2018 Australian 10,000m Race Walk Championships, AIS track, Bruce, ACT, Sunday 14th January
With so many high quality international walkers gathered in Canberra for the annual Supernova study and camp, the 10,000m Australian track walk championships were eagerly anticipated. One of the few imponderables was whether the unpredictable Australian summer weather would come to the party, given that Canberra was sweltering in very hot weather only a couple of days previously. But come to the party it did, with a cool Canberra morning in the mid teens, along with a blustery wind and occasional sunshine. Sure the wind was a bit tough but it was just about a best case scenario for the assembled athletes.
Australian 10,00m Walk Championship Women, 8AM
The women's 10,000m championship was first up at 8AM, with 15 starters, including Lithuania's Brigita Virbalyta and New Zealand's Alana Barber. Defending champion Katie Hayward was also a starter, hoping to defend her title which she won last year with 45:51.09. The view seemed to be that a significantly faster time would be needed to claim victory in this year's race but spectators were surprised by the sedate early pace (9:35 at the 2000m mark and 18:54 at the 4000m mark). Katie had shared the lead with 2012 Olympian Beki Lee up till this stage but it was now Victorian Jemima Montag who took over the pacemaking, leading them through the half way mark in 23:25 and gradually putting pressure on what was a shrinking lead group. Just after the 6000m mark, Beki surged to the front and the pace quickened still further. The lead group was soon reduced to four - Beki, Jemima, Alana Barber and Claire Tallent. Alana took the lead around the 7000m mark but the group of 4 all remained in contact until eventually Jemima dropped off the back with around 4 laps to go. With final laps of 1:43 and 1:40, it was Beki who took first place (45:56), some 7 secs ahead of Alana (46:03), with Claire 46:06) and Jemima (46:18) rounding out the top placings. Brigita was next to finish with 47:01, followed by Katie (47:05) and Regan Lamble (47:25). Although the pit lane was in use, it's services were not needed, and all bar one of the field finished the race. As Alana was competing as a visitor, the Australian Championship places went to Beki, Claire and Jemima. For Katie Hayward, her time was a comfortable 2018 World Junior Championships qualifier.
1. Smith, Beki New South Wales 45:56.081stAustralian
2. Barber, Alana New Zealand 46:03.24
3. Tallent, Claire South Australia 46:06.592ndAustralian
4. Montag, Jemima Victoria 46:18.423rdAustralian
5. Virbalyte-Dimsiene Brigita Lithuania 47:01.08
6. Hayward, Katie Queensland 47:05.36
7. Lamble, Regan Victoria 47:25.63
Australian 10,00m Walk Championship Men, 9:25AM
The men's 10,000m championship was up next at 9:25AM, with a big field of 30 starters, of whom 15 were internationals. While the temperature was still comfortable, the wind had picked up a little and was now quite tough. The race was expected to between Sweden's Perseus Karlstrom and Canada's Evan Dunfee and it was no surprise when they led the field through a fast first 1000m (4:01). By that stage, the leading pack was down to five - Perseusand Evan, along with Marius Ziukas (LTU), Quentin Rew (NZL) and Yerko Araya (CHI), with Australians Declan Tingay and Rhydian Cowley amongst the chasers. By the 2000m mark (7:59), Yerko had dropped off and it was now a group of four, with Persey and Evan swapping the lead as each looked to assert his dominance. They soon broke away from the others and by the 3000m mark (11:55), it was a race between the two favourites. Around the 4000m mark (1:40), Perseus put in a couple of slightly faster laps and the break was made. From then on, it was a one horse race, with the Swede gradually extending his lead, passing the half way in 19:42 and going on to win with 39:22. Evan took second with 40:11, ahead of a fast finishing Marius (40:43). Rhydian Cowley was the first of the Australians to finish (40:59) but he picked up a third red card very late in the race and was subsequently docked one minute as per the pit lane rule. That meant that the second Australian finisher Declan Tingay (a big PB 41:07 at 18 years of age) was awarded the gold and Rhydian was relegated to second place. The third Australian to finish was Victorian Adam Garganis (43:05), rounding out the medals.
1. Karlstrom, Perseus Sweden 39:22.41
2. Dunfee, Evan Canada 40:11.80
3. Ziukas, Marius Lithuania 40:43.17
4. Araya Cortes, Yerko Ignacio Chile 40:48.94
5. Rew, Quentin New Zealand 40:51.55
6. Tingay, Declan Western Australia 41:07.88 1stAustralian
7. Cowley, RhydianVictoria 41:59.33 1 min, 2ndAustralian
8. Augustyn, Rafal Poland 42:51.07
There were plenty of other athletes on the track, with Day Two of the ACT Multi Event Championships also contested. Further 5000m/3000m invitational walks were held later in the morning for the local walkers.
Invitation 5000m Walk
1. Manning, Hannah North Canber 28:16.00
Invitation 3000m Walk
2. Hunt, Tom North Canber 15:02.22
3. Burns, Laura North Canber 16:17.79
The Australian action will continue next month with the Australian Summer 20km Roadwalk Championships to be contested in Adelaide on Sunday 11th February. With all the international walkers expected to front once again, fast times look on the cards.
Tim Erickson
Sunday 14 January 2018