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Even though the best and internationally known walkers did not attend the National Road Walking Championships in Zhengzhou this weekend, that didn't mean there weren't fast times. China's best walkers are concentrating on what has become the most important walking meet in China, the IAAF Race Walking Challenge which this time is part of the Good Luck To Beijing 2008 competitions.
In the men's 20km race 24-year-old Wang Zhiping grabbed a first career podium finish in National Championships winning in a personal best 1:19:46 bettering his 2006 best of 1:20:05 by 19 seconds. Last year he was fourth at the National Championships on the Beijing Olympic course. Wang, one of the oldest walkers in this competition, was one of the few with any national or international experience. He was 13th at the 2006 World Cup 20km race.
The biggest surprise of the race was Chen Ding who finished second. The Guangdong-athlete, competing in his first national level race, is just 15-years-old. Chen clocked an incredible 1:20:16 for his 2nd place finish. 20-year-old Xu Faguang sliced 2 minutes and 42 seconds off his earlier PB to get third place in 1:20:26 and another junior, defending 20km senior national champion Wang Hao, 18, was fourth in 1:20:34, another big personal best. The oldest of the 34 athletes who finished the race was only 25.
In the men's 50km walk the pace was not comparable to the 20km race. 20-year-old Bai Xuejin won in 3:55:04 to better his 10th place finish from last year's National Championships with Gou Xiaoxin taking the 2nd place in his first career 50km race in 3:58:25. Liu Yong was third in a personal best 4:00:57.
Women's competition
In the women's 20km race the most experienced walker was the winner too. 24-year-old Jiang Qiuyan completed her fifth career sub 1:30 race to retain her title from 2007 in 1:29:08. Jiang who has won the last two World University Games 20km competitions and finished 9th at the 2006 World Cup 20km will be hopeful to grab a place on the Olympic team later this year. 24-year-old Yang Yawei returned to world's top level clocking her first sub 1:30 time since 2005 to get the 2nd place in 1:29:53. 25-year-old Shi Yang first third in 1:30:43 lowering her personal best by a huge margin of 6 minutes and 27 seconds.
The best women's 20km result was achieved in the junior race. 18-year-old Yang Mingxia, who raced on the 20km distance for the first time in August 2007 winning the junior title in 1:34:11 then, took a giant step forward and retained her title in a fast 1:28:56, 5 minutes and 15 seconds faster than her earlier personal best. 18-year-old Zhou Kang was second in 1:33:37 and Yu Miao third in 1:33:47 in a race where first 11 finishers set a personal best.
Men's junior 10km was won by Zhang Rui in a fast 39:50 with Fang Xianchang finishing second in 40:09. Only 15-year-old Wang Zhen was fastest over junior 30km in 2:08:46 and 16-year-old Wang Min was fastest in the youth 10km for women in 47:08. 30km winner Wang also won the youth 10km on Friday in 40:46 with the 30km race held on Sunday.
Mirko Jalava for the IAAF
