The two 20 kilometers, valid for the 13th Chinese National Gamesm were held this morning. in Tianijn at about 150km. from Beijing. Tianijn o Tientsin is one of the four municipalities of the People's Republic of China directly controlled by the central government and has a population of more than 15,000,000.
20km women
The departure of 20 km. female was given at 8.00am with a high temperature (28° C) and a very high humidity (80%).
At the start a group formed of the five most acclaimed athletes is formed, at a rate of 4:31 per km. go to 5 ° km. in = 22:36.
Around 6 km. the first shot is disqualified in the head group: Wang Na (8th in the last worlds) and home athlete Chen Chen.
The head remains as follows: Yang Jiayu (World Champion in London); Lu Xiuzhi (Olympic bronze in Rio) and the returning racing Qieyang Shenjie (Olympic silver in London).
We spend immeditely a few words on Qieyang Shenjie, who in January come back to China from Saluzzo after the certainty of pregnancy, and unfortunately had to stop motherhood for health problems three months ago. She then started training again and is now part of the races.
Incredible the will of these women of walk ! And we refer not only to Qieyang Shenjie, but also to Claire Tallent (AUS), who less than three months after the interruption of pregnancy the first, and the birth of the firstborn, the latter, have successfully succeeded in these Chinese National Games and World Championships in London.
The group pulled by the amazing Tibetan passes to 10km. in 44:41 (22:05 the split at 5km).
Towards 12th km. a new big surprise. As in the final in London Championships is disqualified Lu Xuizhi.
The two leaders continue at a pace of 4:23/km. and pass to 15 km in 1:06:38 (last 5km: 21:57).
The script of the race does not change until the final sprint with Qieyang Shenjie to se the pace and Yang Jiayu being hot on her heels.
In the same manner as London, the young Yang Jiayu at 500 meters yo go changes the pace with (last km. 4:12) and goes to double (1:28:29). Only 4" behind her arrives a very good Qieyang Shenjie (1:28:33). Last 5 km. covered in 21:51 . Final end of the first two very good considering the climatic conditions.
Behind the first was the vacuum because many of the best athletes will participate tomorrow at the race per team .
Third place for Li Leilei (CHN) in 1:34:37 which improves slightly (6") the time taken in a local race last June.
Started: 30 and 20 arrived
DQ: 6
DNF: 4
A beatiful Quieyang Shenjie leads on Yang Jiayu and Lu Xiuzhi
20km men
At 10 o'clock in an infernal climate, 31°C of temperature, unbearable humidity, there was the departure of 20 km. male.
Given the climate the beginning pace was slow. In the head, a group of fifteen units was formed.
Split time to 5 km: 20:55.
The race changes a bit when the favorite Wang Kaihua (7th at the World Cup) goes to set the pace and at 10km. the leading group of 6 units (Wang Kaihua, Cai Zelin, Bian Tongda, Chen Rui, Wang Qin, e Chen Ding) passes in 41:19 (last 5km in 20:24).
Around 13th km. Cai Zelin (Olympic vice champion in Rio) is disqualified.
Wang Kaihua increases the rhythm and only Bian Tongda remains at his shoulder.
The two pass to 15 km. in 1:01:08 (last 5km in 19:49) and continue shoulder to shoulder up to 3 km. to go when Biang Tonda is about twenty meters away and despite efforts he will no longer be able to re-enter.
The favorite Wang Kaihua wins in 1:20:52 and precedes of 9" the representative of Shandong Province (1:21:01). Last 5 km. for Wang walked in 19:44. Second part of the race walked in 39:33, considerable time given the weather.
Third place for Chen Rui in 1:21:59
Fourth place for Wang Qin in 1: 22: 235
Fifth place for Chen Ding in 1: 23.02
Sixth place for Yang Lian at 1:23:29
Also in men there was some major absence due to tomorrow's team races.
Started = 39 and 29 arrived
DQ = 8
DNF = 2
Wang Kaihua
Full results (in Chinese) with split times in the section Results or download directly from this link: click here
Photo album of the races: click here