two months ago.
33-year old Raquel Gonzalez arrived to finish in 2:45:42 for grabbing silver just like she did last summer in Munich as Cristina Montesinos completed podium sweep for Spain after concluded the course by clocking personal best of 2:45:58. With the result, Spain easily secured team trophy and became only third nation to have clean sweep in any European Race Walking Cup event in history as joining Russia and Italy.
MARTIN BREAKS NR
Alvaro Martin of Spain wins 35K race ahead of German Christopher Linke in a high-class contest in Podebrady. Three-time Olympian Martin sustained his 5K tempo around 20:45 during the race and finished the course with a new national record (2:25:35). Linke secured second place by one and a half minute gap and Miguel Angel Lopez grabbed his fifth Euro Cup medal as a bronze, thanks to Frenchman Aurelien Quinion’s late pit-stop penalty.
Addition of these two long distance victory, Spain has won four team titles to reach six golds which brings them greatest ever achievement in European Cup since its inauguration in 1996. The Spaniards won three silver and three bronze as well for securing top spot once again same as they did couple of years before in very same place.
OLYMPIC WINNERS ON COURSE
Italy’s Olympic gold medallists Antonella Palmisano and Massimo Stano were back to the course ahead of upcoming Worlds. Palmisano missed third Euro title narrowly to reigning European champion Antigoni Drisbioti of Greece, who won the race 1:29:17 – the fourth sub-1:30 mark in her career. Drisbioti, a 39-year-old late blossomer, gave second ever gold to Greece in the event history.
In the other hand, another Tokyo 2020 champion Massimo Stano climbed to podium after his relatively under achiever in Munich last summer. The unfamed Italian Francesco Fortunato clinched the gold of 1:18:59 personal best to denied Swedish star Perseus Karlström’s title defence. Karlström produced yet another sub 1:20 to winning silver ahead of Stano’s well-fought bronze. With two standing member on the podium, Italy ended Spain’s reign for team title on the category as emulated their first team victory since 2009.
Italian team swept junior titles in Podebrady to completed their quite overall achievement. World Cup medallist Diego Giampaolo wins men’s race by eight seconds gap and Giulia Gabriele established PB to crowned as champion for women’s contest, also became first female Italian junior winner in 10 kilometres.
