Australia&rsquo;s Isaac Beacroft became the first winner of the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 on Sunday (21), using superb closing speed to overpower his rivals in a thrilling finish to the U20 men's 10km.
Aged just 16, Beacroft crossed the finish line at the Antalya Expo Centre in an Oceanian U20 record of 39:56 to deny China a fifth consecutive individual win in this event while also becoming the youngest ever winner of an U20 title at these championships. After being passed by Beacroft in the final stretch, Shi Shengji held on for silver in 39:57, while his Chinese teammate Luo Jiawei claimed bronze in 40:03 and together they gained team gold.
Japan, led by Sotaro Osaka in fourth, secured team silver, while Australia bagged the bronze.
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Racing on a cool and still morning after the previous day&rsquo;s storm, it was Germany&rsquo;s Frederick Weigel &ndash; the son of 1983 world champion Ronald Weigel &ndash; who initially took the race on, leading through the first kilometre in 4:06. He remained to the fore as the 3km mark was passed in 12:21, joined by Luo and Spain&rsquo;s Daniel Monfort.
Weigel dropped back as the field &ndash; led by Luo and Li &ndash; started to string out. As they reached 4km in 16:27, a stride ahead of Shi, the first red cards of the competition had been handed out for a loss of contact &ndash; one for world U20 leader Li included.
Luo and Li continued to control the race they hit halfway in 20:29, but Beacroft &ndash; contesting just the second road race of his career &ndash; was right up there with them.
Li decided it was time to make a move and he picked up the pace, the field in a line behind him. A 4:02 kilometre made an impact and only Shi could go with him, but the move didn&rsquo;t come without danger and Li received a second red card.
Shi was a stride ahead as 7km was reached in 28:14, with Luo nine seconds behind his teammates, walking alongside Beacroft.
But Li&rsquo;s individual medal hopes came to an end a short while later, as he was shown his third red card and left the course to serve a one-minute penalty. Shi received his first red card and then passed the 8km mark in 32:07.
That put the 17-year-old 12 seconds ahead of his closest challengers, but Beacroft was clearly waiting for the right moment to strike. He fought with Luo in what looked to be a battle for silver, but the Australian wasn&rsquo;t done.&nbsp;
By 9km, Shi&rsquo;s lead was down to three seconds and Beacroft closed the gap, timing his finish to perfection as he picked up the pace and stormed past Shi to make sure that Australia's first ever individual men's U20 medal in this event was a gold one.
&ldquo;I'm just amazed, I can't believe it. I'm so happy with what I just did,&rdquo; said the winner. &ldquo;I always knew I had it in me that I could be up there, ready to go, but winning is another level. It's unreal.
&ldquo;I'm just hoping that I set up the platform for the rest of the Australian team to tear it up.&rdquo;
Behind the individual medallists, Osaka clocked a PB of 40:30 for his fourth-place finish, with his compatriot Taisei Yoshizako sixth in 40:39, also a PB, to secure the team silver.
Finishing between them was Italy&rsquo;s Giuseppe Disabato, who managed a PB of 40:32 for fifth, while Turkiye&rsquo;s Seyhmus Capat had the race of his life on home soil, setting a national U20 record of 40:42 to finish seventh.
Jess Whittington for World&nbsp;Athletics 
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 75%; border-color: #222222; border-style: solid;" border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3">
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<td style="background-color: #fd5249; text-align: center;" colspan="3">U20 MEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS</td>
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<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #e9c968; text-align: center;">🥇</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #e9c968;">Isaac Beacroft (AUS)</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #e9c968;">39:56 AU20R</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #ced4d9; text-align: center;">🥈</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #ced4d9;">Shi Shengji (CHN)</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #ced4d9;">39:57</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #bd895e; text-align: center;">🥉</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #bd895e;">Luo Jiawei (CHN)</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #bd895e;">40:03</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; text-align: center;">4</td>
<td style="width: 60%;">Sotaro Osaka (JPN)</td>
<td style="width: 30%;">40:30 PB</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="width: 60%;">Giuseppe Disabato (ITA)</td>
<td style="width: 30%;">40:32 PB</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; text-align: center;">6</td>
<td style="width: 60%;">Taisei Yoshizako (JPN)</td>
<td style="width: 30%;">40:39 PB</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; text-align: center;">7</td>
<td style="width: 60%;">Seyhmus Capat (TUR)</td>
<td style="width: 30%;">40:42 NU20R</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; text-align: center;">8</td>
<td style="width: 60%;">Daniel Monfort (ESP)</td>
<td style="width: 30%;">40:43 PB</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; text-align: center;">9</td>
<td style="width: 60%;">Frederick Weigel (GER)</td>
<td style="width: 30%;">40:53 PB</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; text-align: center;">10</td>
<td style="width: 60%;">Jesus Leonardo Ramirez (COL)</td>
<td style="width: 30%;">40:53 PB</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background-color: #34495e; text-align: left;" colspan="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;<a style="color: #ffffff;" href="https://worldathletics.org/en/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/antalya-24/results/men/10-kilometres-race-walk/final/result" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full results</a></td>
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<td style="background-color: #fd5249; text-align: center;" colspan="3">U20 MEN'S TEAM RESULTS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #e9c968; text-align: center;">🥇</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #e9c968;">China</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #e9c968;">5</td>
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<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #ced4d9; text-align: center;">🥈</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #ced4d9;">Japan</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #ced4d9;">10</td>
</tr>
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<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #bd895e; text-align: center;">🥉</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #bd895e;">Australia</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #bd895e;">14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background-color: #34495e; text-align: left;" colspan="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;<a style="color: #ffffff;" href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/antalya-24/results/men/10-kilometres-race-walk/final/team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full results</a></td>
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</tbody>
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<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/latest-videos/662529dcb32a75aa7c8b1e9d" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66239dd4b047247b5cdfc923.jpg" alt="WRW Antalya 24 highlights" /></a></div>
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World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships

Australia’s Isaac Beacroft became the first winner of the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24, using superb closing speed to overpower his rivals in a thrilling finish

Beacroft blazes to U20 men's 10km title in Antalya

Athletes and dignitaries highlighted how history will be made at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24, on the eve of the competition taking place in Turkiye on Sunday (21 April).
The marathon race walk mixed relay makes its Olympic debut in Paris in August and WRW Antalya 24 is a qualifying event for the new discipline.
As well as the mixed relay, the programme in Antalya features senior 20km and U20 10km races, and there is star quality across the board.
&ldquo;This world-class competition has always been important to the race walking community, but this edition is particularly significant because of course it is an Olympic qualifying event, with the Paris Games just three months away,&rdquo; said World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon at the pre-event press conference held at the Dokumapark Modern Art Gallery in Antalya.
&ldquo;That significance is further heightened because we are making a bit of history tomorrow. For the first time ever in a major championship event, we have the marathon race walk mixed relay event that will be staged as a precursor to its introduction into the Olympic Games in Paris. I am really looking forward to seeing this new event live in action.
&ldquo;I am also delighted that pretty much all of the top international race walkers from around the world are here in Antalya for this weekend&rsquo;s action. Race walking is certainly an element of the sport where nobody hides from head-to-head competition. It will be a truly top-tier competition.&rdquo;
Turkish Athletic Federation President Fatih Cintimar reinforced the event&rsquo;s importance.
&ldquo;We are very honoured to have this competition in Turkiye. This is history for us, and history for race walking,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Seeing that 22 marathon race walk mixed relay teams will qualify for the Olympics is very important for us, too. Organising this big event with the Governor of Antalya, we are so honoured. Good luck to all the athletes competing tomorrow.&rdquo;
Governor Hulusi Sahin said: &ldquo;Both for Antalya and for Turkiye, this is a huge event. We are very honoured.
&ldquo;Today is rainy and windy but tomorrow we expect good weather with a beautiful atmosphere.&rdquo;
Polish race walking great Robert Korzeniowski was also in attendance as the World Athletics ambassador for the event.
Sharing his expectations for the competition, the four-time Olympic and three-time world gold medallist said: &ldquo;Twenty years after I stopped my high-performance career, I have a chance to see my dear athletics event in very good shape &ndash; progressing into a new formula of competition. I am very excited to see tomorrow&rsquo;s qualification for Paris.
&ldquo;We also have the 20km races and the U20 categories. Be focused on the Olympic qualification but also look at the future champions. This is the future of our discipline.&rdquo;
Among the current global champions in Antalya is Spain&rsquo;s Alvaro Martin and after his double world title win in the 20km and 35km in Budapest, Martin will contest the mixed relay on Sunday.
&ldquo;The main target is to qualify for the Paris Olympics. We have entered three strong teams and we&rsquo;ll be aiming for the two spots per country on offer,&rdquo; he said.
Sunday&rsquo;s competition will mark his second experience in the relay as Spain held a dress rehearsal on 10 March in Valencia where Martin and Laura Garcia-Caro clocked 2:57:04 &ndash; the second-quickest ever time only bettered by the Ecuadorian duo of Brian Pintado and Glenda Morejon.
&ldquo;I hope that opening experience means an advantage over the majority of the countries,&rdquo; Martin added. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll only race 20km tomorrow but in terms of effort, I think the mixed relay event is closer to the 35km than to the 20km because at the beginning of the second leg you already feel tiredness.&rdquo;
Australia&rsquo;s Jemima Montag was only headed by Spain&rsquo;s Maria Perez in the 20km event last year in Budapest and has since improved her lifetime best to 1:27:09. She too has opted for the mixed relay in Antalya where she will line up&nbsp;alongside Rhydian Cowley.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really excited ahead of tomorrow&rsquo;s competition. Australia has entered a 20-athlete team in the different events, and we look forward to performing well here,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;As for Rhydian, we have been training partners for the last 16 years, so we know each other well. I think this added team element, it lifts your energy.&rdquo;
Morejon, who won the 35km at the last edition of the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships, said: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s an honour to be here. Alongside my coach, we have decided to focus solely on the 20km event to give a chance to my teammates for the mixed relay, but my plan is to double at the Paris Olympic Games where I&rsquo;ll be contesting the 20km and the relay.&rdquo;
Her compatriot Jefferson Perez, the 1996 Olympic 20km champion, is also in Antalya and asked about his presence at the event, she replied: &ldquo;He is a big inspiration for the team and it will be very motivating to have him cheering us on tomorrow.&rdquo;
Sweden&rsquo;s world 20km silver medallist Perseus Karlstrom will also compete in the individual 20km event on Sunday after taking 35km gold in Muscat two years ago.
&ldquo;Race walkers form a big family. We meet up several times every year and it&rsquo;s always great to see each other,&rdquo; he said. Asked about his favourites for the mixed relay, he replied: &ldquo;I think the Mexican team have a very solid technique, so they could have a surprise medal tomorrow. When it comes to the best technician, I would team up with Antonella Palmisano from Italy.&rdquo;
Palmisano will form part of one of the two Italian teams which will also feature Olympic champion Massimo Stano. Asked which event, the 20km or mixed relay, he considers tougher, Stano was adamant: &ldquo;The relay, for two reasons. First, it&rsquo;s a longer distance overall, and secondly, because it&rsquo;s not easy to know what you should do between the two relay legs.&rdquo;
For Salih Korkmaz, the event is a chance to race on home soil.
&ldquo;We are a very strong team,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I am pretty sure that we will be among those 22 teams (to qualify for Paris). I hope to have great results tomorrow."

Athletes and dignitaries highlighted how history will be made at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24, on the eve of the competition taking place in Turkiye on Sunday

History in the making at WRW Antalya 24

Chinese U20 women have achieved 1-2 finishes at three of the past four editions, so it wouldn&rsquo;t be a huge surprise if history repeated itself at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24.
The race walks powerhouse boast the three fastest entrants for this weekend&rsquo;s 10km race, and all of them are more than a minute quicker than the next-best athlete.
Yang Xizhen tops the entries with the 43:55 she produced to win in Taicang last month in what was just her second ever outing over the distance. In that race, the 18-year-old achieved a narrow victory over compatriots Duo Jiecuo and Chen Meiling, who achieved big PBs of 43:56 and 43:57 respectively.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/antalya-24/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66222a713109a2c2d8b377f2.png" alt="WRW Antalya 24 where to watch" /></a>
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Like the Chinese trio, Spain&rsquo;s Aldara Meilan and Sofia Santacreu have competed just once so far this year. Santacreu won the European U18 title over 5000m in 2022, then struck gold again at last year&rsquo;s European U20 Championships, this time over 10,000m, setting national U18 records on both occasions.
Santacreu recently set a 10km PB of 45:25, achieved in a race that she won by more than two minutes. But Meilan will also head to Antalya brimming with confidence, following her victory at the Spanish Championships &ndash; which Santacreu missed through injury &ndash; in a PB of 45:04.
Both athletes are closing in on the Spanish U20 record of 44:48, set in 1987 by Mari Cruz D&iacute;az, winner of the senior European title one year prior at the age of 16. Regardless, both Santacreu and Meilan will be more concerned with medals than times in Antalya.
While Santacreu already has two continental titles to her name, Meilan appears to be the stronger performer on the roads. Combined, they &ndash; along with teammate Griselda Serret, who has a PB of 46:13 &ndash; have strong chances of securing a team medal for Spain.
Mexico should feature in the hunt for a team medal. Valeria Flores finished just ahead of Renata Cortes at the Mexican Championships in San Jeronimo in February with Flores prevailing by nine seconds in 45:58. Cortes then went on to win in Dudince last month in 46:36.
Japan has entered a closely matched trio with their three representatives separated by just eight seconds: Sumika Tani (46:49), Suzu Okuno (46:54) and Suzuka Kuge (46:57). Should any of the favourites falter, the Japanese race walkers could contend for a place on the team podium.
Fifty athletes from 24 countries will compete over the two-kilometre flat circuit in the second event of the programme. Weather forecasters predict temperatures of 16C by the time of the event; taking into account Antalya is placed at sea level conditions seem suitable to record quick times.
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics

A look at the leading contenders in the U20 women's 10km at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24

WRW Antalya 24 preview: Chinese trio take on speedy Spaniards in U20 women’s 10km in Antalya

China and Japan lead the way in the U20 men&rsquo;s 10km at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 on Sunday (21).
One needs to scroll down to sixth before another country features on the entry list, Australia in this case, and it&rsquo;s eighth before the first European, Daniel Monfort from Spain.
The three Chinese athletes &ndash; Li Chenjie, Shi Shengji and Luo Jiawei &ndash; are the only entrants to have bettered 40 minutes for 10km, and those performances came as recently as last month.
Li clocked a world U20 lead of 39:26 at the first Gold Tour race in Taicang on 3 March. Shi, who turned 17 just earlier this year, finished right behind in 39:35 while Luo took third place in 39:42. History is also on their side, as Chinese athletes have won the past four U20 men&rsquo;s titles at these championships.
So, a podium already filled in Antalya? Not necessarily.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/antalya-24/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66222a713109a2c2d8b377f2.png" alt="WRW Antalya 24 where to watch" /></a>
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That was on home turf: this is southern Turkey, and a talented Japanese trio will be aiming to upset the red-vested apple cart.
Sotaro Osaka notched a PB of 41:21 in Kobe in February with Taisei Yoshizako claiming second place in 41:34, then they went on to record highly respectable 20km PBs last month (1:22:26 and 1:23:14 respectively). They, along with teammate Yuki Shimoda, will be aiming to become the first Japanese gold medallists &ndash; either individually or as a team &ndash; in an U20 race at these championships.
There&rsquo;s one big contender who is yet to register a 10km mark in 2024.
Frederick Weigel, son of 1983 world champion and double Olympic silver medallist Ronald Weigel, will be aiming to become the first German athlete to make it on to a podium in an U20 event at the World Race Walking Team Championships.
The younger Weigel claimed the European U20 title on the track last year, winning the 10,000m by more than 20 seconds. Aged 18, he recently made his 20km debut in Podebrady, clocking a solid 1:26:24. Weigel&rsquo;s 10km best is 42:44, while his track PB is 41:53.58, but he appears to be capable of bettering both of those marks in Antalya.
Australian 16-year-old Isaac Beacroft clocked a swift 41:39 in Adelaide in February. The former Australian Rules football player recorded the fastest 5000m of all time by an under-17 in December, clocking 19:31.21, falling short of the world U18 best by just 1.07 seconds.
Spanish U20 champion Monfort had a great performance at his national championships, winning in 41:42 at the end of February in Zaragoza.
In terms of times, there is something of a leap to next ranked Riley Coughlan, another talented Australian. His 42:05 PB, also set in Adelaide, is the first of eight other athletes under 43 minutes.
Note, every race walker so far recorded their personal bests at home, and Antalya is anything but.
So, two more promising talents in Emiliano Barba from Mexico and Quentin Chenuet from France can point to great wins on foreign soil. Barba was first home in Dudince last month, clocking a break through 42:06. Meanwhile, Chenuet showed great technique and a cool head on a hot day to go through the gears and break the tape in 42:15 in Podebrady just three weeks ago.
Also keep an eye on Giuseppe Disabato. The Italian has made it on to the podium in every international championships he has contested on the track, taking bronze at last year&rsquo;s European U20 Championships and silver at the European Youth Olympic Festival, plus silver at the European U18 Championships in 2022.
Kazakhstan, making a rare foray into these championships, will be represented by Sherkhan Egizbay &ndash; the youngest in the race at 15 &ndash; and Zharylkasyn Egizbay. Both will be heartened to know their country can boast at least one past winner at these championships: unfancied Sergey Korepanov produced a brilliant race to win the 50km at the 1999 edition of these championships in Mezidon-Canon.
Maybe this race will spring a surprise as well?
Paul Warburton for World Athletics

A look at the leading contenders in the U20 men's 10km at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24

WRW Antalya 24 preview: Japan and Germany look to break China’s U20 men’s streak in Antalya

Race walking takes a literal step into the unknown with the first marathon mixed relay at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 on Sunday (21).
There have been experimental races in various countries as race walkers gear up to its inclusion at the Olympics in Paris, but this will be the first time in a major championship. And it seems there is no lack of enthusiasm for a brave new world.
Three Olympic champions &ndash; Italian duo Antonella Palmisano and Massimo Stano, plus Poland&rsquo;s Dawid Tomala &ndash; along with double world champions Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez of Spain have all put their names down.
Olympic medallists Lorena Arenas of Colombia, Evan Dunfee of Canada, Jonathan Hilbert of Germany, Koki Ikeda of Japan and Liu Hong of China as well as 2023 world medallists Caio Bonfim of Brazil, Masatora Kawano of Japan and Jemima Montag of Australia are also dipping a toe into relay waters.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/antalya-24/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66222a713109a2c2d8b377f2.png" alt="WRW Antalya 24 where to watch" /></a>
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The format is two athletes, a man and a woman, cover the distance alternating as follows: 12.195km for the man, 10km for the woman, 10km for the man, and a final 10km for the woman to the finish line.
In short, it&rsquo;s man, woman, man, woman exchanging a wrist band within a 20-metre long takeover zone.
One of the favourites, Spain, has named their entire group of relay race walkers which include Martin, Perez, Laura Garcia-Caro, Alberto Amezcua, Miguel Angel Lopez, and Cristina Montesinos.
Minus Perez, Spain was out in force racing the new concept in Valencia on 3 March. The relay was won by Martin and Garcia-Caro, which was no great shock, but whether Perez becomes Martin&rsquo;s new partner has yet to be decided.
The real purpose of the Valencia race was to find the best way to repeat same in Antalya, and later at the Olympics.
As posted by the Spanish federation: &ldquo;How does a human body deal with stop-and-go? What should athletes do during the approximate 40 minutes they have to stop while their partner walks?&rdquo;
The immediate answer was to collect pin prick blood samples mid race, as well as keeping the likes of Martin readied at race pace using resistance bands to bring him up to speed for a third leg.
The repeating athlete needs to literally hit the ground running, or rather race walking, but can&rsquo;t afford to venture far from the handover zone while doing it. On top of which, they can only build up that readiness towards the end of their partner&rsquo;s leg.
In effect, the balancing act is to keep active for fear of stiffening up without tiring oneself for the racing part. Measuring hydration and glucose levels and how to maintain what&rsquo;s needed without overdoing is apparently just as important.
All data has been analysed at the sports department within the university in Murcia to further Spain&rsquo;s chances of optimum performance.
In terms of current world performances, Spain is headed by Ecuador.
The combination of world 35km silver medallist Brian Pintado and Glenda Morejon, the 35km winner at the last edition of these championships, won in 2:56:49 at the 2023 Pan American Games.
However, both are also down to contest the individual 20km races in Antalya, which take place just before the relay.
The Martin-Garcia-Caro pairing follows in 2:57:04, who in turn head teammates Paul McGrath and Montesinos, L&oacute;pez and Antia Chamosa, plus Amezcua and Mar Juarez &ndash; and less than two minutes between the lot.
China is the first country from Asia to feature on the current relay rankings in sixth place. Wang Kaihua and Yang Jiayu clocked 2:59:09 at the Modugno Race Walk Relay in Italy.
Italy&rsquo;s Olympic champions Stano and Palmisano are one place further back, also one place behind the Chinese in Modugno, finishing in 2:59:30. On paper, this duet should provide the biggest challenge to Spain.
Italy also has the luxury of Francisco Fortunato and Valentina Trapletti &ndash; who have respective PBs of 1:18:59 and 1:29:47 &ndash; as back-up.
Australia and Brazil should also be in contention. Factor in Montag off the back of a 1:27:09 PB in February and one from&nbsp; Rhydian Cowley, Kyle Swan, Will Thompson, or Declan Tingay, and the yellow-and-green vests will mix it with the best.
If Brazil pairs Bonfim with either Viviane Lyra or Erica Sena, enjoying a renaissance two weeks shy of her 39th birthday, they too will be at the sharp end.
The addition of China &ndash; who will be fielding world 20km record-holder Yang &ndash; will make it five very good teams battling for three podium places.
The next ranked countries are Mexico (3:03:18), Portugal (3:10:50), USA (3:13:27), Greece (3:18:38), Croatia (3:34:02), Czech Republic (3:42:04) and hosts T&uuml;rkiye (4:24:44).
A further 27 countries have also declared entries for the first marathon race walk mixed relay at the World Race Walking Team Championships.
Event ambassador Robert Korzeniowski will be one of many very interested spectators. The four-time Olympic champion and world record-breaker is ready to embrace the innovation.
&ldquo;I am very curious how the mixed relays will proceed in terms of qualifying for the Olympics,&rdquo; said the Polish race walks legend. &ldquo;This will be a very exciting and most important pre-Olympic test, and I believe that the marathon distance of the relay and its mixed nature perfectly fit into the new trends in athletics.
&ldquo;I must admit that instead of commentating on the relay, I would like to try my hand at it myself, for example with my sister Sylwia with whom I took part in the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.&rdquo;
The final team declarations will be made nearer to the time of the race.
Paul Warburton for World Athletics

A look at the leading contenders in the marathon race walk mixed relay at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24

WRW Antalya 24 preview: global champions prepare to collide in inaugural marathon mixed relay

Even with some of the event&rsquo;s top exponents focusing on the marathon race walk mixed relay, the men&rsquo;s 20km at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 features an array of highly talented contenders.
One thing is certain: a new champion is guaranteed to emerge and none of the 20km winners from past editions of these championships are entered for the discipline in Antalya.
Little more than 20 seconds separate the six leading entrants on season&rsquo;s bests, the fastest of whom is the relatively unheralded Ryo Hamanishi of Japan. The 23-year-old has made a major breakthrough this year, lowering his PB by more than four minutes to clock 1:17:42 at the Japanese Championships in Kobe.
In that race, Hamanishi finished just ahead of Yuta Koga, who improved his PB to 1:17:47. While Koga is more experienced than Hamanishi, having finished 12th at last year&rsquo;s World Championships, this will be his first appearance at a World Race Walking Team Championships.
Satoshi Maruo, Kento Yoshikawa, and Tomohiro Noda &ndash; all of whom have bettered 1:20 this year &ndash; complete the team.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/antalya-24/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66222a713109a2c2d8b377f2.png" alt="WRW Antalya 24 where to watch" /></a>
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Caio Bonfim is sandwiched between Hamanishi and Koga on the entry list. The Brazilian has shown tremendous consistency over the past decade, having earned bronze medals at the 2017 and 2023 World Championships. The 33-year-old has already had a busy season; Sunday&rsquo;s race will be his fourth 20km outing of the year.
He opened the year with a third-place finish in Taicang on 3 March, reducing his own national record to 1:17:44, before taking a comfortable win at the South American Championships in Recife where 1:22:49 proved to be enough to take gold. Earlier this month, he finished third in Podebrady with 1:18:50, his fifth fastest ever time.
Sweden&rsquo;s Perseus Karlstrom is another highly experienced and consistent performer. The world silver medallist, who turns 34 next month, showed great fitness in Podebrady earlier this month, where he achieved a convincing victory ahead of Canada&rsquo;s Olympic bronze medallist Evan Dunfee and Bonfim.
Karlstrom, who also has three world bronze medals to his name, was a convincing winner over 35km at the last edition of these championships in Muscat two years ago, and he will be looking to maintain his supremacy in Antalya over the shorter distance.
All six members of the high-quality Chinese squad have bettered 1:19 this season. Asian Games silver medallist Wang Zhaozhao is China&rsquo;s fastest entrant for Antalya, following his 1:17:48 PB in Taicang last month. Cui Lihong, who finished one place behind Zhaozhao in Taicang in 1:18:03, will be looking to improve upon his 30th-place finish from Muscat two years ago.
Ning Lu and Xiangfei Zhao, who have respective season&rsquo;s bests of 1:18:08 and 1:18:15, bolster China&rsquo;s team.
The big surprise, though, could come from Spain&rsquo;s Paul McGrath. The European U23 champion excelled at the Spanish Championships earlier this year in Zaragoza where he took an emphatic win in 1:17:55, finishing 40 seconds clear of double world champion Alvaro Martin.
With Martin focusing on the relay in Antalya, McGrath will lead a strong Spanish squad for the men&rsquo;s 20km which also includes European bronze medallist Diego Garcia Carrera and Marc Tur, the fourth-place finisher in the 50km at the Tokyo Olympics.
Ecuador won the team title in Muscat two years ago, and their leading three race walkers from that event will be in contention again in Antalya. World 35km silver medallist Brian Pintado was second over 20km in Dudince last month in 1:19:44, while Pan-American Games champion David Hurtado has a season&rsquo;s best of 1:21:55, a few minutes shy of his PB. National champion Jordy Rafael Jim&eacute;nez set his lifetime best of 1:20:08 at last year&rsquo;s World Championships.
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics

A look at the leading contenders in the men's 20km at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24

WRW Antalya 24 preview: new men’s 20km champion set to emerge in Antalya

There is so much star quality at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 that despite the double world champion and the Olympic champion focusing on the marathon mixed relay, the senior women&rsquo;s 20km still features multiple global medallists, all on the hunt for further success.
Another double world gold medallist &ndash; Kimberly Garcia &ndash; and two champions from the last edition of this event in Muscat in 2022 &ndash; Ma Zhenxia and Glenda Morejon &ndash; will be among the leading contenders when athletes take to the 2km loop course in the Turkish coastal city on Sunday (21).
Ma led China to a comfortable team victory in Muscat two years ago and she looks in form to repeat the feat, having clocked a PB of 1:26:07 at the Chinese Race Walking Grand Prix in Taicang on 3 March. That was an improvement of more than half a minute on her previous best set one year prior.
After winning world U18 and U20 titles, Ma&rsquo;s performance in Muscat was a senior breakthrough and she went on to finish 10th at the World Championships in Oregon and seventh at the global event in Budapest.
She leads the entries when it comes to season&rsquo;s bests and will form part of another strong Chinese squad. The last three senior women&rsquo;s 20km team titles have all been won by China and although the entry list includes reserves, each of the seven athletes named have dipped under 1:29:00 already this year.
Joining Ma near the top of the list are Ji Haiying and Peng Li, who respectively clocked 1:27:19 and 1:27:26 in Taicang but do not have the benefit of as much experience as their teammate. Yin Lamei, who finished 10th in the 35km event at the 2022 World Championships, also set a lifetime best in the shorter event in Taicang - 1:27:36.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/antalya-24/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66222a713109a2c2d8b377f2.png" alt="WRW Antalya 24 where to watch" /></a>
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When it comes to experience, Morejon and Garcia both have plenty.
Ecuador&rsquo;s Morejon has the quickest PB of those entered thanks to the 1:25:29 she achieved as a 19-year-old in La Coruna in 2019. In Muscat she won the 35km on her debut at the distance, leading Ecuador to team victory. One of her teammates on that occasion &ndash; Magaly Bonilla &ndash; joins her on the team again, along with Paula Milena Torres.
Morejon finished sixth in the 20km at the World Championships in Budapest and most recently clocked 1:27:21 &ndash; the second-fastest time of her career &ndash; to finish second at the World Race Walking Tour Gold meeting in Podebrady on 6 April.
It was Peru&rsquo;s Garcia, the double world champion in 2022, who beat Morejon to the title in Podebrady and the pair will clash again in Antalya.
As well as her world 20km and 35km gold medals in Oregon, Garcia secured world 35km silver in Budapest and finished fourth in the 20km there. She also won Peru&rsquo;s first ever medal at the World Race Walking Team Championships when she claimed bronze in the 20km in Muscat.
Illness forced her to drop out during the 20km in Dudince in March but she was back to winning ways in Podebrady, where she set a race record of 1:27:08 &ndash; her third fastest ever time.
The race in Dudince was won by her compatriot Evelyn Inga in 1:27:42, just 10 seconds off her PB, and they form part of a powerful team in Antalya, joined by Mary Luz Andia.
The host nation will also have high hopes, with multiple world age group medallist Meryem Bekmez and 2019 European U23 champion Ayse Tekdal on the team.
Others to watch out for include Italy&rsquo;s Eleonora Giorgi and Valentina Trapletti, each competing at their sixth World Race Walking Team Championships, plus Spain&rsquo;s Raquel Gonzalez and Brazil&rsquo;s Viviane Lyra, who secured two top eight places in Budapest.
Jess Whittington for World Athletics

A look at the leading contenders in the senior women's 20km at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24

WRW Antalya 24 preview: Garcia, Morejon and Ma lead 20km clash in Antalya

In the final countdown to the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24, the medal design has been unveiled.
Termed &lsquo;the medal of triumph shining under the sunlight&rsquo;, the patterns on the medal &ndash; which have been inspired by traditional Turkish motifs &ndash; symbolise balance and perfection.
The striking lines on the medal evoke the sun&rsquo;s rays, a reflection of Antalya&rsquo;s warm climate. The beams, which were inspired by the &lsquo;Century of Turkiye&rsquo; emblem, represent the light and energy of an athlete on the road to victory.
The medal will not only be an award for the top performers, but also a fitting memory of what will be a memorable competition in Antalya.
The World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 takes place on Sunday 21 April. More than 400 athletes from about 50 countries will descend on the Turkish city, competing not only for medals but &ndash; as is the case for the marathon race walk mixed relay &ndash; for qualifying places at the Paris Olympic Games.
All races will be contested on a 2km loop course located close to the Antalya Expo Centre in Antalya. The first race starts at 7:00 local time, and the programme ends with the marathon race walk mixed relay at 12:55.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/antalya-24/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66222a713109a2c2d8b377f2.png" alt="WRW Antalya 24 where to watch" /></a>
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In the final countdown to the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24, the medal design has been unveiled

Medals revealed for WRW Antalya 24

Multiple global medallists &ndash; including double world champions Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez &ndash; will be among the athletes in action at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 on 21 April.
The programme features five races (times stated are local time): 7:00 U20 men&rsquo;s 10km race walk 8:00 U20 women&rsquo;s 10km race walk 9:10 senior women&rsquo;s 20km race walk 11:05 senior men&rsquo;s 20km race walk 12:55 marathon race walk mixed relay
The competition holds extra significance this year, as it is a qualifying event for the marathon race walk mixed relay at the Paris Olympic Games.
All races will be contested on a 2km loop course located close to the Antalya Expo Centre in Antalya, Turkiye.
It is a wide, flat course with large turning points at both ends. The start and finish area is in front of the Expo 2016 Botanical Park.
<h3>Scoring</h3>
In the senior 20km races, each team can feature up to five athletes, with the top three athletes on each team to score. In the U20 10km races, teams can include up to three athletes, with the top two athletes on each team to score.
Each race will be scored separately and the team with the lowest aggregate of points will be judged the winner. If a team fails to finish with a complete scoring team, the athletes will be counted as individuals in the race result and be eligible for the corresponding individual medals.
In the event of a tie, it shall be resolved in favour of the team whose last scoring member finishes nearer to first place.
Prize money will be awarded as follows for the senior team events:
Team 1st US$15,000 2nd US$12,000 3rd US$9000 4th US$7500 5th US$6000 6th US$3000
If a world record is broken in the senior women&rsquo;s or men&rsquo;s 20km races, a prize of US$50,000 will be awarded, subject to ratification.
<h3>Marathon race walk mixed relay and Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualification</h3>
The marathon race walk mixed relay makes its World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships debut in Antalya. The event involves teams of one man and one woman who will complete the marathon distance (42.195km) in legs of 12.195km (man), 10km (woman), 10km (man) and 10km (woman). Athletes must carry a wristband that will be transferred to the next athlete within the 20m long takeover zone. Scoring for the relay will be according to the finishing order.
Each nation can have up to three teams competing in the marathon race walk mixed relay in Antalya. The first 22 teams to finish will automatically qualify for the marathon race walk mixed relay at the Olympics in Paris. Up to five of those first 22 teams can be a second team from the same country.
In Antalya, the composition of each team and the competing order will be declared on the day of competition.
Entry lists for the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 were published on Thursday (11) and are available <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/antalya-24/news/press-releases/entry-lists-wrw-antalya-24-published" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
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Useful details ahead of the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24

Key info for WRW Antalya 24

Entry lists for the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 confirm that 431 athletes from 52 countries will descend on Turkiye for the global event on Sunday 21 April.
The entry lists can be downloaded here: <a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/6617b8e56c070960987c7029.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/6617b8e56c070960987c7029.pdf">Entries by event and season&rsquo;s best</a> <a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/6617b8fa6c070960987c702c.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/6617b8fa6c070960987c702c.pdf">Entries by country</a>
A total of 198 athletes (108 men, 90 women) are entered for the senior 20km races, while 106 athletes (56 men, 50 women) are set to compete in the U20 races.
The marathon race walk mixed relay makes its World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships debut in Antalya, with Paris 2024 Olympic Games places up for grabs. While the entries by country list features the names of athletes entered by each nation for the relay, athletes entered for other events in Antalya can also be included in the final composition of mixed relay teams.
China topped the medal table at the last edition of the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Muscat, Oman, in 2022, with a total of six gold medals.
Ma Zhenxia was among the winners two years ago and she is entered to defend her senior women&rsquo;s 20km title fresh from setting a PB of 1:26:07 at the Chinese Race Walking Grand Prix in Taicang on 3 March. Peru&rsquo;s double 2022 world champion Kimberly Garcia, who was third in Muscat, and Ecuador&rsquo;s Glenda Morejon, who won the 35km race in Muscat, are expected to provide tough opposition.
The fields are stacked and listed for the mixed relay alone are all three reigning Olympic race walk champions &ndash; Italy&rsquo;s Antonella Palmisano, Italy&rsquo;s Massimo Stano and Poland&rsquo;s Dawid Tomala &ndash; plus Spain&rsquo;s Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez, who both achieved a 20km and 35km race walk double at last year&rsquo;s World Championships in Budapest.
Tokyo Olympic medallists Lorena Arenas of Colombia, Evan Dunfee of Canada, Jonathan Hilbert of Germany, Koki Ikeda of Japan and Liu Hong of China are also among those listed, as are 2023 world medallists Caio Bonfim of Brazil, Masatora Kawano of Japan and Jemima Montag of Australia.
Sweden&rsquo;s four-time world medallist Perseus Karlstrom is entered for the senior men&rsquo;s 20km, two years on from winning the 35km title in Muscat. Bonfim is also listed for this event, along with Ecuador&rsquo;s world 35km silver medallist Brian Pintado, Germany&rsquo;s Christopher Linke, Japan&rsquo;s Ryo Hamanishi and Spain&rsquo;s Paul McGrath.
The host nation&rsquo;s squad features multiple world age group medallist Meryem Bekmez and world U20 champion Mazlum Demir.
China&rsquo;s Li Chenjie and Yang Xizhen lead the lists of entries for the U20 events.
The final start lists will be available on Saturday 20 April.
World Athletics

Entry lists for the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 confirm that 431 athletes from 52 countries will descend on Turkiye for the global event on Sunday 21 April

Entry lists for WRW Antalya 24 published

Polish race walking great Robert Korzeniowski has been announced as World Athletics ambassador for the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 taking place on 21 April.
Korzeniowski is a four-time Olympic gold medallist who also claimed three world titles and became a world record-breaker during his highly decorated career.
He now heads to the Turkish coastal city of Antalya where the current generation of race walk talent will compete for titles and Olympic places.
&ldquo;I am convinced that our Turkish hosts will delight us not only with their beautiful hospitality, but they will also show their excellent sports side,&rdquo; said Korzeniowski, who claimed 20km silver at the World Race Walking Cup in 2004.
After winning his first Olympic gold in the 50km race walk in Atlanta in 1996, Korzeniowski became the first athlete to successfully defend the title in Sydney four years later, also making history as the first athlete to win a 20km and 50km race walk double at the same Olympic Games.
He won his third consecutive Olympic 50km race walk title in Athens in 2004 and by that point he was the world record-holder, having clocked 3:36:03 to win his third world title in Paris in 2003 after getting gold in Athens in 1997 and Edmonton in 2001.
Having experienced great global success during his own career, Korzeniowski is looking forward to watching the world&rsquo;s best attempt to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Not only does the programme in Antalya include senior 20km races and U20 10km events, but it also features the marathon race walk mixed relay for the first time. Teams of one man and one woman will complete the marathon distance in legs of 12.195km (man), 10km (woman), 10km (man) and 10km (woman). The first 22 teams to finish in Antalya will automatically qualify for the marathon race walk mixed relay at the Olympics in Paris. Up to five of those first 22 teams can be a second team from the same country.
&ldquo;I am very curious how the mixed relays will proceed in terms of qualifying for the Olympics. This will be a very exciting and most important pre-Olympic test,&rdquo; said Korzeniowski. &ldquo;I believe that the marathon distance of the relay and its mixed nature perfectly fit into the new trends in athletics.
&ldquo;I am also waiting to see the U20 athletes in action, because they will be responsible for the Olympic future of walking in LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032.&rdquo;
Since his retirement from international competition, Korzeniowski has gone on to craft a successful career in broadcasting and business. He created the Robert Korzeniowski Foundation and organises world-class race walking meetings.
&ldquo;I must admit that instead of commentating on the relay, I would like to try my hand at it myself, for example with my sister Sylwia with whom I took part in the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004,&rdquo; Korzeniowski added.
&ldquo;Promoting walking as a healthy, lifelong activity and educating the next generations of sports walking champions is my life mission.&rdquo;
World Athletics

Polish race walking great Robert Korzeniowski has been announced as World Athletics ambassador for the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24

Korzeniowski announced as ambassador for WRW Antalya 24

Antonella Palmisano and Massimo Stano, the Olympic 20km race walk champions, will compete for Italy at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 on 21 April.
The two global gold medallists are part of a strong marathon race walk mixed relay squad for Italy, alongside 2023 European Team Championships winner Francesco Fortunato and Olympian Valentina Trapletti.
It&rsquo;s possible for countries to qualify two teams for the marathon race walk mixed relay at the Paris Olympics, and Italy will have high hopes of doing that in Antalya.
In the 20km races, the team includes 2019 world 50km bronze medallist Eleonora Giorgi and European U23 silver medallist Alexandrina Mihai in the women&rsquo;s race, plus Olympian Andrea Agrusti in the men&rsquo;s event.
European U20 medallists Giulia Gabriele and Giuseppe Disabato are named for the U20 10km events.
<h3>Italian team for Antalya</h3>
Women 20km: Nicole Colombi, Federica Curiazzi, Eleonora Dominici, Eleonora Giorgi, Alexandrina Mihai U20 10km: Michelle Canto, Serena Di Fabio, Giulia Gabriele
Men 20km: Andrea Agrusti, Michele Antonelli, Emiliano Brigante, Riccardo Orsoni, Gianluca Picchiottino U20 10km: Alessio Coppola, Andrea Di Carlo, Giuseppe Disabato
Mixed Team relay: Francesco Fortunato, Massimo Stano, Antonella Palmisano, Valentina Trapletti

Antonella Palmisano and Massimo Stano, the Olympic 20km race walk champions, will compete for Italy at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24

Olympic champions Palmisano and Stano lead Italian team for WRW Antalya 24

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More than 400 athletes from some 50 countries will compete at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24&nbsp;on&nbsp;21 April.
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The races will take place on a 2km loop course located close to the Antalya Expo Centre, with the start and finish area in front of the Expo 2016 Botanical Park.
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The competition holds extra significance this year, as it is a qualifying event for the marathon race walk mixed relay at the Paris Olympic Games.
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Teams book places for Paris at WRW Antalya 24

Trapletti and Fortunato win inaugural marathon mixed relay for Italy in Antalya

Karlstrom reigns again, taking 20km title in Antalya

Garcia gets gold, striding to 20km title in Antalya

Yang prevails over speedy Spaniards to win U20 women's 10km in Antalya