The 2024 Wanda Diamond League is set to get off to a flying start in Xiamen on Saturday (20) as a host of world record-holders, Olympic gold medallists and world champions get their outdoor campaigns under way.
Gudaf Tsegay hopes to pick up where she left off last season. The Ethiopian was the stand-out performer at the Wanda Diamond League Final in Eugene last year, smashing the world 5000m record.
The versatile distance runner, who won the world 10,000m title last year, will compete at the lower end of her range in Xiamen by lining up for the 1500m &ndash; the distance at which she holds the world indoor record. Her motivation will be high, too, as she suffered a rare defeat in her last outing, placing second over 3000m at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
The toughest opposition in Xiamen&nbsp;is expected to come from her compatriots, three of whom are also global gold medallists: world road mile champion Diribe Welteji, world indoor champion Freweyni Hailu, and world U20 champion Birke Haylom.
Like Tsegay, Devynne Charlton is also looking to maintain her winning momentum against three global champions.
The Bahamian sprint hurdler was the star of the indoor season, twice breaking the world indoor 60m hurdles record, culminating with her victory at the World Indoor Championships.
Saturday&rsquo;s race will be her first outdoor competition of 2024, and she&rsquo;ll be up against world record-holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria, two-time world champion Danielle Williams of Jamaica, and Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico.
Mondo Duplantis, who also set a world record to win at the Diamond League Final last year, is another athlete who&rsquo;ll be making his outdoor season debut. The Swedish pole vaulter enjoyed an undefeated indoor campaign, but his victory at the World Indoor Championships did not come easily.
USA&rsquo;s two-time world champion Sam Kendricks, who led for much of the world indoor final, will be in attendance in Xiamen, so too will Chris Nilsen, the Olympic silver medallist.
<h2>Richardson goes long</h2>
World 100m champion Sha&rsquo;Carri Richardson gets her 2024 campaign going this weekend. The US sprinter will line up for the 200m, the event at which she claimed bronze at the World Championships last year, clocking a PB of 21.92.
Compatriot Tamara Clark, who has an identical PB and has already ran 22.21 this season, is also in the field, alongside fellow sub-22-second performer Anavia Battle and European champion Mujinga Kambundji.
World champion Marileidy Paulino will be reunited with the two women with whom she shared the 400m podium at last year&rsquo;s World Championships. The sprinter from the Dominican Republic will take on Poland&rsquo;s Natalia Kaczmarek and Sada Williams of Barbados, the world silver and bronze medallists respectively, as well as USA&rsquo;s Britton Wilson.
Jamaica&rsquo;s Hansle Parchment will be looking for a promising season opener in the 110m hurdles as he prepares to defend his Olympic title later this season. US duo Cordell Tinch and Daniel Roberts could provide his toughest challenge.
World indoor champion Christian Coleman and 2022 world champion Fred Kerley will clash in a men&rsquo;s 100m contest that also includes world indoor bronze medallist Ackeem Blake.
<h2>Quality distance contests</h2>
World 800m champion Marco Arop had a short but sweet indoor campaign, setting a Canadian indoor record of 1:45.50 in his specialist distance and a North American indoor 1000m record of 2:14.74.
This weekend&rsquo;s competition will be his first outdoor race over two laps of the track this season, and he&rsquo;ll be taking on a field that includes 2018 Commonwealth champion Wyclife Kinyamal, African Games silver medallist Alex Kipngetich and world indoor silver medallist Andreas Kramer.
In a high-quality women&rsquo;s steeplechase, world record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech lines up alongside Commonwealth champion Jackline Chepkoech and world bronze medallist Faith Cherotich, both of whom are part of the sub-nine-minute club. Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda adds further strength to the field.
World indoor 3000m record-holder Lamecha Girma will be hoping it&rsquo;ll be third time lucky as he lines up for the 5000m, having failed to finish in his only two previous outings over the distance.
The steeplechase specialist from Ethiopia faces a field that includes world road 5km bronze medallist Nicholas Kipkorir, African Games 10,000m champion Nibret Melak, two-time world 5000m champion Muktar Edris and 2022 world bronze medallist Oscar Chelimo.
<h2>Global champions clash on the field</h2>
Yaime Perez caught the attention of the throwing world last weekend when she launched her discus out to a North American record of 73.09m, the longest throw in the world since 1989.
All eyes will be on the Cuban on Saturday as she takes on a field that includes four women who have won global titles: world champion Laulaga Tausaga, 2022 world champion Feng Bin of China, Olympic champion Valarie Allman and multiple world and Olympic champion Sandra Elkasevic (nee Perkovic).
There&rsquo;s another high quality throws clash as the three reigning global champions in the women&rsquo;s shot put go head to head. Olympic champion Gong Lijiao of China will clash with world champion Chase Jackson of the USA and world indoor champion Sarah Mitton of Canada. Four other women in the field with PBs beyond 20 metres &ndash; Maggie Ewen, Yemisi Ogunleye, Jessica Schilder and Song Jiayuan &ndash; will also be in contention.
In the men&rsquo;s triple jump, world champion Hugues Fabrice Zango takes on arch rival Pedro Pichardo, the Olympic champion. China&rsquo;s Zhu Yaming and Spain&rsquo;s Jordan Alejandro Diaz Fortun could also be in the mix.
And last but not least, Olympic champion Mutaz Barshim faces world indoor champion Hamish Kerr in the men&rsquo;s high jump.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics

The 2024 Wanda Diamond League is set to get off to a flying start in Xiamen

World record-holders Tsegay, Charlton and Duplantis to open season in Xiamen

In the latest episode of the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/world-athletics-podcast/66213f67aa0f49bc1766c4f5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Athletics Inside Track Podcast</a>, Ukraine&rsquo;s 2008 Olympic heptathlon champion Nataliya Dobrynska looks back on some of the highs of her career and talks about life in her new role as a World Athletics Council member.
Chatting to former on-track rival Kelly Sotherton, Dobrynska reminisces about her world indoor pentathlon record, set when winning the 2012 world indoor title. She also discusses some of the challenges faced by up-and-coming Ukrainian athletes, while also outlining some innovations she&rsquo;d like to see in the sport.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/world-athletics-podcast/66213f67aa0f49bc1766c4f5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6621b2b26a4e312a6414d86e.jpg" alt="World Athletics Official Podcast | Nataliya Dobrynska" /></a></div>
<h3>On how it feels to win the Olympic heptathlon title:</h3>
"During that era, it felt as though all of us were really close, as though we were all in a line, and so it was always difficult to predict who was going to win. But I&rsquo;d always try to just concentrate on myself, on my technique, on what I needed to do. Everything and everyone around me didn&rsquo;t matter.
"When I crossed the finish line, I realised what it meant. But also at the end of a heptathlon, you just don&rsquo;t want to think about or do anything."
&nbsp;
<h3>On her memories of breaking the world indoor record:</h3>
"In my memory, it was like yesterday. I remember everything about that competition. I broke the record in Istanbul, and I was back in that same venue last year for the European Indoor Championships and I saw my record being broken (by Nafi Thiam). I was ready for that to happen, though. It had stood for 11 years, which is a long period. It&rsquo;s not like it had stood for just one or two years.
"After winning the Olympic title in 2008, I struggled with motivation and I wanted to retire. But at the start of 2012 I realised that this was maybe my last chance to do something special in the sport, so that&rsquo;s what motivated me at the World Indoor Championships."
&nbsp;
<h3>On how she has been able to facilitate support for Ukraine in her role as a World Athletics Council member:</h3>
"It&rsquo;s a very difficult and awful time at the moment. You can imagine how we feel. We want our kids to experience a good education and to be involved in sport. The Kids' Athletics programme from World Athletics has been provided to many of the small cities in Ukraine so that kids can compete and enjoy the sport.
"Despite the war, we still try to hold many competitions in Ukraine. The sport cannot stop, otherwise we may lose the next generation of athletes."
&nbsp;
<h3>On what innovations she&rsquo;d like to see in athletics:</h3>
"It feels like the innovation side of our sport is moving fast. I recently heard about an idea that was put forward in basketball where the players play on a giant screen, then different things are projected on to that screen to engage the spectators. Maybe in a few years, we&rsquo;ll see that technology being used in athletics, with on-track graphics providing analysis for the spectators."
&nbsp;
The latest series of the Inside Track Podcast launched earlier this year, and in each episode the questions are asked by two-time Olympic heptathlon bronze medallist Kelly Sotherton and 2014 world indoor 60m champion Richard Kilty as they catch up with a host of track and field&rsquo;s biggest names and much-loved personalities.
Episodes are available via all the usual podcast platforms &ndash; including on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/inside-track-the-official-podcast-of-world-athletics/id1733061742" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/inside-track-the-official-podcast-of-world-athletics/id1733061742">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6OGo4XNfgZ3GSiXes6OO8u?si=c976714bf56b4d18" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6OGo4XNfgZ3GSiXes6OO8u?si=c976714bf56b4d18">Spotify</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;the <a href="https://podcast.sport-social.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://podcast.sport-social.co.uk/">Sport Social Podcast Network</a> &ndash; while fans can also watch the show on the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/videos">World Athletics website</a>.
With an evolving presenter line-up for each event, the podcast will be in attendance when the World Athletics Relays returns to The Bahamas in May. Later in the year, an all-star cast will provide reaction to the events at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Find it all on <a href="https://worldathletics.org/inside-track" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/inside-track">Inside Track</a>.

2008 Olympic heptathlon champion Nataliya Dobrynska looks back on some of the highs of her career

Dobrynska in the spotlight in latest Inside Track podcast

USA Track &amp; Field has announced a team of 28 for the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 on 4-5 May.&nbsp;
Four women who helped USA to gold in the 4x100m at the World Championships in Budapest last year will lead the sprint relay quartet. Finalists Gabby Thomas and Tamari Davis will be joined by Tamara Clark and Melissa Jefferson, who ran in the heats in Budapest.
Triple world champion Noah Lyles anchored USA to the men's 4x100m title in Budapest and tops the men's team. Lyles, who won 100m and 200m titles before getting relay gold, will be joined by Olympic 200m silver medallist Kenny Bednarek and Courtney Lindsey.
Mixed 4x400m world champions Alexis Holmes, Matthew Boling and Ryan Willie are joined in the longer relay pool by Bryce Deadmon, Chris Bailey and Champion Allison.
Quanera Hayes has a gold and two silver medals from indoor and outdoor World Championships 4x400m competition, while Lynna Irby-Jackson and Kendall Ellis were top of the podium at the Tokyo Games after running in the heats.
USATF for World Athletics 
<h3>USA team for Bahamas</h3>
Women 4x100m: Celera Barnes, Mikiah Brisco, Tamara Clark, Tamari Davis, Melissa Jefferson, Gabby Thomas 4x400m: Kendall Ellis, Quanera Hayes, Alexis Holmes, Paris Peoples, Na&rsquo;Asha Robinson, Jessica Wright
Men 4x100m: Pjai Austin, Kenny Bednarek, Kyree King, Courtney Lindsey, Noah Lyles, Kendal Williams 4x400m: Champion Allison, Christopher Bailey, Bryce Deadmon, Jacory Patterson, Demarius Smith, Willington Wright
Mixed 4x400m: Matthew Boling, Lynna Irby-Jackson, Bailey Lear, Ryan Willie

World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24

USA Track & Field has announced a team of 28 for the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 on 4-5 May

Lyles and Thomas among global champions on USA team for WRE Bahamas 24

An array of global medallists headlines the Kip Keino Classic &ndash; a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting &ndash; in Nairobi this Saturday (20).
Several of the world&rsquo;s best hammer throwers &ndash; including world champion Ethan Katzberg, Olympic champion Wojciech Nowicki, five-time world champion Pawel Fajdek and world record-holder Anita Wlodarczyk &ndash; will all be in action on the infield.
On the track, meanwhile, double world medallist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana highlights the men&rsquo;s 200m, while world champion Mary Moraa contests her first 800m of the season in front of what is expected to be a lively home crowd.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-continental-tour/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/662266efeb1fe998c3e66ae7.png" alt="CTG live stream - Inside Track" /></a>
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Tebogo, who took 100m silver and 200m bronze at the World Championships last year, has already had a strong start to the year. He set a world 300m best of 30.69 in February, then followed it with a 19.94 clocking over 200m and a world-leading 44.29 PB for 400m.
Although this will be his first appearance at the Kip Keino Classic, the African 200m record-holder has fond memories of Nairobi as it&rsquo;s where he won the first of two world U20 100m titles.
The 20-year-old won&rsquo;t have it all his own way this weekend, though, as he takes on a field that includes USA&rsquo;s world leader Courtney Lindsey, Canada&rsquo;s 2022 world 4x100m champion Brendon Rodney, and Olympic 4x100m champion Eseosa Desalu of Italy.
As has been the case for the past three years, Polish hammer star Nowicki will open his season in Nairobi. The seven-time global medallist, who set a meeting record of 81.43m here in 2022, will be aiming for a third consecutive victory in the Kenyan capital.
The 35-year-old will take on compatriot and long-time rival Fajdek, winner in Nairobi in 2021, as well as Canada&rsquo;s Katzberg, who was second last year. Ukraine&rsquo;s Mykhaylo Kokhan, fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, also returns to Nairobi.
The women&rsquo;s hammer is of a similarly high standard. Three-time Olympic champion Wlodarczyk will grace the Kip Keino Classic for the third time as the Pole lines up for her first competition since last year&rsquo;s World Championships.
The 38-year-old, who holds the meeting record of 78.06m, will take on two-time world medallist Janee' Kassanavoid, the winner in Nairobi last year, USA&rsquo;s Janeah Stewart and European champion Bianca Ghelber.
Exactly one month after winning the African Games 400m title in 50.57, Moraa returns to her specialist distance of 800m in Nairobi. The world champion will be joined on the startline by fellow Kenyans Nelly Chepchirchir, Naomi Korir and Vivian Chebet, as well as Uganda&rsquo;s 2019 world champion Halimah Nakaayi and Ethiopia&rsquo;s Netsanet Desta.
In the men&rsquo;s 800m, Emmanuel Wanyonyi will open his season and target his third Kip Keino Classic victory. The world silver medallist will be up against African Games champion Aron Kemei and world leader Kethobogile Haingura of Botswana, Olympic silver medallist Ferguson Rotich, 2019 world 1500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot and 2022 world indoor 1500m bronze medallist Abel Kipsang.
African record-holder Ferdinand Omanyala will be targeting his third Kip Keino Classic 100m victory. The Kenyan will go up against USA&rsquo;s Olympic 200m silver medallist Kenneth Bednarek, who almost beat Noah Lyles last weekend, European U23 champion Jeremiah Azu, and Arthur Cisse of the Ivory Coast.
The women&rsquo;s 100m will mark the return of Namibia&rsquo;s Olympic 200m bronze medallist Christine Mboma. The 20-year-old will be up against 10.92 performer Alana Reid of Jamaica, double African Games champion Gina Bass, world indoor 60m finalist Rani Rosius, and USA&rsquo;s Shannon Ray.
Elsewhere in the sprints, Olympic 4x400m champion Bryce Deadmon leads a men&rsquo;s 400m field that also includes fellow global relay medallists Bayapo Ndori of Botswana and Gilles Biron of France.
<h2>Competitive clashes expected in distance events</h2>
There will be exciting showdowns in the distance races as leading Kenyan athletes take on their greatest rivals Ethiopia.
Fresh from his victory in the mixed relay at the World Cross, world U20 champion Reynold Kipkorir will be brimming with confidence when he lines up for the 1500m in Nairobi. The teenager will be up against world U20 800m champion Ermais Girma of Ethiopia, who finished second to Kipkorir over 1500m at the 2022 World U20 Championships.
Others in the field include 2021 world U20 champion Vincent Keter, Olympian Charles Simotwo, and African U20 silver medallist Ashenafi Gadisa of Ethiopia.
In the men&rsquo;s steeplechase, Olympic bronze medallist Benjamin Kigen and world bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwot line up against fellow Kenyans Amos Kirui, winner in Nairobi last year, African Games silver medallist Amos Serem and 2021 world U20 champion Lawrence Kemboi. They&rsquo;ll take on double African champion Haliemariyam Amare and his Ethiopian compatriot Milkesa Fikadu.
Having won what she termed as a surprise bronze medal at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade last month, Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi will headline the 5000m in Nairobi. The 2019 world silver medallist won at this meeting in 2021 and finished second last year.
Others in the field include world 10,000m finalist Grace Nawowuna, Sheila Jebet, fourth in the U20 race at the World Cross, and African U20 cross-country silver medallist Yenenesh Shimket Ademas of Ethiopia.
Following a strong winter campaign on the roads and cross country, Edinah Jebitok leads a women&rsquo;s 1500m field that also includes Ethiopia&rsquo;s Hawi Abera and Kenya&rsquo;s Mary Ekiru, the silver and bronze medallists respectively from the recent African Games.
Germany&rsquo;s 2016 Olympic javelin champion Thomas Rohler will be competing at the Kip Keino Classic for the first time. The 32-year-old will take on Timothy Herman, who set a Belgian record of 87.35m to win in Nairobi last year, 2015 world champion and home favourite Julius Yego of Kenya, and 2015 world silver medallist Ihab Abdelrahman of Egypt.
In other events, Italy&rsquo;s 2022 world bronze medallist Elena Vallortigara headlines the women&rsquo;s high jump field, while Asian record-holder Kemi Adekoya is the stand-out in the women&rsquo;s 400m hurdles.
Michelle Katami for World Athletics

An array of global medallists headlines the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting

Tebogo makes Kip Keino Classic debut while throwing stars collide in Nairobi

<h3>&bull; World Mile Challenge web app to keep track of miles run across the globe</h3>
&nbsp;
World Athletics is pleased to launch the World Mile Challenge ahead of this year&rsquo;s Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day &ndash; an annual celebration of children and young people being active and participating in athletics &ndash; which will take place on 7 May 2024.
An exciting twist has been added to the 2024 Kids' Athletics Day theme &ndash; the World Mile Challenge. In honour of the 70th anniversary of Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile on 6 May 1954, this year's focus is on running, jogging or walking a mile. We are aiming to 'Run the World' one mile at a time.
In parallel, World Athletics is also excited to launch the <a href="http://www.worldmilechallenge.com">World Mile Challenge web app</a> which will act as a central hub for the campaign across the world, allowing athletics federations, clubs, schools, and individuals to register their miles.
To encourage participants to &lsquo;go the extra mile&rsquo;, there will be a &lsquo;total miles run&rsquo; calculator clocking the miles registered in real time between 1 and 19 May so that all participants can track their collective progress.
<h3>How to get involved</h3>
Participants will be able to sign into the web app as an organisation or an individual. An organisation can be a Member Federation, club, school, or any community group. You&rsquo;ll be required to register the total number of miles run by the children (and adults) that took part in your events or activities. Once you&rsquo;ve registered your miles, you&rsquo;ll receive a digital badge for your organisation to share on social media. If children and families want to do the challenge in their own time and in their own environment, they can register as an individual and even challenge friends and family to do the same.
To help encourage clubs, schools, and families to take part in the challenge, the web app also features a mix of athletics related educational content and quizzes.
Please make sure to also share your initiatives/events with us by posting your pictures/videos of your version of Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day and the World Mile Challenge on social media using the hashtags #KidsAthleticsDay #WorldMileChallenge
<h3>Member Federation Challenge</h3>
After the successful inclusion of the Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day Member Federation Challenge in 2023, we are bringing it back for 2024. Our goal is to see the highest ever level of participation in Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day across our Member Federations (MF).
The winner will be the MF with the best Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day participation measured by a combination of participation numbers, social media engagement levels and overall innovation. The Federation Challenge winner and runners up will receive US$10,000 and 2x US$5,000 respectively to support future Kids&rsquo; Athletics activities.
<h3>About Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day</h3>
Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day is the cornerstone of <a href="https://worldathletics.org/kids-athletics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Athletics&rsquo; Kids&rsquo; Athletics programme</a> &ndash; a free and exciting programme that uses the power of athletics to inspire children and young people, wherever they are, to be more active, develop their skills and confidence, and to connect with sport for life.
Kids&rsquo; Athletics is one of the biggest grassroots development programmes in the world of sport. Since the original Kids Athletics programme was launched in 2002, it has been implemented by more than 150 Member Federations and has reached an estimated cumulative audience of more than 13 million children and young people.

World Mile Challenge web app to keep track of miles run across the globe

World Athletics invites kids to join the World Mile Challenge on Kids’ Athletics Day

Chinese U20 women have achieved 1-2 finishes at three of the past four editions, so it wouldn&rsquo;t be a huge surprise if history repeated itself at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24.
The race walks powerhouse boast the three fastest entrants for this weekend&rsquo;s 10km race, and all of them are more than a minute quicker than the next-best athlete.
Yang Xizhen tops the entries with the 43:55 she produced to win in Taicang last month in what was just her second ever outing over the distance. In that race, the 18-year-old achieved a narrow victory over compatriots Duo Jiecuo and Chen Meiling, who achieved big PBs of 43:56 and 43:57 respectively.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/antalya-24/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66222a713109a2c2d8b377f2.png" alt="WRW Antalya 24 where to watch" /></a>
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Like the Chinese trio, Spain&rsquo;s Aldara Meilan and Sofia Santacreu have competed just once so far this year. Santacreu won the European U18 title over 5000m in 2022, then struck gold again at last year&rsquo;s European U20 Championships, this time over 10,000m, setting national U18 records on both occasions.
Santacreu recently set a 10km PB of 45:25, achieved in a race that she won by more than two minutes. But Meilan will also head to Antalya brimming with confidence, following her victory at the Spanish Championships &ndash; which Santacreu missed through injury &ndash; in a PB of 45:04.
Both athletes are closing in on the Spanish U20 record of 44:48, set in 1987 by Mari Cruz D&iacute;az, winner of the senior European title one year prior at the age of 16. Regardless, both Santacreu and Meilan will be more concerned with medals than times in Antalya.
While Santacreu already has two continental titles to her name, Meilan appears to be the stronger performer on the roads. Combined, they &ndash; along with teammate Griselda Serret, who has a PB of 46:13 &ndash; have strong chances of securing a team medal for Spain.
Mexico should feature in the hunt for a team medal. Valeria Flores finished just ahead of Renata Cortes at the Mexican Championships in San Jeronimo in February with Flores prevailing by nine seconds in 45:58. Cortes then went on to win in Dudince last month in 46:36.
Japan has entered a closely matched trio with their three representatives separated by just eight seconds: Sumika Tani (46:49), Suzu Okuno (46:54) and Suzuka Kuge (46:57). Should any of the favourites falter, the Japanese race walkers could contend for a place on the team podium.
Fifty athletes from 24 countries will compete over the two-kilometre flat circuit in the second event of the programme. Weather forecasters predict temperatures of 16C by the time of the event; taking into account Antalya is placed at sea level conditions seem suitable to record quick times.
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics

World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships

A look at the leading contenders in the U20 women's 10km at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24

WRW Antalya 24 preview: Chinese trio take on speedy Spaniards in U20 women’s 10km in Antalya

China and Japan lead the way in the U20 men&rsquo;s 10km at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 on Sunday (21).
One needs to scroll down to sixth before another country features on the entry list, Australia in this case, and it&rsquo;s eighth before the first European, Daniel Monfort from Spain.
The three Chinese athletes &ndash; Li Chenjie, Shi Shengji and Luo Jiawei &ndash; are the only entrants to have bettered 40 minutes for 10km, and those performances came as recently as last month.
Li clocked a world U20 lead of 39:26 at the first Gold Tour race in Taicang on 3 March. Shi, who turned 17 just earlier this year, finished right behind in 39:35 while Luo took third place in 39:42. History is also on their side, as Chinese athletes have won the past four U20 men&rsquo;s titles at these championships.
So, a podium already filled in Antalya? Not necessarily.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/antalya-24/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66222a713109a2c2d8b377f2.png" alt="WRW Antalya 24 where to watch" /></a>
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That was on home turf: this is southern Turkey, and a talented Japanese trio will be aiming to upset the red-vested apple cart.
Sotaro Osaka notched a PB of 41:21 in Kobe in February with Taisei Yoshizako claiming second place in 41:34, then they went on to record highly respectable 20km PBs last month (1:22:26 and 1:23:14 respectively). They, along with teammate Yuki Shimoda, will be aiming to become the first Japanese gold medallists &ndash; either individually or as a team &ndash; in an U20 race at these championships.
There&rsquo;s one big contender who is yet to register a 10km mark in 2024.
Frederick Weigel, son of 1983 world champion and double Olympic silver medallist Ronald Weigel, will be aiming to become the first German athlete to make it on to a podium in an U20 event at the World Race Walking Team Championships.
The younger Weigel claimed the European U20 title on the track last year, winning the 10,000m by more than 20 seconds. Aged 18, he recently made his 20km debut in Podebrady, clocking a solid 1:26:24. Weigel&rsquo;s 10km best is 42:44, while his track PB is 41:53.58, but he appears to be capable of bettering both of those marks in Antalya.
Australian 16-year-old Isaac Beacroft clocked a swift 41:39 in Adelaide in February. The former Australian Rules football player recorded the fastest 5000m of all time by an under-17 in December, clocking 19:31.21, falling short of the world U18 best by just 1.07 seconds.
Spanish U20 champion Monfort had a great performance at his national championships, winning in 41:42 at the end of February in Zaragoza.
In terms of times, there is something of a leap to next ranked Riley Coughlan, another talented Australian. His 42:05 PB, also set in Adelaide, is the first of eight other athletes under 43 minutes.
Note, every race walker so far recorded their personal bests at home, and Antalya is anything but.
So, two more promising talents in Emiliano Barba from Mexico and Quentin Chenuet from France can point to great wins on foreign soil. Barba was first home in Dudince last month, clocking a break through 42:06. Meanwhile, Chenuet showed great technique and a cool head on a hot day to go through the gears and break the tape in 42:15 in Podebrady just three weeks ago.
Also keep an eye on Giuseppe Disabato. The Italian has made it on to the podium in every international championships he has contested on the track, taking bronze at last year&rsquo;s European U20 Championships and silver at the European Youth Olympic Festival, plus silver at the European U18 Championships in 2022.
Kazakhstan, making a rare foray into these championships, will be represented by Sherkhan Egizbay &ndash; the youngest in the race at 15 &ndash; and Zharylkasyn Egizbay. Both will be heartened to know their country can boast at least one past winner at these championships: unfancied Sergey Korepanov produced a brilliant race to win the 50km at the 1999 edition of these championships in Mezidon-Canon.
Maybe this race will spring a surprise as well?
Paul Warburton for World Athletics

A look at the leading contenders in the U20 men's 10km at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24

WRW Antalya 24 preview: Japan and Germany look to break China’s U20 men’s streak in Antalya

Race walking takes a literal step into the unknown with the first marathon mixed relay at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 on Sunday (21).
There have been experimental races in various countries as race walkers gear up to its inclusion at the Olympics in Paris, but this will be the first time in a major championship. And it seems there is no lack of enthusiasm for a brave new world.
Three Olympic champions &ndash; Italian duo Antonella Palmisano and Massimo Stano, plus Poland&rsquo;s Dawid Tomala &ndash; along with double world champions Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez of Spain have all put their names down.
Olympic medallists Lorena Arenas of Colombia, Evan Dunfee of Canada, Jonathan Hilbert of Germany, Koki Ikeda of Japan and Liu Hong of China as well as 2023 world medallists Caio Bonfim of Brazil, Masatora Kawano of Japan and Jemima Montag of Australia are also dipping a toe into relay waters.
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The format is two athletes, a man and a woman, cover the distance alternating as follows: 12.195km for the man, 10km for the woman, 10km for the man, and a final 10km for the woman to the finish line.
In short, it&rsquo;s man, woman, man, woman exchanging a wrist band within a 20-metre long takeover zone.
One of the favourites, Spain, has named their entire group of relay race walkers which include Martin, Perez, Laura Garcia-Caro, Alberto Amezcua, Miguel Angel Lopez, and Cristina Montesinos.
Minus Perez, Spain was out in force racing the new concept in Valencia on 3 March. The relay was won by Martin and Garcia-Caro, which was no great shock, but whether Perez becomes Martin&rsquo;s new partner has yet to be decided.
The real purpose of the Valencia race was to find the best way to repeat same in Antalya, and later at the Olympics.
As posted by the Spanish federation: &ldquo;How does a human body deal with stop-and-go? What should athletes do during the approximate 40 minutes they have to stop while their partner walks?&rdquo;
The immediate answer was to collect pin prick blood samples mid race, as well as keeping the likes of Martin readied at race pace using resistance bands to bring him up to speed for a third leg.
The repeating athlete needs to literally hit the ground running, or rather race walking, but can&rsquo;t afford to venture far from the handover zone while doing it. On top of which, they can only build up that readiness towards the end of their partner&rsquo;s leg.
In effect, the balancing act is to keep active for fear of stiffening up without tiring oneself for the racing part. Measuring hydration and glucose levels and how to maintain what&rsquo;s needed without overdoing is apparently just as important.
All data has been analysed at the sports department within the university in Murcia to further Spain&rsquo;s chances of optimum performance.
In terms of current world performances, Spain is headed by Ecuador.
The combination of world 35km silver medallist Brian Pintado and Glenda Morejon, the 35km winner at the last edition of these championships, won in 2:56:49 at the 2023 Pan American Games.
However, both are also down to contest the individual 20km races in Antalya, which take place just before the relay.
The Martin-Garcia-Caro pairing follows in 2:57:04, who in turn head teammates Paul McGrath and Montesinos, L&oacute;pez and Antia Chamosa, plus Amezcua and Mar Juarez &ndash; and less than two minutes between the lot.
China is the first country from Asia to feature on the current relay rankings in sixth place. Wang Kaihua and Yang Jiayu clocked 2:59:09 at the Modugno Race Walk Relay in Italy.
Italy&rsquo;s Olympic champions Stano and Palmisano are one place further back, also one place behind the Chinese in Modugno, finishing in 2:59:30. On paper, this duet should provide the biggest challenge to Spain.
Italy also has the luxury of Francisco Fortunato and Valentina Trapletti &ndash; who have respective PBs of 1:18:59 and 1:29:47 &ndash; as back-up.
Australia and Brazil should also be in contention. Factor in Montag off the back of a 1:27:09 PB in February and one from&nbsp; Rhydian Cowley, Kyle Swan, Will Thompson, or Declan Tingay, and the yellow-and-green vests will mix it with the best.
If Brazil pairs Bonfim with either Viviane Lyra or Erica Sena, enjoying a renaissance two weeks shy of her 39th birthday, they too will be at the sharp end.
The addition of China &ndash; who will be fielding world 20km record-holder Yang &ndash; will make it five very good teams battling for three podium places.
The next ranked countries are Mexico (3:03:18), Portugal (3:10:50), USA (3:13:27), Greece (3:18:38), Croatia (3:34:02), Czech Republic (3:42:04) and hosts T&uuml;rkiye (4:24:44).
A further 27 countries have also declared entries for the first marathon race walk mixed relay at the World Race Walking Team Championships.
Event ambassador Robert Korzeniowski will be one of many very interested spectators. The four-time Olympic champion and world record-breaker is ready to embrace the innovation.
&ldquo;I am very curious how the mixed relays will proceed in terms of qualifying for the Olympics,&rdquo; said the Polish race walks legend. &ldquo;This will be a very exciting and most important pre-Olympic test, and I believe that the marathon distance of the relay and its mixed nature perfectly fit into the new trends in athletics.
&ldquo;I must admit that instead of commentating on the relay, I would like to try my hand at it myself, for example with my sister Sylwia with whom I took part in the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.&rdquo;
The final team declarations will be made nearer to the time of the race.
Paul Warburton for World Athletics

A look at the leading contenders in the marathon race walk mixed relay at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24

WRW Antalya 24 preview: global champions prepare to collide in inaugural marathon mixed relay

Even with some of the event&rsquo;s top exponents focusing on the marathon race walk mixed relay, the men&rsquo;s 20km at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 features an array of highly talented contenders.
One thing is certain: a new champion is guaranteed to emerge and none of the 20km winners from past editions of these championships are entered for the discipline in Antalya.
Little more than 20 seconds separate the six leading entrants on season&rsquo;s bests, the fastest of whom is the relatively unheralded Ryo Hamanishi of Japan. The 23-year-old has made a major breakthrough this year, lowering his PB by more than four minutes to clock 1:17:42 at the Japanese Championships in Kobe.
In that race, Hamanishi finished just ahead of Yuta Koga, who improved his PB to 1:17:47. While Koga is more experienced than Hamanishi, having finished 12th at last year&rsquo;s World Championships, this will be his first appearance at a World Race Walking Team Championships.
Satoshi Maruo, Kento Yoshikawa, and Tomohiro Noda &ndash; all of whom have bettered 1:20 this year &ndash; complete the team.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/antalya-24/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66222a713109a2c2d8b377f2.png" alt="WRW Antalya 24 where to watch" /></a>
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Caio Bonfim is sandwiched between Hamanishi and Koga on the entry list. The Brazilian has shown tremendous consistency over the past decade, having earned bronze medals at the 2017 and 2023 World Championships. The 33-year-old has already had a busy season; Sunday&rsquo;s race will be his fourth 20km outing of the year.
He opened the year with a third-place finish in Taicang on 3 March, reducing his own national record to 1:17:44, before taking a comfortable win at the South American Championships in Recife where 1:22:49 proved to be enough to take gold. Earlier this month, he finished third in Podebrady with 1:18:50, his fifth fastest ever time.
Sweden&rsquo;s Perseus Karlstrom is another highly experienced and consistent performer. The world silver medallist, who turns 34 next month, showed great fitness in Podebrady earlier this month, where he achieved a convincing victory ahead of Canada&rsquo;s Olympic bronze medallist Evan Dunfee and Bonfim.
Karlstrom, who also has three world bronze medals to his name, was a convincing winner over 35km at the last edition of these championships in Muscat two years ago, and he will be looking to maintain his supremacy in Antalya over the shorter distance.
All six members of the high-quality Chinese squad have bettered 1:19 this season. Asian Games silver medallist Wang Zhaozhao is China&rsquo;s fastest entrant for Antalya, following his 1:17:48 PB in Taicang last month. Cui Lihong, who finished one place behind Zhaozhao in Taicang in 1:18:03, will be looking to improve upon his 30th-place finish from Muscat two years ago.
Ning Lu and Xiangfei Zhao, who have respective season&rsquo;s bests of 1:18:08 and 1:18:15, bolster China&rsquo;s team.
The big surprise, though, could come from Spain&rsquo;s Paul McGrath. The European U23 champion excelled at the Spanish Championships earlier this year in Zaragoza where he took an emphatic win in 1:17:55, finishing 40 seconds clear of double world champion Alvaro Martin.
With Martin focusing on the relay in Antalya, McGrath will lead a strong Spanish squad for the men&rsquo;s 20km which also includes European bronze medallist Diego Garcia Carrera and Marc Tur, the fourth-place finisher in the 50km at the Tokyo Olympics.
Ecuador won the team title in Muscat two years ago, and their leading three race walkers from that event will be in contention again in Antalya. World 35km silver medallist Brian Pintado was second over 20km in Dudince last month in 1:19:44, while Pan-American Games champion David Hurtado has a season&rsquo;s best of 1:21:55, a few minutes shy of his PB. National champion Jordy Rafael Jim&eacute;nez set his lifetime best of 1:20:08 at last year&rsquo;s World Championships.
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics

A look at the leading contenders in the men's 20km at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24

WRW Antalya 24 preview: new men’s 20km champion set to emerge in Antalya

There is so much star quality at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 that despite the double world champion and the Olympic champion focusing on the marathon mixed relay, the senior women&rsquo;s 20km still features multiple global medallists, all on the hunt for further success.
Another double world gold medallist &ndash; Kimberly Garcia &ndash; and two champions from the last edition of this event in Muscat in 2022 &ndash; Ma Zhenxia and Glenda Morejon &ndash; will be among the leading contenders when athletes take to the 2km loop course in the Turkish coastal city on Sunday (21).
Ma led China to a comfortable team victory in Muscat two years ago and she looks in form to repeat the feat, having clocked a PB of 1:26:07 at the Chinese Race Walking Grand Prix in Taicang on 3 March. That was an improvement of more than half a minute on her previous best set one year prior.
After winning world U18 and U20 titles, Ma&rsquo;s performance in Muscat was a senior breakthrough and she went on to finish 10th at the World Championships in Oregon and seventh at the global event in Budapest.
She leads the entries when it comes to season&rsquo;s bests and will form part of another strong Chinese squad. The last three senior women&rsquo;s 20km team titles have all been won by China and although the entry list includes reserves, each of the seven athletes named have dipped under 1:29:00 already this year.
Joining Ma near the top of the list are Ji Haiying and Peng Li, who respectively clocked 1:27:19 and 1:27:26 in Taicang but do not have the benefit of as much experience as their teammate. Yin Lamei, who finished 10th in the 35km event at the 2022 World Championships, also set a lifetime best in the shorter event in Taicang - 1:27:36.
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When it comes to experience, Morejon and Garcia both have plenty.
Ecuador&rsquo;s Morejon has the quickest PB of those entered thanks to the 1:25:29 she achieved as a 19-year-old in La Coruna in 2019. In Muscat she won the 35km on her debut at the distance, leading Ecuador to team victory. One of her teammates on that occasion &ndash; Magaly Bonilla &ndash; joins her on the team again, along with Paula Milena Torres.
Morejon finished sixth in the 20km at the World Championships in Budapest and most recently clocked 1:27:21 &ndash; the second-fastest time of her career &ndash; to finish second at the World Race Walking Tour Gold meeting in Podebrady on 6 April.
It was Peru&rsquo;s Garcia, the double world champion in 2022, who beat Morejon to the title in Podebrady and the pair will clash again in Antalya.
As well as her world 20km and 35km gold medals in Oregon, Garcia secured world 35km silver in Budapest and finished fourth in the 20km there. She also won Peru&rsquo;s first ever medal at the World Race Walking Team Championships when she claimed bronze in the 20km in Muscat.
Illness forced her to drop out during the 20km in Dudince in March but she was back to winning ways in Podebrady, where she set a race record of 1:27:08 &ndash; her third fastest ever time.
The race in Dudince was won by her compatriot Evelyn Inga in 1:27:42, just 10 seconds off her PB, and they form part of a powerful team in Antalya, joined by Mary Luz Andia.
The host nation will also have high hopes, with multiple world age group medallist Meryem Bekmez and 2019 European U23 champion Ayse Tekdal on the team.
Others to watch out for include Italy&rsquo;s Eleonora Giorgi and Valentina Trapletti, each competing at their sixth World Race Walking Team Championships, plus Spain&rsquo;s Raquel Gonzalez and Brazil&rsquo;s Viviane Lyra, who secured two top eight places in Budapest.
Jess Whittington for World Athletics

A look at the leading contenders in the senior women's 20km at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24

WRW Antalya 24 preview: Garcia, Morejon and Ma lead 20km clash in Antalya

In the final countdown to the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24, the medal design has been unveiled.
Termed &lsquo;the medal of triumph shining under the sunlight&rsquo;, the patterns on the medal &ndash; which have been inspired by traditional Turkish motifs &ndash; symbolise balance and perfection.
The striking lines on the medal evoke the sun&rsquo;s rays, a reflection of Antalya&rsquo;s warm climate. The beams, which were inspired by the &lsquo;Century of Turkiye&rsquo; emblem, represent the light and energy of an athlete on the road to victory.
The medal will not only be an award for the top performers, but also a fitting memory of what will be a memorable competition in Antalya.
The World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 takes place on Sunday 21 April. More than 400 athletes from about 50 countries will descend on the Turkish city, competing not only for medals but &ndash; as is the case for the marathon race walk mixed relay &ndash; for qualifying places at the Paris Olympic Games.
All races will be contested on a 2km loop course located close to the Antalya Expo Centre in Antalya. The first race starts at 7:00 local time, and the programme ends with the marathon race walk mixed relay at 12:55.
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In the final countdown to the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24, the medal design has been unveiled

Medals revealed for WRW Antalya 24

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra will go up against world leader Max Dehning and European champion Julian Weber in a javelin clash at the Paavo Nurmi Games, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting, in Turku on 18 June.
The event forms part of Chopra&rsquo;s preparations ahead of his Olympic title defence in Paris in August, as he returns to a meeting at which he placed second in 2022.
In that competition two years ago, India&rsquo;s Chopra threw 89.30m in a contest won by Finland&rsquo;s Oliver Helander with a PB of 89.83m. Chopra&rsquo;s lifetime best is 89.94m, achieved in Stockholm in 2022.
Chopra also won the world title in Budapest last year with a throw of 88.17m.
According to his coach Klaus Bartonietz, Chopra threw 90.40m last year at a training camp in Belek. &ldquo;Breaking 90 metres is just a matter of time,&rdquo; Bartonietz said at the World Javelin Conference in Kuortane last year. &ldquo;However, we say that it's just a number.&rdquo;
Helander also returns to compete in Turku and joining them at the Paavo Nurmi Stadium will be Germany&rsquo;s Dehning and Weber, who finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics and the past two editions of the World Championships, plus Finland&rsquo;s Lassi Etelatalo.
The 19-year-old Dehning threw 90.20m in Halle in February &ndash; an improvement of more than 11 metres on his previous best. That mark by the world U20 silver medallist remains the world lead.
These five athletes are the first to be announced for this year&rsquo;s Paavo Nurmi Games, the seventh Continental Tour Gold event of the season.
Organisers for World Athletics

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra will go up against world leader Max Dehning and European champion Julian Weber in a javelin clash at the Paavo Nurmi Games

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