by Alfonz Juck
Ines Henriques, 20k racewalk, photo by PhotoRun.net
Henriques 4:08:25 WR
PORTO DE MOS (POR, Jan 15): Olympic 12th placer in 20 km walk Ines Henriques debuted at the new distance 50 km with 4:08:25 what could be the first IAAF official World record in case all conditions will be fulfilled. It was of national walking championships at the 35 and 50 km distances. The top mark until now was 4:10:59 by Monica Svensson of Sweden in 2007. IAAF decided that at last council meeting that as of 1 January 2017 any performances equal to or faster than 4:30:00 would be accepted as having fulfilled the conditions for a world record. “We achieved the goals we were looking for, which were to be the first Portuguese woman to race the distance and to set a world record,” said Jorge Miguel, Henriques’ coach and the race director of the IAAF Race Walking Challenge meeting in Rio Maior for the IAAF. Joao Vieira was the best male at 35 km in 2:38:40.
RunBlogRun opines: The 50k Race Walk is fraught with history. The longest event on the Olympic and World Champs calendar, is both historic and challenging. The efforts in the 50k race walk are similar to those exerted in cross country skiing and long distance running. Nice to see Women getting recognition with the longest event in our sport of athletics.
