Olga Kaniskina prevails in her first appearance in Sesto San Giovanni (© Lorenzo Sampaolo)
Ever consistent Olga Kaniskina will bid to become the first woman ever to win three World 20 Kilometre Walk titles - and successively - it what promises to be a close contest which could see a Russian sweep of the medals.
Kaniskina knows, although having held sway over her teammates Vera Sokolov and Anisya Kirdyapkina when it really matters, they are the world's two fastest walkers in history with phenomenal times of 1:25:08 and 1:25:09 on 26 February in Sochi.
Sokolov and Kirdyapkina, in a thriller, posted those stunning displays when the former struck 33 seconds from the World record time which won her fellow countrywoman Olimpiada Ivanova a second World title in Helsinki six years ago.
Their 1-2 at the Russian Winter Walking Championships with three international judges present to authenticate the performances - previously many fast times have been rejected because of the strict IAAF regulations not being met - were quite incredible.
Now the pair bolstered by their achievements - Kirdyapkina, the wife of Sergey the reigning and two-time World 50km champion, was rewarded with a World U23 best - will feel more confident of dealing with the dominant Kaniskina.
However the defending gold medallist who despatched Kirdyapkina and Sokolov to the minor placings at last summer's European Championships in Barcelona, will be confident in her own ability to do it again.
The 26-year-old has two impressive wins to her credit this year. Opening her campaign in Rio Major, Portugal, on 9 April she scored an impressive win in 1:28:35 then on May Day in San Giovanni, Italy, won a second 2011 IAAF World Challenge title with a time of 1:29:32.
Few will bet against Kaniskina who has a three-year-old best of 1:25:11 and has been undisputedly N0. 1 on merit in the World for the last few seasons, continuing her dominance at the highest level.
Aiming to upset Russian domination will be the 2009 Berlin silver and bronze medallists Olive Loughnane of Ireland and China's Liu Hong. The latter - coached by the legendary Italian Sandro Damilano - scored an easy win (1:29:44) when they clashed at the Race Walking Grand Prix in Dublin on 26 June where her rival was satisfied she will again be ready to challenge for honours in Daegu, finished in 1:31:55.
Liu Hong's fastest mark of the year which places her third in the world list came in Taicang on 22 April when the 2008 Olympic Games fourth finisher equalled her three-year-old best of 1:27:17 ahead of fellow Daegu teammate Shenjie Qieyang who clocked 1:28:04.
Spain's Beatriz Pascual, sixth two years ago after finishing runner up behind Kaniskina in both Rio Major (season's best 1:28:51) and San Giovanni, can again expect to be in the mix for a top finish along with Ines Henriques who took third (1:30:29) at the Italian venue.
Henrique, the national champion, also led a Portugese clean sweep at the Chihuahua Challenge meet in Mexico on 6 March when in very hot conditions leading home Vera Santos (1:35:17) who was fifth in Berlin and Susan Feitor (1:35:24).
Melanie Seeger, fourth at the European Championships and sixth in Rio Major (1:31:01), will be geared up for another strong display while Kumi Otoshi of Japan after clocking 1:29:11 in Kobe in February leads her nation's challenge.
David Martin for the IAAF
