With the recent drug controversy, I will keep my comments on the IAAF Walking champ to a minimum, suffice it to say he served his four year ban. Where I want to write this morning is about Erin Talcott. Elliott Denman did a fine piece on her on Friday, May 7. Erin Talcott made history on Sunday, May 8, completing the longest Olympic and World Champs distance in 4:51. We congratulate her on her trail blazing.
Erin Talcott, photo courtesy of USATF.org
Schwazer returns with a win
ROME (ITA, May 8): Less than ten days after his doping ban expired, Alex Schwazer won the 50km walk at the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships in 3:39:00. The former Olympic champion broke away at around the halfway stage to secure a comfortable win in his first competitive outing in four years. It is second best of the year 2016. Reigning Olympic champion Jared Tallent was second in 3:42:36 with Ukraine’s Igor Hlavan third in 3:44:02. With four Italian finishers inside the top eight, Italy easily won the team title on home soil ahead of Ukraine and Spain. Fourth Marco De Luca 3:44:47 and fifth Tedorico Caporaso 3:48:29, personal bests for both. Fifteen walkers broke the four hour-mark while notable DNFs included Jesus Angel Garcia, Erik Tysse and Han Yucheng. US Erin Talcott created history by becoming the first woman to finish the 50km walk at this event, clocking 4:51:08.
