The German Open 20km championships were contested last Saturday as part of the International Racewalk Meet at Naumburg.
A large number of athletes at the start also considering that in the Open Championships also participated in the Master category, usually very participated.
20km men
The men’s 20km was a tight race for the first half, with defending champion Christopher Linke (41:02), José Ojeda Levyer (MEX) (41:03), Hagen Pohle (GER) (41:03) and Eder Sanchez (MEX) (41:04) locked side by side.
Christopher Linke (GER), fresh from his victory in Podebrady last weekend, forced the pace in the second half to win with 1:20:40 (second half a fast 39:38)
His split times:
- 5km: 20:41
- 10km: 41:02 (20:21)
- 15km: 1:00:47 (19:45)
- 20km: 1:20:40 (19:53)
Second place to José Ojeda Leyver (MEX) in 1:21:30
Third place to Hagen Pohle (GER) in 1:21:41 in front of Eder Sanchez (MEX) in 1:22:33.
Karl Junghanss (GER) was next in, winning the U23 German title.
In the space of a week, Christopher Linke and José Leyver Ojeda scored on the 20km of brilliant placings, as follows:
| Athlete | Date | Competition | Place | Performance |
| | | | | |
| Linke Christopher (GER) | 07.04.2018 | Podebrady (CZE) - Race Walk Permit Meeting | 1 | 1:21:55 |
| | 14.04.2018 | Naumburg (GER) - German 20km Championships | 1 | 1:20:40 |
| Ojeda José Leyver (MEX) | 07.04.2018 | Rio Maior (POR) - IAAF Challenge | 3 | 1:22:01 |
| | 14.04.2018 | Naumburg (GER) - German 20km Championships | 2 | 1:21:30 |
20km women
The women’s 20km saw the first three placings going to German U23 walkers.
Victory to Emilia Lehmeyer (GER) in 1:32:49.
Her split times:
- 5km: 22:53
- 10km: 45:53 (23:00)
- 15km: 1:09:14 (23:21)
- 20km: 1:32:49 (23:35)
Second place to Saskia Feige (GER) in 1:33:23
Third place to Teresa Zurek (GER) in 1:33:30, all with personal bests and all well under the German qualifying standard for this year's World Cup in Taicang and for this year's European Championships in Berlin.
(photos by Philipp Pohle - Race Walk Photo - GER)
Full results in the section Results or directly download from this link (only German Championships): click here