Spanish race walker Sofia Santacreu (© Getty Images)
Chinese U20 women have achieved 1-2 finishes at three of the past four editions, so it wouldn’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’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.
Like the Chinese trio, Spain’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’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 – which Santacreu missed through injury – 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 Díaz, 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 – along with teammate Griselda Serret, who has a PB of 46:13 – 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
