Kimberly Garcia on her way to the 20km title at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 (© Sergio Mateo)
There is a sense of the unknown heading into the women’s half marathon at the Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26, as the new senior distance makes its championship debut in the Brazilian capital on Sunday (12).
With 74 athletes from 28 federations set to take on the one-kilometre loop course, the race not only marks the first time this competition is staged in South America and the Southern Hemisphere, but also offers an early indication of which athletes are adapting quickest to the slightly longer distance.
Among those leading the entries is Peru’s Kimberly García, the double world champion from 2022 and winner of the 20km at these championships in 2024. García has made a strong start to 2026, setting a personal best of 1:34:17 at the Dudinská 50 in March, where she finished second. She arrives in Brasília as a clear medal contender.
Another Peruvian to watch is Evelyn Inga, who achieved a surprise victory in Dudince with a personal and South American best of 1:33:49. With the top three finishers from each nation counting towards the team result, Peru will also have their sights set on the team title after missing out on countback in 2024.
China, winners of the team title two years ago, once again fields formidable depth. Ji Haiying leads the entries with her 1:32:22 clocking in Taicang in March, and is closely followed by compatriots Guo Na (1:32:24) and Dou Maocuo (1:32:27). With five of the six fastest entrants, China’s collective strength makes them strong favourites in the team standings.
Spain’s Antía Chamosa is another athlete in form. The 26-year-old won the Spanish title earlier this year with a PB of 1:33:45. She has demonstrated steady progression in recent years, placing seventh over 20km at least year’s World Championships, and will look to carry that consistency into the new distance.
Poland’s Katarzyna Zdziebło, double world silver medallist in 2022, brings significant championship experience. She has not yet registered a mark for the half marathon distance, but her ability to deliver in tactical championship races makes her a serious contender.
Australia will be led by Rebecca Henderson, who claimed the national title with a personal best of 1:32:25 just weeks ago, making her one of the fastest women in the field. Teammate Olivia Sandery, second at those championships in 1:34:09, adds further depth and could play an important role in both the individual and team contests.
Other athletes to watch include Mexico’s Alejandra Ortega, who finished third in Dudince, and France’s Pauline Stey, 10th in the world rankings. Still relatively new to the global stage, she has shown the ability to compete with more established names and will be aiming to break into the leading group.
Italy’s Nicole Colombi has entered both the half marathon and marathon race walk events but has yet to decide which distance she will contest.
Notably absent from the field are Spain’s double world champion María Pérez and Italy’s 2021 Olympic champion Antonella Palmisano, leaving the door open for new names to step on to the podium over the newly established distance.
Annika Saunus for World Athletics