This year, as in 2016, Florina (GRE) hosted the 16th edition of the Balkan Race Walk Championships h on the usual distances.
The race day was quite hot, and the temperature also exceeded 25°C.
The races were held on a beautiful course of 2km very well in the industrial area of Florina, with good organization by the Federation of Greece.
20km men
Victory to Alexandros Papamichail (GRE) with a time of 1:26:40, for him little more than a training as he has a personal best of 1:21:12 obtained in the London Olympics in 2012.
Second place to Salih Korkmz (TUR) in 1:27.52. For the young Turkish who past season had collected bronze at the U20 World Championships in Bydgoszcz in 40:45.53 10,000m track walk, this was his first 20km and the performance can be considered a good result.
The bronze medal went to Narcis Stefan Mihaila (ROU) in 1:29:47 for the thirty year old Romanian is the personal best (1:31:39 earlier obtained in Resina, ROU March 11, 2012).
At the start they were eight athletes, seven of which have arrived and one DQ
Alexsandro Papamichail (GRE - 183) and Salih Korkmaz (TUR - 186)
20km women
Even in this race victory for the hosts with Antigoni Drisbioti (GRE) that seven days away from Rio Maior (5th in 1:32:47) won the title of Champion of the Balkans in 1:34:00.
It's becoming almost fashionable this desire to always compete whenever possible and this is nothing more than to please.
Second place went to Panayota Tsinopoulou (GRE) in 1:39:32
Third place went to Dusica Topic (SRB) in 1:39:43 that touches their personal best achieved in Rome in 2016 (1:39:31)
At the start were 10 athletes, nine of which have arrived and 1 DQ.
Antigoni Drisbioti (GRE) during the race
U20 events
Men
Victory to Abdulselam Imuk (TUR) in 44:16 that establishes a new personal best (46:25 previous established in Antalya, TUR on January 30, 2016), but the young Turkish also has the result of 45:30.41 on 10.000m track walk obtained in Tbilisi (GEO) on July 16, 2016.
Second place went to Georgios Tzatzimakis (GRE) in 44:39.
Third place went to Stefan Cristian Mangu (ROU) in a new personal best 45:34 (47:38 previous obtained in Ayvalik, TUR on April 18, 2015, although the young Romanian have a PB of 44:56.16 on 10,000m track walk got to Pitesti (ROU) on May 07, 2016.
Ten athletes at the start and all arrived.
U20 men podium
Women
Victory to Alikanioti Sofia (GRE) in a new personal best 49:18 (50:32 previous obtained in Schinias Marathonas of the January 15, 2017)
Second place went to team-mate Dimitra Bochori (GRE) in 50:19.
Third place went to Meral Kurt (TUR) in 51:42.
Some controversy has caused by th DQ, while leading the race, of Ayse Tekdal (TUR) to nearly three quarters of the race.
Twelve athletes at the start (including three athletes off the Championships). Eleven arrived and 1 DQ
U20 women podium
Gare U18
- 10km boys: Victory of Umut Temel (TUR) in 45:17, in front of Selman Ilhan (TUR) in 45:26 and Anthimos Kelepouris (GRE) in 48:12
- 5km girls: victory of Hader Dost (TUR) in 24:48, in front of Inci Cicek (TUR) in 25:22 and Andra Elena Botez (ROU) in 25:29
Umut Temel celebrates the victory
5km U18 girls podium
A phase of 5km U18 girls