Jefferson Perez in aciton in the men's 20km walk (© Getty Images)
Tijuana, MexicoThe best race walkers in the world will begin their 2004 season in the Tijuana Grand Prix, organisers of the Mexican event announced yesterday.
On the weekend of 20/21 March, race walkers from as far apart as Ireland, Poland, the USA, Armenia, Australia and Nigeria will compete in the Tijuana race, which is the first event of the 2004 IAAF Race Walking Challenge, which is in its second year.
Included in the field are Poland’s three time Olympic champion Robert Korzeniowski of Poland, Ecuador's 2003 World 20km champion, and Spain's former World 50km champion and multiple medallist, Jesus Angel Garcia.
The distances contested in Tijuana will be 20km for women, and 20km and 50km for men.
A full Tijuana preview including the women's 20km entrants will follow nearer to the date.
The IAAF Race Walking Challenge events -
Tijuana, MEX, 20/21 March - 20km W + 20km M + 50km M
Rio Major, POR, 3 April – 20km W + 20km M
IAAF Race Walking Cup, Naumburg, GER, 1/2 May - 20km W + 20km M + 50km M
Shanghai, CHN, 22/23 May – 20km W + 20km M
Coruna, ESP, 5 June - 20km W + 20km M
Sesto San Giovanni, ITA, 20 June – 20km W + 20km M
Olympic Games, Athens, GRE - August – 20km W (23 Aug) + 20km M (20 Aug) + 50km M (27 Aug)