Russia's Elena Lashmanova leads from team mate Anna Lukyanova in the 10,000m walk (© Getty Images)
Russia opened its medal account when Elena Lashmanova and Anna Lukyanova thrashed the opposition to score a brilliant one-two in the 10,000 metres Race Walk on the third day of the 13th IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton on Wednesday morning.
Pre-race hype was all about the Japanese duo of Kumiko Okado and Chiaki Asada being the main contenders but their hopes were blown away after just 1500m of the race.
At that point Lashmanova and Lukyanova competing as a team, dropped Okado who found herself a lap later 50m in arrears as the Russian machine circuited the track side by side.
The double act went through 5000 in 22:26.62 and as is customary in track walking stayed together until the last lap when Lukyanova tried to break clear when the bell sounded.
But her team-mate sitting on her heels raised her game with 250m remaining, storming past and quickly opening a five metres lead which she extended towards the finish line.
Lashmanova was not only rewarded with a gold medal but also celebrated posting the fastest time in the world this year of 44:11.90 with Lukyanova finishing in a personal best 44:17.98.
Okada eigthth at the last championships, took the bronze medal in 45:56.15 while a close finish for fourth saw China's Qin He hold off Antonella Palmisano by 0.21sec the latter setting an Italian record of 46:08.57.
Lashmanova said: "Everything was done correctly. The tempo, the race timing was good. We thought at the beginning that the two Russians would be right beside each other.
"I felt very good. Fantastic. I could have done better, but this is good."
Gordon advances easily
Jehue Gordon makes no secret his elimination in the 400 Hurdles semi-finals at the last championships in Bydgoszcz still lives in his mind and he is determined to right the setback in the Stade de Moncton this week.
The 18-year-old Trinidadian took a first step when coasting through his first round qualifier this morning in a time of 51.58 without raising the tempo after hitting the front after coming out of his blocks.
"I'm going to give it 150 per cent," said Gordon when asked about his title chances. "That race was good. I just wanted to go out there and be relaxed and comfortable.
Gordon who missed the bronze medal at last summer's World Championships in Berlin by just 0.03sec, added: "Next round I want to win my semis. I'm going to be a little more aggressive coming home - hopefully."
Although almost two seconds quicker than his rivals, Gordon can expect a strong challenge particularly from the determined Asian junior champion Takatoshi Abe of Japan, who equalled his season's best of 50.53, the fastest mark of the qualifiers.
Tough semis in women's 800
The women's 800m semi finals were highly competitive and Annet Negesa after posting the best time in the three rounds of 2:02.27 sent a message she fully intends going more quickly in Thursday's final.
Negasa after setting a Ugandan record, said: "I was very surprised because I won the race and it was very speedy. Now the next race I must run faster."
Negasa who finished ahead of defending champion Mirela Lavric may well have to do that given the high quality of the other finalists particularly Cherono Koech.
The Kenyan last year's IAAF World Youth champion and who ran 2:02.28 for third in last month's Oslo Diamond League meet,was never stretched when taking her semi in 2:04.21.
Margaret Etim the world leader also sent out a timely warning in her 400m semi when after powering down the backstraight she then came off the last bend with a big lead to clock up the fastest mark of the day of 52.63.
Chantelle Malone tipped to be another strong contender won her race in 53.37 slower than the 52.97 she achieved in her heat and admitted it hadn't been a perfect race.
"Yesterday I was more relaxed," said the British Virgin Islander. "My form was more fluid, so I think I just have to get back into that flow."
Strong men qualifiers
Yongheng Ding with a season's best topped the shot put qualifying table with the only 20m plus throw of 20.10m on his very first attempt.
The next best came from the USA's Nicholas Vena who also needed just one attempt to surpass the standard of 19.20 with an effort of 19.90m as four other contestants qualified by right.
Cuba's Dailenys Alcantara looks a good bet to defend her triple jump crown when needing just one attempt to better the 13.30m qualifier with a leap of 13.58m.
Maja Bratkic the 2007 World Youth bronze medallist produced the second best performance clearing 13.45m ahead of Valeriy Kanatova who occupied that position last summer in Bressanone and leapt 13.36m.
Lina Deng the runner up on that occasion was the last automatic qualifier the Chinese woman clearing a personal best distance of 13.35m.
David Martin for the IAAF
