She could not celebrate in the better way her 17th birthday (it was yesterday, July 4th) Hanna Zubkova (BLR).
The young Belarusian was the favorite of the U18 European Championships in Gyor (HUN) and was not denied.
5.000m track walk U18 girls
They were in 24 at the start.
Emily Machugh (IRL) immediately comes to lead, but already at the passage of 600m will be detected at the head of the race by Hanna Zubkova (BLR) who will pass in 2:43.80.
Since then there will no longer be any athlete able to fight it.
These are her split times lap by lap:
- 1000m 4:29.34
- 1400m 6:16.33
- 1800m 8:04.08
- 2200m 9:53.73
- 2600m 11:44.27
- 3000m 13:36.78
- 3400m 15:30.23
- 3800m 17:24.14
- 4200m 19:15.22
- 4600m 21:04.20
Olga Fiaska (GRE) and Evin Demir (TUR) try for a couple of laps, but soon they are forced to desist: the difference in value between the three athletes is too great, but above all the difference in the technique.
A little in the shade instead of the other athlete who presented with a time of high interest (23:48.05) Julia Perrichon (FRA) who walks in the group of pursuers together with the other athlete of Belarus, Dana Marozava, Ana Pulgarin ( ESP), the other Greek athlete, Maria Seferiadi, and Simona Bertini (ITA).
The international jury's actions are on the way and the red cards (due in particular to loss of contact) begin to arrive to the judges' table.
Emily Machugh (IRL), who sees two red card, will also pay the price, but is disqualified because she touches the inside of the kerb (Rule 163.4b). It does not happen so often and the Irish girl will be the only athlete not to finish the race.
The gap between the first (Hanna Zubkova) and the second (Olga Fiaska who catched from second place Evin Demir) is increasing. In the meantime the group of pursuers leaded by Simona Bertini (ITA), which from 3.400m is constantly in 4th position, and Ana Pulgarin (ESP), force the pace and try to fight for the third position and for medals.
One lap to go and it seems that the positions for the medals are those acquired so far and Simona Bertini and Ana Pulgarin seem to be satisfied of fourth and fifth place.
But in the last round everything changes: the accumulated red cards play a bad joke to Evin Demir (TUR) that before entering the last straight is stopped for 30" in the Penalty Area.
Goal for the bronze to Simona Bertini (ITA) that manages in the better way the two red cards in the final race.
Gold to Hanna Zubkova (BLR) in 22:45:47 new personal best (previous of 22:50.59).
The performance is also the new Championships record (previous of 22:50.22 of Meryem Bekmez, TUR established in Tblisi, GEO on July 14, 2016)
Silver to Olga Fiaska (GRE) in 23:39.12
Bronze to Simona Bertini (ITA) in 24:18.80 new personal best (previous of 24:26.98 obtained in Rieti, ITA on June 16)
(all photos thanks to Paulo Murta - POR)
Full results in the section Results or directly download from this link: click here
More photos: click here