Women’s 10000m walk final
In a race that lasted just over 46 minutes, Japan’s Fumi Mitsumura made sure all the attention would be on her as she led the race from start to finish.
She eventually clocked a new national junior record of 46:01.51 in the gruelling 30 degrees heat and 62% humidity persisting in the stadium.
Mitsumura started fast and passed the 1 kilometre mark in 4:41.95 - the second fastest kilometre time she walked tonight – and then held a regular 5-minute per kilometre rhythm that gradually wore down the leading pack.
With two laps to go only three athletes were left on Mitsumura’s heels. China’s Siqi Liu and Dongmei Qu and Belarus’ Maryna Tsikhanava.
Accelerating the pace, Mitsumura had a two-metre lead on Liu at the bell. A lead that she increased to 8 metres with 200 metres to go and to 20 metres at the tape. Her last kilometre was clocked in 4:35.
Liu held on to silver (46:07.15) while Tsikhanava claimed bronze with a new season’s best of 46:14.67. Zuzana Malikova (SVQ) finishing fifth established a new national record while Bolivia’s Ariana Quino set a new Area record.
A total of 5 national records were set in this race. The crowed heavily encouraged last finisher Anne Favolise (USA) in the home straight, the American finishing nine minutes and a half after the winner.
