Francesco Fortunato wins in Brasilia (© World Athletics 
Thiago Diz)
Francesco Fortunato produced a decisive late surge to win the men’s half marathon at the Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26 on Sunday (12), clocking 1:27:25 in one of the most competitive and unpredictable races of the weekend.
The race was anticipated to be one of the highlights of the programme and it more than delivered. A large lead pack remained intact deep into the latter stages with the lead changing hands repeatedly throughout before Fortunato made his move with less than a kilometre to go.
Fortunato’s victory carries added historical significance. The last Italian man to win at the World Race Walking Team Championships was Abdon Pamich, who won the very first race – the 50km – at the inaugural edition back in 1961.
More than six decades on, Fortunato becomes just the second Italian man to win as the championships usher in a new era with revised standard distances.
The early stages set the tone for what would become a fiercely contested race. Brazil’s home favourite Caio Bonfim – the world 20km champion – led a sizeable pack through 5km in 21:13, with two-time world champion and world record-holder Toshikazu Yamanishi among those tracking closely.
By 10km, reached in 42:20, more than 20 athletes were still in contention at the front. That number had reduced only slightly to 17 by 12km (50:33), with Bonfim continuing to dictate the pace.
The tempo began to lift as the race progressed, with splits of 58:48 at 14km, 1:02:55 at 15km and 1:07:03 at 16km, by which point the lead group had thinned to 10. Among those still in contention were Japan’s Yamanishi and Tomohiro Noda, Spain’s Diego García Carrera and Japan’s Kento Yoshikawa, while Australia’s Declan Tingay began to lose contact.
A decisive phase unfolded over the next few kilometres. At 17km (1:11:14), Fortunato moved to the front and increased the pace, stretching the field. By 18km (1:15:21), the lead pack had reduced to seven, with Ethiopia’s Misgana Wakuma positioning himself between Bonfim and Yamanishi.
The race broke apart definitively at 19km (1:19:23), when Bonfim, Wakuma and Fortunato surged clear to form a lead trio. Bonfim continued to lead through 20km in 1:23:21, but the decisive move came shortly after.
With the clock approaching 1:25, Fortunato unleashed a powerful burst, immediately opening a gap on his two remaining rivals. The European bronze medallist covered the final kilometre in 3:42 – the fastest of the race – and crossed the line a clear winner in 1:27:25.
Wakuma held on strongly to secure second place in 1:27:33, the highest finish ever by an African athlete at these championships, while Bonfim completed the podium in 1:27:36 to the delight of the home crowd.
Germany’s Leo Kopp finished strongly to take fourth in 1:27:50, with Yoshikawa the leading Japanese finisher in fifth. Yamanishi and Noda placed seventh and eighth respectively, ensuring Japan regained the team title they last won in 2018.
Spain, led by García Carrera, claimed team silver, while China returned to the podium with bronze after missing out in 2024.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics
| MEN'S HALF MARATHON INDIVIDUAL RESULTS | ||
| 🥇 | Francesco Fortunato (ITA) | 1:27:25 |
| 🥈 | Misgana Wakuma (ETH) | 1:27:33 |
| 🥉 | Caio Bonfim (BRA) | 1:27:36 |
| 4 | Leo Kopp (GER) | 1:27:50 |
| 5 | Kento Yoshikawa (JPN) | 1:28:00 |
| Full results | ||
| MEN'S HALF MARATHON TEAM RESULTS | ||
| 🥇 | Japan | 20 |
| 🥈 | Spain | 39 |
| 🥉 | China | 51 |
| Full results | ||
