World bronze medallist race walker Paula Milena Torres clinched the inaugural marathon title at the World Race Walking Team Championships and led Ecuador to a historic team victory.
The walking nation Ecuador enjoyed historic results at the World Race Walking Team Championships in the Brazilian capital city, Brasilia. The South American nation secured the team title for the third time, with Paula Torres taking the individual gold in the marathon race walking. Torres, Tokyo 2025 bronze medallist, never officially walked the 42K but contested highly in the Brazilian capital. She clocked 3:24:37 in the finish a massive break over the field. The second-placed Italian Sofia Fiorini came home more than a minute behind as another Ecuadorian, Nathaly Leon, concluded the podium. Ecuador’s other contestants, Karla Jaramillo and Magaly Bonilla, finished in the top 10, giving the Ecuadorians the team title. The team grabbed another medal in the men’s marathon with David Hurtado, who came second behind Hayato Katsuki of Japan.
The men’s marathon title went to Japan as former Asian Games 50K champion Hayato Katsuki set a championship record in the classic distance. Japan took the team gold in the marathon and also the half-marathon.
Peruvian star Kimberly Garcia claimed the first-ever half-marathon title at the championship as she recorded an exact time of one hour and 35 minutes. Mexico’s Alejandra Ortega challenged Garcia in some way but dropped half a minute in the latter stages of the race. She clinched a silver medal, 14 years later from her first in 2012 in juniors, and Spanish Aldara Meilan won a surprising bronze. The team title went to Ukraine, led by European Cup champion Lyudmila Olyanovska.
Men’s half-marathon race was a topsy-turvy contest, finally won by Italian Francesco Fortunato by eight seconds. The several-time European medallist made a brilliant finish over home-favourite and Tokyo 2025 champion Caio Bonfim. Bonfim tried to take the lead on several occasions; however, the Italian successfully reacted each time. Ethiopian talent Misganaw Wakuma came second ahead of Bonfim, to have the best result from the African continent in the event's history since 1961.
