Gillian O'Sullivan at the 2002 European Championships (© Getty Images)
Ireland's World record holding Race Walker Gillian O’Sullivan and Italy’s 1995 World 20km Champion Michele Didoni announced their very serious medal intentions for next month's World Championships in Paris with stunning performances in unseasonal Mediterranean type weather in the Dublin Grand Prix of Race Walking today (Saturday).
O’Sullivan, who in the process won her fifth successive Irish title took the lead straight from the gun and had Ireland’s Olive Loughnane, Turkey’s Yeliz Ay and German Andrea Meloni for company for the first two kilometres reached in 8.50.
Thereafter, O’Sullivan found herself alone defying the warm temperatures to win the event in 1.29.22, her fourth sub 1.30 performance in 2003.
“I’m delighted with that performance and as I’m back in very heavy training for Paris it is very satisfying to break 1.30 again this year, particularly on tired legs”
For Loughnane, whose sister Ann had earlier this week won Ireland's first ever major Championship walking medal when taking silver at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Sherbrooke, was the forced withdrawal from the race at 4km due to a knee injury.
The Italian Sports daily La Gazetta Del Sport had billed the 20km as D-Day in Dublin and they were not wrong as Didoni and 1999 World 50km Champion Ivano Brugnetti had been given an ultimatum by their federation FIDAL - Winner takes all and gains the third Italian place for next month's World Championships.
The first 2km was walked in a scorching 7.50 and the second even faster before a hamstring injury forced Brugnetti’s withdrawal leaving Didoni alone at the front of the field looking as strong as he has since he won the World title in 1995.
After reaching halfway in 40.30 he visably eased off and left the large crowd of onlooker in doubt that he will once again be a serious contender in Paris.
Spain's David Sanchez took the 50km after reaching halfway in 1.58.57, in 7th position.
20km Walk Men
1 Michele Didoni Italy 1.21.44
2 Andre Hohne Germany 1.22.30
3 Maik Berger Germany 1.23.49
4 Theodoros Stamatopoulos Greece 1.27.04
5 Birger Falt Sweden 1.27.27
6 Jamie Costin 1.28.46
7 Walid El Sabahi Qatar 1.30.17
8 David Kidd 1.37.43
20km Walk Women
1 Gillian O’Sullivan 1.29.22
2 Yeliz Ay Turkey 1.38.29 NR
3 Estle Viljoen South Africa 1.42.14
4 Marie Latham Isle of Man 1.55.29
5 Georgina Tuohey 1.56.41
50km Walk Men
1 David Sanchez Ferrer Spain 4.01.58
2 Robert Tubak Hungary 4.18.25
3 Rodrigo Dominguez Fernandez Spain 4.19.53
4 Hirofumi Tadamasa Japan 4.24.42
5 Kenji Katsurayama Japan 4.41.50