(From FIDAL web site)
At 10 months from the fifth place at the World Championships in Beijing Antonella Palmisano returned today to the competitions by winning the 20 km in the International Race Walking Festival Alytus, Lithuania. She won with the chrono official 1:30:11. Less than ideal weather conditions in the Baltic town, with a temperature of about 10° but also a steady rain throughout the first 10 kilometers of the race.
Palmisano walked up to the 10th kilometer in the leading group with the Guatemalan Maritza Poncho, the Greek Despina Zapounidou (PB of 1:29:35 in 2016) and Ekaterini Theodoropoulou and a squad of home walkers.
Halfway through the race the first change of pace, and at the 15th kilometer of the final change of pace with which pulled off all rivals.
Italy celebrates also the nice personal best of Valentina Trapletti, that is fourth in 1:31:28.
In the festival dedicated to the heel and toe, and now in its 42nd edition, valid also as EAA Race Walking Permit Meeting, it was also in the race Federico Tontodonati.
The Turin despite rain and wind led a closing close to personal best personality match, the 1:21:56 obtained with the victory in Cassino (the second in the career 20km).
Today the victory goes to to the Polish Dawid Tomala in 1:21:50 in front of the team-mate Artur Brzozowski (1:22:10) and Totodonati, good third at 1:22:29. Fourth another Pole, Lukasz Nowak in 1:23:40.
Leading group of female race (photo by Neringa Aidietyte - LTU)
Dawid Tomala during the race (photo by Neringa Aidietyte - LTU)