(from IAAF Web.site)
10.000m track walk boys
As is often the case in major championship race walks, this looks set to boil down to the rest of the world taking on the might of Russia.
In Zakhar Sliva, Sergey Shirobokov and Sergey Rakov, Russia has entered a trio of athletes all capable of finishing among the medals in Cali.
Sliva, 17, heads the world youth list after taking victory at the Russian under-18 championships in Cheboksary last month in 41:52.62, just a hair’s breadth ahead of team-mate Shirobokov in 41:52.66.
Back in third that day, just four seconds back, was the youngest of the Russian trio: 16-year-old Rakov.
Only two of these trio can be on the start line but all three are a minute quicker than the next fastest competitor in Cali, Mexico’s Federico Gonzales, whose personal best of 42:52.26 was done in May.
Australia’s national junior champion Tyler Jones will lead the challenge from Down Under while, looking beyond the Russians, the strongest European challenge should come from Italy’s Giacomo Brandi, who has recorded 43:26 on the roads his year.
An outsider of note is Bolivia’s Ariel Cayllante, whose best time of 43:40.7 was recorded earlier this year at almost 2000m of altitude in Tarija, Bolivia.
Given Cali is located at just about half that altitude, Cayllante can be expected to go considerably quicker on Saturday morning (18).
Cathal Dennehy for the IAAF
5.000m track walk girls
If history is any indication, Russia is once again the strong favourite in this event.
Overall Russian race walkers have won six of the eight titles and half of the 24 medals awarded in this event at these championships.
Representing Russia this time around are 16-year-old Olga Eliseeva and Margarita Kolesnichenko, 17, who have 22:18.00 and 22:18.16 bests, respectively, to their credit from the national youth championship in Cheboksary where Eliseeva prevailed.
If anyone can realistically challenge the Russians, it will be Australia, represented by Jemima Montag and Clara Smith.
On paper they’re well back, with 23:06.80 and 23:08.42 season’s bests, respectively. But Montag, 17, clearly has the potential to go considerably faster, given her 22:04.59 performance in a mixed-sex race in Brisbane last month.
Youth Olympic silver medallist Valeria Ortuno of Mexico, who has clocked 23:12.44 this year, could also play a role in the medal chase.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF