Olive Loughnane of Ireland celebrates winning the silver medal in the women's 20km Race Walk (© Getty Images)
All roads lead to Beijing for the final of the IAAF Race Walking Challenge on 18 September.
For the second time in two years, the Chinese capital gets the honour of playing host to one of the great sporting occasions in a competition streamlined to make sure the word’s top walkers go to head-to-head for a whacking great pay-day.
Not only do a pair of $30,000 cheques await the respective winners in Beijing, but there is money to be made in qualifying competitions along the way.
And if a walker was canny enough to tailor their season accordingly, a World Cup win in Chihuahua, Mexico on May 15/16, together with a Category B certified race and the final on top, would see that superstar walk off – albeit stiffly – with $62,000.
But there will be changes in 2010 – and not just in the generosity of the prize fund.
The women’s event will most certainly see a new champion as Kjersti Platzer won’t be defending her title after the Norwegian champion retired at the IAAF World Championships last August.
Ever-present Claudia Stef, fourth last year, is expecting a baby, and Susana Feitor, who made sixth in 2009, and was the Final winner in 2008, has broken her arm.
A chunk of wood did for the Portuguese’s immediate plans after she tripped over it running in the woods near her home towards the end of last month.
The former World Championships bronze medallist celebrated her 35th birthday with her arm in a sling, and admits she might have to play catch-up in order to join the Challenge fray.
She said: “Patience is my favourite word right now – and it doesn’t look as if I’ll make the Portuguese national championships on February 21.
“But I intend to try and have a go for Rio Maior Challenge in April. I’ve always done the same races each year – and as I get older, I can only really race properly maybe four or five times a year – so I have to choose carefully.
“But there may be a decision to be made between the La Coruna Challenge and the World Walking Cup. One comes too early, or the other one comes too soon afterwards depending on how you see it.”
But if Feitor has problems, there is a battle royale predicted between the other Portuguese women after Vera Santos and Ines Henriques finished seventh and eighth in 2009.
Throw into the mix Ana Cabecinha, who missed last year with a string of injuries – and as Feitor put it – someone in the talented quartet is going to miss out when it comes to the European Championships in Barcelona this summer.
She added: “There’s only three places, so the Challenge will be particularly hard-fought amongst ourselves.”
Feitor’s not the only one who isn’t sure of her programme.
Olive Loughnane wants seconds in all senses of the word, but isn’t sure how she’s going to get them.
The Irishwoman had the season of her life after claiming runner’s-up spot in the 2009 Challenge as well as storming to silver through the Brandenburg Gate at the IAAF World Championships.
For all her success in Berlin, the triumph has seen the 34-year-old find it necessary to change coaches from Montse Pastor Martine to Stephan Platzer.
Team Platzer, as its known, looks set to take over Flagstaff, Arizona when Loughnane and the athletes looked after by the husband of Kjersti arrive later this month for altitude training.
Loughnane thought she had a programme – but is set to revise her plans after discussions with her new mentor.
She said: “For me, this is a year of consolidation. And I will be supporting the Challenge – I always have, even when I’ve not been able to do certain races.
“I think with the new rules it could entice some of the nations like the Russians and Chinese to participate in a few more events.
“I mean, if you’re going to hold the final in Beijing, it could be decided by one of the hosts, maybe.”
Talking of Team Platzer, the coach’s brother-in-law and new family should fill a condo in the American training camp all by themselves.
After claiming second, fourth and a fifth places in successive years, there has been no better devotee of the Challenge than Erik Tysse.
But even though the Norwegian was in the running for the prize money at the final in Saransk, Russia last September – it also coincided with the birth of his first child, a son, Andrias.
“To miss out on a prize in Saransk was a small price to pay to be at the birth of my child,” said the walker fifth over the line in the Beijing Olympic 50k.
But towing wife Kristin, both parents-in-law, and Andrias to Flagstaff, Tysse fancies his chances of getting back in the top five.
He added: “I’ve done more endurance work early and less speed preparation, because I plan to peak a little later.”
But Tysse is shrewd enough to know that the current Challenge holder is the odds-on favourite for a second title.
Eder Sanchez upheld his country’s strong tradition in heel-and-toe when the Mexican topped the rankings after the final last September.
And far from running for cover, the 23-year-old took on Australia’s best in Hobart last weekend for the first of the new ‘C’ category Challenge permit races to test how well his winter preparation has gone. Sanchez was disqualified on the final lap in Hobart when in a solid runner-up position.
“I’ve been training for two weeks at the AIS centre in Canberra,” Sanchez said before the race, “because right now I’m concentrating on endurance work rather than speed – and here at the AIS they have very good roads for that.
But if it’s not him at the top of the podium in Beijing, Sanchez is not exactly the best person to ask for a hot tip.
“The biggest rivals?” he said. “There are many. The Russians, Italians, the Australians, as I’ve said. Maybe even the Colombians.
“And if the Russians and Chinese come in force that will truly be a test for everyone else.”
Paul Warburton for the IAAF
For the second time in two years, the Chinese capital gets the honour of playing host to one of the great sporting occasions in a competition streamlined to make sure the word’s top walkers go to head-to-head for a whacking great pay-day.
Not only do a pair of $30,000 cheques await the respective winners in Beijing, but there is money to be made in qualifying competitions along the way.
And if a walker was canny enough to tailor their season accordingly, a World Cup win in Chihuahua, Mexico on May 15/16, together with a Category B certified race and the final on top, would see that superstar walk off – albeit stiffly – with $62,000.
But there will be changes in 2010 – and not just in the generosity of the prize fund.
The women’s event will most certainly see a new champion as Kjersti Platzer won’t be defending her title after the Norwegian champion retired at the IAAF World Championships last August.
Ever-present Claudia Stef, fourth last year, is expecting a baby, and Susana Feitor, who made sixth in 2009, and was the Final winner in 2008, has broken her arm.
A chunk of wood did for the Portuguese’s immediate plans after she tripped over it running in the woods near her home towards the end of last month.
The former World Championships bronze medallist celebrated her 35th birthday with her arm in a sling, and admits she might have to play catch-up in order to join the Challenge fray.
She said: “Patience is my favourite word right now – and it doesn’t look as if I’ll make the Portuguese national championships on February 21.
“But I intend to try and have a go for Rio Maior Challenge in April. I’ve always done the same races each year – and as I get older, I can only really race properly maybe four or five times a year – so I have to choose carefully.
“But there may be a decision to be made between the La Coruna Challenge and the World Walking Cup. One comes too early, or the other one comes too soon afterwards depending on how you see it.”
But if Feitor has problems, there is a battle royale predicted between the other Portuguese women after Vera Santos and Ines Henriques finished seventh and eighth in 2009.
Throw into the mix Ana Cabecinha, who missed last year with a string of injuries – and as Feitor put it – someone in the talented quartet is going to miss out when it comes to the European Championships in Barcelona this summer.
She added: “There’s only three places, so the Challenge will be particularly hard-fought amongst ourselves.”
Feitor’s not the only one who isn’t sure of her programme.
Olive Loughnane wants seconds in all senses of the word, but isn’t sure how she’s going to get them.
The Irishwoman had the season of her life after claiming runner’s-up spot in the 2009 Challenge as well as storming to silver through the Brandenburg Gate at the IAAF World Championships.
For all her success in Berlin, the triumph has seen the 34-year-old find it necessary to change coaches from Montse Pastor Martine to Stephan Platzer.
Team Platzer, as its known, looks set to take over Flagstaff, Arizona when Loughnane and the athletes looked after by the husband of Kjersti arrive later this month for altitude training.
Loughnane thought she had a programme – but is set to revise her plans after discussions with her new mentor.
She said: “For me, this is a year of consolidation. And I will be supporting the Challenge – I always have, even when I’ve not been able to do certain races.
“I think with the new rules it could entice some of the nations like the Russians and Chinese to participate in a few more events.
“I mean, if you’re going to hold the final in Beijing, it could be decided by one of the hosts, maybe.”
Talking of Team Platzer, the coach’s brother-in-law and new family should fill a condo in the American training camp all by themselves.
After claiming second, fourth and a fifth places in successive years, there has been no better devotee of the Challenge than Erik Tysse.
But even though the Norwegian was in the running for the prize money at the final in Saransk, Russia last September – it also coincided with the birth of his first child, a son, Andrias.
“To miss out on a prize in Saransk was a small price to pay to be at the birth of my child,” said the walker fifth over the line in the Beijing Olympic 50k.
But towing wife Kristin, both parents-in-law, and Andrias to Flagstaff, Tysse fancies his chances of getting back in the top five.
He added: “I’ve done more endurance work early and less speed preparation, because I plan to peak a little later.”
But Tysse is shrewd enough to know that the current Challenge holder is the odds-on favourite for a second title.
Eder Sanchez upheld his country’s strong tradition in heel-and-toe when the Mexican topped the rankings after the final last September.
And far from running for cover, the 23-year-old took on Australia’s best in Hobart last weekend for the first of the new ‘C’ category Challenge permit races to test how well his winter preparation has gone. Sanchez was disqualified on the final lap in Hobart when in a solid runner-up position.
“I’ve been training for two weeks at the AIS centre in Canberra,” Sanchez said before the race, “because right now I’m concentrating on endurance work rather than speed – and here at the AIS they have very good roads for that.
But if it’s not him at the top of the podium in Beijing, Sanchez is not exactly the best person to ask for a hot tip.
“The biggest rivals?” he said. “There are many. The Russians, Italians, the Australians, as I’ve said. Maybe even the Colombians.
“And if the Russians and Chinese come in force that will truly be a test for everyone else.”
Paul Warburton for the IAAF