They are taking place in Dali, a town about 200 km away. from the capital of Shaanxi, Xi'an (CHN), the Autumn Chinese Championships.
Xi'an is a large city as well as the capital of the Shaanxi province of Central China and is known for its archaeological sites in the surrounding plains.
Symbol of the province is the famous terracotta warriors: these are thousands of life-size statues, hand-shaped, which were buried together with the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang.
Xi'an marks the easternmost point of the ancient Silk Road route and was the seat of the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties.
This morning (start men at 7:30 local time) the races of first day were held: the 20k men and women and the 10km U20 and U10 men/boys.
Pleasant temperature (especially in men, start) and humidity is not very high.
A lot of public to watch the races and spectacular scenic representations before and after the races.
20 km men:
Race not very interesting.
The large pack (at the start about 100 athletes) has gradually reduced, when after a very slow start (first lap of 2 km in 8:48) the speed has been increasing gradually.
At 10 km. (42:17) about fifteen athletes are still in the lead pack.
Around the thirteenth kilometer the turn of the race: with a lap in 7:52 they force the pace in three: Yin Jiaxing; Su Song and Zhaxi Yangben.
The three pass to 15 km. in 1:02:02 (19:45). Immediately after the new force of Yin Jiaxing is fatal for the opponents.
With a last 5km in 19:52, Yin crosses the finish line 1:21:55 (seconds 10 km in 39:38).
Place of honor for Su Song in 1:22:19.
Bronze medal at Zhaxi Yangben in 1:22:45
4) Xi Jiong in 1:22:50
5) Niu Wenchao in 1:23:04
6) Sun Shuai in 1:23:10
7) Heng in 1:23:14
8) Lu Ning in 1:23:20
9) Peng Chen in 1:23:26
10) Zhang Jun in 1:23:32
11) Zhou Yangjun in 1:23:42
12) Chen Rui in 1:24:00
Very disappointing, once again, the race of the vice-Olympic champion Cai Zelin (retired after 12 km.). Not good, also the young Zhang Jun, who showed up with one the best credit time (1:21:12) and who was shipwrecked in the final, coming 7th in 1:23:32.
20 km. women:
For the female 20km there were 60 athletes at the start.
Solo of Lu Xiuzhi who led the race from the first to the last meter.
The final time for the Olympic bronze medal in Rio is not very good but, it is a first step to find oneself after a year full of sufferings.
Her intermediate split times:
- 5 km. = 22.04
- 10 km. = 44:18 (22:14)
- 15 km = 1:06:51 (22:14)
- 20 km = 1:29:06 (22:15)
Very good race of the young (20 years) Ma Zhenxia that after a season full of various injuries went to sign the first race from seniors the personal best in 1:29:28. Moreover she boasted a percsonl best on 20km of 1:33:16 established in La Coruna, ESP on June 3, 2017.
Its intermediate steps:
- 5 km. = 22:26
- 10 km. = 44:51 (22:25)
- 15 km = 1:07:18 (22:23)
- 20 km = 1:29:28 (22:10)
Bronze for Yang Lujing in 1:29:31
4) Ma Li in 1:29:32
5) Su Wenbin in 1:29:48
6) Gesang Zhuoma in 1:30:29
7) Wang Yingliu in 1:30:37
8) Wang Na in 1:31:44
9) Ni Yuanyuan in 1:32:08
10) Duan Dandan in 1:32:14
11) Liu Yu in 1:34:44
12) Yin Hang in 1:35:27
So they seem to be solved the many problems that have troubled Lu Xiuzhi in the 2017 season: in particular psychological, for the two consecutive disqualifications, and organic (health problems and injuries). The athlete after six/seven seasons always on the crest of the wave wanted to take a season without too much stress to devote almost exclusively to technical improvement, which to be honest has been noted.
The fresh silver of the Asian Games also participated in the competition: Qieyang Shenjie.
After a good training, in view of the final of the Wuzhong challenge, the Tibetan stopped at 12 km.
Results of 10km races U20 and U18 male
U20
Victory to Cui Lihong (CHN) in 39:57
Second place to Li Xiaobin (CHN) in 40:06
Third place to Zhang Yao (CHN) in 40:19
U18
Victory to Hu Wenchao (CHN) in 41:40
Second place to Li Junran (CHN) in 41:42
Third place to Li Lin (CHN) in 41:48