15/05/2022   Melbourne (AUS): Quentin Crew to Oceania champions Kelly Ruddick in the 35km road walk valid for the World Athletics Race Walking Tour - Bronze Level






 

 
 
This morning on the traditional course of the Fawkner Park in Melbourne (AUS) the Australia and Oceania Championships of 35km of road walking took place.
The competition was valid for the World Athletics Race Walking Tour - Bronze Level.
 
We indicate below only the results of the first three classified while awaiting the usual report that comes to us through the "Heel and Toe" website to which we will refer.
 
 
 
 
 
35km men
 
 
The Men’s 35km bout saw New Zealand’s Quentin Rew deliver a stunning walk of 2:32:58 to nail the 2:33:00 world standard and be crowned the Oceania champion, but it was two-time Olympian Rhydian Cowley who clinched the inaugural Australian 35-kilometre race walking title with his performance of 2:37:57.

Entering as the reigning Australian 50km champion and with an Olympic top eight finish to his name, Cowley was determined to cement his name in history as the first ever 35km Australian champion.

I have to say, I feel a lot better after this than I did after my 50km races! That extra 15km definitely makes a big difference,” Cowley says.

The result is in alignment with how training has been going which is good. I haven’t quite been training as well as last year, because I was hitting everything out of the park in the lead up to the Olympics. I’ve got a little bit of time left to bring things to a crescendo,” Cowley says.

Walking alongside Carl Gibbons early in the encounter, Cowley proceeded to cut loose over the final laps of the twokilometre circuit, stretching the gap on Gibbons.

Carl and I were aiming to find a good rhythm early at around that two hours and forty minute pace, and then to pick it up and see what we could do towards the finish. It was a pretty solid negative split for me, but it’s always nice to walk with someone,” Cowley says.

Gibbons was rewarded with national silver for his performance of 2:43:04, while Kim Mottrom’s 3:03:17 saw him round

out the podium.

 
Victory to Quentin Rew (NZL) in 2:32:58
Second place to Cowley Rhydian (AUS) in 2:37:57
Third place to Carl Gibbons (AUS) in 2:43:04
 
 
35km women
 
 
The Women’s race only ever belonged to Kelly Ruddick, who built a commanding lead that eventuated in an emphatic

15-minutes victory when clocking 3:00:04 to defeat Laura Langley of New Zealand who was second in 3:15:58.

Ruddick’s compatriot Sarah Brennan was disqualified.

The 49-year-old fought on as she sought the 2:54:00 World Athletics Championships qualifying standard, with the

required pace proving a bridge too far on the day..

“It’s pretty exciting! It’s a long way, so it was a good feeling to cross the line,” Ruddick says.

I found the bottom end quite tight and I hurt myself early on, so I had to struggle through the rest of the race unfortunately. I have recently done a 32km in training a little bit quicker than that, so I’m a bit disappointed,” Ruddick says.

 
Victory to Kelly Ruddick (AUS) in 3:00:04
Second place to Laura Langley (AUS) in 3:15:48
 
 
The results of the other races
 
 
20km men
 
The Invitational Men’s 20km was won by Tim Fraser as the clock read 1:26:00, with the 22-year-old proving too good for his competitors as he walked to a significant personal best in the favourable conditions at Fawkner Park.
 
Victory to Tim Fraser (AUS) in 1:26:52
Second place to Corey Dickson (AUS) in 1:28:47
Third place to Mitch Baker (AUS) in 1:29:35
 
 
20km women
 
The Invitational Open Women’s 20km was won by Jemima Montag in a time of 1:32:32, as the World No 1 cruised to victory ahead of Colombian Olympic silver medallist Sandra Lorena Arenas. Australian Under 20 representative Olivia Sandery finished third at her 20km debut in a time of 1:34:35, as the junior lays the foundations of her transition to the

senior ranks.

Montag and Arenas went step-for-step in the early stages of the battle but it was the 24-year-old Australian who stretched away from the visitor to add another feather in her cap as she prepares to win the world title and Commonwealth Games.

 
Victory to Jemima Montag (AUS) in 1:32:32
Second place to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic vice champion, Sandra Lorena Arenas (COL) in 1:34:27
Third place to Olivia Sandery (AUS) in 1:34:35
 
 
10km U20 men

 

Victory to Marcus Wakim (AUS) in 48:22

Second place to Eden Mordan (AUS) in 53:29

 

 

10km U20 donne

 

Victory to Elizabeth McMillen (AUS) in 49:56

Second place to Alannah Pitcher (AUS) in 51:27

Third place to Emma Blanch (AUS) in 52:44

 

 

5km U18 allievi

 

Victory to Will Bottle (AUS) in 22:01

Second place to Owen Toyne (AUS) in 22:25

Third place to Riley Coughlan (AUS) in 23:50

 

 

5km U18 allieve

 

Victory to Grace Beck (AUS) in 26:46

Second place to Ariana Pashutina (AUS) in 27:42

Third place to Emily Smith (AUS) in 28:28