by Larry Eder
The 20,000 meter Men’s race walk was held Sunday morning in brutal conditions, with Valeriy Borchin of Russia taking the gold in 1:19:56. Vladamir Kanaykin of Russia took the silver in 1:20:27 and Luis Fernando Lopez of Columbia took the bronze, in 1:20:38, giving Columbia their first EVER medal in the World Athletics Championships. In 23rd place, Trevor Barron, the lone American, finished 23rd in 1:24:33, the youngest competitor in the Championships.
We asked 1956 Olympian in the 50k, Elliott Denman, one of our top contributors, to give us his expert view of one of the toughest endurance events in the championships. Here is his view of the race:
Image via Wikipedia
By ELLIOTT DENMAN
DAEGU – When the going got tough, Valeriy Borchin got going.
Did he ever.
Pedal to the metal, the nearly 25-year-old Russian (he
reaches all of a quarter-century on Sept. 11th) zoom-zoom-zoomed away
from his final pursuers and went on to collect the gold medal in the
men’s 20K racewalk Sunday morning, clocking 1:19:56, considered darn
good in the somewhat steamy conditions.
reaches all of a quarter-century on Sept. 11th) zoom-zoom-zoomed away
from his final pursuers and went on to collect the gold medal in the
men’s 20K racewalk Sunday morning, clocking 1:19:56, considered darn
good in the somewhat steamy conditions.
Kenyans had swept the first six medals of the 13th World
Championships of Track and Field, top three Saturday morning in the
women’s marathon and top three in the women’s 10,000 meters Saturday
night.
Championships of Track and Field, top three Saturday morning in the
women’s marathon and top three in the women’s 10,000 meters Saturday
night.
David Kimutai Rotich was not about to extend the streak
Sunday morning on the downtown Daegu streets. Kenyan’s lone delegate to
the 53-man 20K event, he placed 32nd in 1:27:20, a season best but
nowhere even close to Borchin.
Sunday morning on the downtown Daegu streets. Kenyan’s lone delegate to
the 53-man 20K event, he placed 32nd in 1:27:20, a season best but
nowhere even close to Borchin.
Some suggest – as an aside – just wait till Kenya, with its
vast array of distance talent – catches on to the techniques and
nuances of the racewalking game.
vast array of distance talent – catches on to the techniques and
nuances of the racewalking game.
Q. Can Kenya ever become the new Russia of racewalking?
A. Don’t bet on it.
Then again, don’t bet on any one nation catching up to the Russian racewalking establishment anytime soon.
Based in the Saransk area of the Mordovia region, some 350
miles east of Moscow, the Mordovian Academy of Racewalking – there
really is such a place – keeps churning out stars and stars and more
stars.
miles east of Moscow, the Mordovian Academy of Racewalking – there
really is such a place – keeps churning out stars and stars and more
stars.
Borchin dedicated his win to both his nation and his region.
“The governor of Mordovia and the mayor of Saransk are wonderful to me, and to all walkers,” said Borchin.
“I couldn’t do what I am now doing living anywhere else.”
Under the guidance of the controversial Viktor Chegin, –
who has seen some of his top people, Borchin and Vladimir Kanaykin
included, hit with drug charges – but the Saransk crew keeps coming back
and coming back.
who has seen some of his top people, Borchin and Vladimir Kanaykin
included, hit with drug charges – but the Saransk crew keeps coming back
and coming back.
In patented style, Borchin came back like gangbusters to
win his second consecutive Worlds gold, on top of his 2008 Beijing
Olympic gold – to establish himself as the clearcut 20K favorite heading
into the London Games of 2012.
win his second consecutive Worlds gold, on top of his 2008 Beijing
Olympic gold – to establish himself as the clearcut 20K favorite heading
into the London Games of 2012.
Borchin reeled off 5Ks in 21:15, 20:18, 18;9:44 and 19:14, while Kanaykin, charging hard himself, earned the silver in 1:20:27.
Loud cheers reverberated all the way back to Northern South America, too.
When Luis Fernando Lopez crossed the line third in 1:20:38, it represented the first medal ever won by Colombia at the Worlds.
Once upon a time, the Colombian walking establishment, it
seemed, represented a single family, the famous Morenos. But now
there’s considerable depth in the Colombian ranks and Lopez – rehabbing
through a groin injury – has brought athletic joy to a nation that’s
always cheered its cyclists and soccermen.
seemed, represented a single family, the famous Morenos. But now
there’s considerable depth in the Colombian ranks and Lopez – rehabbing
through a groin injury – has brought athletic joy to a nation that’s
always cheered its cyclists and soccermen.
Completing the top six: Zhen Wang of China, the man some
thought a pre-race gold candidate, 1:20:54; Stanislav Emelyanov, a
20-year-old Russian, 1:21:11, and Hyunsub Kim of host Korea, 1:21:17.
thought a pre-race gold candidate, 1:20:54; Stanislav Emelyanov, a
20-year-old Russian, 1:21:11, and Hyunsub Kim of host Korea, 1:21:17.
There was good news in the USA camp, too.
Pittsburgher Trevor Barron came in as both the youngest 20K walker – he’ll be 19 on Sept. 30 – and tallest at 6-feet-4.
Trevor Barron, World Jr 10k, photo by PhotoRun.net
Trevor Barron, World Jr 10k, photo by PhotoRun.netCompeting in the most important race of his life, the
Colorado College (Colorado Springs)-bound Barron hung with the mid-pack
for much of the way and finished a solid 23rd in 1:24:33, well up beyond
half the field.
Colorado College (Colorado Springs)-bound Barron hung with the mid-pack
for much of the way and finished a solid 23rd in 1:24:33, well up beyond
half the field.
“This was very encouraging to me,” said Barron.
This was the biggest race I’ve ever been to and I did OK. It was great
experince for me and certainly has to help down the line.”
This was the biggest race I’ve ever been to and I did OK. It was great
experince for me and certainly has to help down the line.”
Editorial misjudgement: The cover photo of the Team Italy
World Championships media guide focused on the feet (solidly in contact
with the ground, as the rules of racewalking prescribe) of top medal
candidate Giorgio Rubino.
World Championships media guide focused on the feet (solidly in contact
with the ground, as the rules of racewalking prescribe) of top medal
candidate Giorgio Rubino.
On Sunday, however, those feet were detected “out of
contact” by three members of the judging panel and so he was red-paddled
to the sidlelines after leading the field through a 21:03 opening 5K
and still a close second at midway in 41:01.
contact” by three members of the judging panel and so he was red-paddled
to the sidlelines after leading the field through a 21:03 opening 5K
and still a close second at midway in 41:01.
“C’est la vie,” Mauricio Damilano’s shrugging shoulders
seemed to be saying. Damilano, twice a past World 20K champion for Italy
and 1980 Olympic king, now heads the IAAF Racewalking Commission.
seemed to be saying. Damilano, twice a past World 20K champion for Italy
and 1980 Olympic king, now heads the IAAF Racewalking Commission.
Others had their shot at the lead and faded, Japan’s
Yusuke Suzuki was in front midway in 40:58 and still in medal contention
through the final Ks before dropping to eighth. China’s Wang was right
there with Borchin through 15K, second in 1:00:49, but dropped to
fourth.
Yusuke Suzuki was in front midway in 40:58 and still in medal contention
through the final Ks before dropping to eighth. China’s Wang was right
there with Borchin through 15K, second in 1:00:49, but dropped to
fourth.
A particularly popularly performer was Hyunsub Kim.
Korea is hosting the World Championships – in impeccable
fashion thus far – despite a total production of zero medals in the 13
previous editions of the Worlds. So Kim’s solid sixth place was very
cheering news to the home fans.
fashion thus far – despite a total production of zero medals in the 13
previous editions of the Worlds. So Kim’s solid sixth place was very
cheering news to the home fans.
Many of the world’s top women walkers – who will compete in
their own 20K on Wednesday – were on hand to cheer their male
compatriots. The ladies can expect equal support from the men three
days hence.
their own 20K on Wednesday – were on hand to cheer their male
compatriots. The ladies can expect equal support from the men three
days hence.
###
