Norway's Kjersti Platzer enjoys the moment after her victory in Chihuahua, Mexico (© CONADE (conade.gob.mx))
Eder Sanchez pleased the home crowd and Norway's Kjersti Platzer repeated her 2007 win to become the first leaders of the 2008 IAAF Race Walking Challenge as the event series kicked off on Saturday (8) in this northern border city.
Sanchez finally enjoyed the taste of a home victory as Ecuador's three-time World champion Jefferson Perez was fifth and Spain's World and Olympic silver medallist Francisco Javier Fernandez did not finish due to stomach problems. Australia's 2007 Challenge winner Luke Adams was eighth.
As in 2007, Kjersti Platzer posted her second win on Mexican soil, after coming from behind to overtake early leaders Melanie Seeger of Germany and Susana Feitor of Portugal.
MEN
Adams moved ahead early and built up a 100m advantage over the chase pack that included the other top names. However, his lead gradually shrunk and Sanchez broke away from the back in the seventh lap (km 14) along the 2km Pancho Villa course along the División del Norte Avenue.
Supported by the local crowd, the 21-year old held off the challenge of Spain's 2005 Helsinki World championships bronze medallist Juan Manuel Molina and Norway's Erik Tysse to take the victory in 1:22:53, 13 seconds ahead of the Spanish. The Norwegian was third with 1:23:13.
"I felt very well and the competition unfolded as I had planned. It's important to win at home and show Mexico continues to be a powerhouse and to make progress", said a happy Sanchez, who finished fourth at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka.
Winner in Mexico in 2004, Jefferson Perez focused this time on helping his countryman Rolando Saquipay achieve the A Olympic qualification standard and finished fifth in 1:23:42. However, Saquipay fell 18 seconds short of the qualifying time as he crossed the line in fourth place with 1:23:18.
Francisco Javier Fernandez, back to Mexico after walking in Tijuana in 2003, dropped out shortly after half way, affected by stomach problems,
The revelation of the day was Pedro Gómez, 17, who finished seventh in 1:24:11, just over a minute from the Olympic mark.
Gómez, the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Junior silver medallist and fourth place finisher at the 2005 World Youth Championships, had dominated the junior 10km race on Friday, with a personal best of 41:58.52.
The young prospect joined Sanchez in Mexican team for the IAAF Race Walking Cup in Cheboksary, May 10-11. David Mejía, Álvaro García and Gabriel Ortiz completed the squad for the Russian event, which will serve as a Mexican qualifier for the Olympic Games. Horacio Navas, the country's third best placed man on Saturday, will contest the 50km in the World Cup.
WOMEN
In the women's race, Melanie Seeger took the early lead, closely followed by Portugal's 2005 World Championships bronze medallist Susana Feitor and El Salvador's 2007 Pan American Games champion Cristina López
The latter could not sustain the pace and dropped by and the lead was down to the European duo.
However, Platzer began to reduce the deficit with leaders and managed to overtake the Portuguese first and the then the German. She went on to cross the fine unchallenged in 1:33:18.
With just over three laps to go (6km), Feitor suffered from cramps and sat on the pavement. She led until the first half and was aiming at her fourth medal in the Mexican event.
With Feitor out, it enabled Seeger to secure the second place (1:35.44), over two minutes behind the winner. Ines Henriques saved the day for Portugal as she finished third in 1:36.38.
"Chihuahua, I love you so much," said a ecstatic Platzer in perfect Spanish after being awarded at the Teatro de los Héroes.
Initially registered, Belarus' 2007 Challenge winner Ryta Turava did not start.
During the event, Poland's Herzy Hausleber, considered the father of Mexico's success in race walking, was honored by some of his pupils, including 1984 Olympic champions Ernesto Canto and Raul Gonzalez.
Second day
The first leg of the Challenge will end on Sunday with the men's 50km. In total, over 120 athletes from 22 are competing in Chihuahua.
On tour in Mexico 7-17 March, the Olympic torch was on display during the event to enhance the athletes' Olympic aspirations, before it is officially lit in Olympia, Greece, on 25 March.
Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF
Results
Women
1. Kjersti Platzer Norway 1:33:19
2. Melanie Seeger Germany 1:35:44
3. Ines Henriques Portugal 1:36:38
4. Elena Ginko Belarus 1:37:40
5. Maria del Rosario Sánchez Mexico 1:38:45
6. Miriam Ramón Ecuador 1:39:32
7. Graciela Mendoza Mexico 1:41:06
8. Cristina Lopez El Salvador 1:42:05
Men
1. Eder Sanchez Mexico 1:22:53
2. Juan Manuel Molina Spain 1:23:06
3. Erick Tysse Norway 1:23:13
4. Jaime Saquipay Ecuador 1:23:18
5. Jefferson Perez Ecuador 1:23:42
6. Robert Heffernan Ireland 1:23:45
7. Pedro Gomez Mexico 1:24:11
8. Luke Adams Australia 1:24:20
9. Jared Tallent Australia 1:25:40
10. Horacio Nava Mexico 1:25:45
Junior women
1. Adriana Ochoa Mexico 50:15.04
2. Erandi Uribe Mexico 50:36.13
3. Dulce Arrieta Mexico 52:58.73
Junior men
1. Pedro Daniel Gomez Mexico 41:58.52
2. Adrian Ochoa Mexico 43:00.0
3. Clemente Garcia Mexico 44:30.0
