The 15th edition of the "Chiasso in Marcia" race was held this morning at 20 km. Route of 1 km. not very suitable for super performances (500 slightly downhill and 500 slightly uphill with buoy on slippery stone slabs).
Not very high participation (about 30 athletes between men and women at the start) but of good level.
20km women
Great performance in the 20 km. women of Qieyang Shenjie (CHN) who stopped the chronometers, after a solo race, on the excellent time of 1:26:51.
Split times each 5km:
- km. 5 = 22:00
- km. 10 = 43:37 (21:37)
- km. 15 = 1:05:20 (21:43)
- km. 20 = 1:26:51 (21:32 - last km. 4:13)
Qieyang Shenjie proved to be in excellent condition despite a ten-day halt due to a small 1st degree stretch to the right femoral biceps, accused about twenty days ago.
A good test for the Tibetan in view of Doha.
Second place to Jemima Montag (AUS) in 1:34:16.
The Australian athlete recently silver at the Naples Universiade came directly from Saint Moritz.
Third place to Valentina Trapletti (ITA) in 1:35:33
20km men
In the men the victory went to Stefano Chiesa (ITA).
The athlete trained by Pastorini goes immediately to th lead of the race at a pace of 4:05/km.
He was followed by fifty meters by the two Chinese Cai Zelin and Wang Qin.
His passing halfway through the race was 41:33
After 12 km. Cai Zelin (CHN) had decided to stop because he was burdened with 2 red cards, Stefano Chiesa did not find any opposition.
The representative of the Carabinieri continued his race quite easily (one red card for bent knee for him) and won in 1:21:54.
For him touched on the personal best of 1:21:46 obtained in Lugano (SUI) on 11.3.2018.
In second place was the 50km walker Wang Qin (CHN) in 1:24:23 (passages each 5km: 21:11 - 42:03 - 1:03:13) with the last 5 km in 21:11.
More detached arrives in third place Leonardo Dei Tos (ITA) in 1:26:41
Only fourth Evan Dunfee (CAN) in 1:27:24 which came directly from a period in altitude in Saint Moriz.
Behind him a few meters away, Andrea Agrusti (ITA) in 1:27:31 and Quentin Rew (NZL) in 1:27:39