Nathan Deakes winning the 2006 Australian Championships (© Getty Images)
Among the squad that will be representing Australia at the 22nd IAAF World Race Walking Cup in La Coruna, Spain, 13-14 May 2006, are Nathan Deakes, Jane Saville and Luke Adams.
Deakes, 24, the 2004 Olympic 20km Race Walking bronze medallist, recently sped to the national title in Sydney (4 Feb) in 1:22:13, and is currently the IAAF World Ranked fifth best athlete for the Race Walking category. The holder of the Area records for 20km and 50km, Deakes last year ploughed his way to the former of those marks when winning the IAAF Race Walking Challenge event in Cixi City China in a time of 1:17:33 (23 April 2005). He took third place over 20km in the last World Race Walking Cup in Naumburg in 2004, and will be defending his two titles at the Commonwealth Games this year which take place in Melbourne in March.
Fellow Olympic Games bronze medallist Jane Saville will also line-up in La Coruna. The 31-year-old took third place in Athens 2004 over 20km, and like Deakes is the Commonwealth champion. She set the current Area 20km record when finishing fourth in Naumburg 2004 (1:27:44).
Back to the men, and Luke Adams, 29, has a 20km personal best of 1:19:19 (2005), was the Commonwealth silver medallist in 2002, and in the last World Race Walking Cup came 14th at the 20km distance.
Two rising starts, Adam Rutter and Lisa Grant will also make their senior international debut, after contesting the under-20 events at the 2004 World Race Walking Cup. It is an admirable progression for the two juniors who have been able to forge there way into the very strong men's and women's senior 20km teams. Both teams are highly capable of placing in the top-5.
2006 IAAF World Race Walking Cup Team
Men
20km Walk
Luke Adams
Nathan Deakes
Jared Tallent
Duane Cousins
Adam Rutter
50km Walk
Troy Sundstrom
Darren Bown
Chris Erickson
U20 10km Walk
Ian Rayson
Daniel Coleman
Women
20km Walk
Jane Saville
Cheryl Webb
Natalie Saville
Lisa Grant
Kellie Wapshott
U20 10km Walk
Fiona Alldis
Tanya Holliday
Susan Knapton
