Jiang Yunyan wins the U20 women's race in Muscat (© Getty Images)
A swift ninth kilometre proved decisive for Jiang Yunyan as she strode to victory in the U20 women's 10km on Friday (4) at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Muscat 22.
A few minutes before the race got under way, the competitors observed a ‘Moment for Ukraine’ with athletes from several nations holding up the Ukrainian flag, while World Athletics President Sebastian Coe laid down a bouquet of blue and gold flowers. Valeriya Sholomitska, the sole Ukrainian entrant in Muscat, shed a few tears but maintained her composure as she took to the start line.
With temperatures hovering around 21C, the race set off at a steady pace with the first kilometre covered in 5:07 as athletes tried to get a feel for the course. The two-kilometre loop, one of the more challenging circuits used at the World Race Walking Team Championships, has a 27-metre difference between the highest and lowest points.
Sholomitska took the lead in the second kilometre, which was covered in 4:50, then China’s Jiang Jinyan, the fastest U20 race walker in the world this year, took over in pole position, thanks to a 4:45 third kilometre.
That pace was maintained in the fourth kilometre as the lead pack of 12 was reduced to seven. At half way, reached in 24:10, Sholomitska fronted a lead pack of five that included Jiang Jinyan, Jiang Yunyan, Finland’s Heta Veikkola and Australia’s Olivia Sandery.
They remained together for another lap, then Jiang and Jiang put in a 4:39 kilometre which broke up the lead group. Veikkola coped best with the Chinese duo’s pace while Sandery and Sholomitska trailed further back.
On the final lap, Jiang Yunyan ramped up the pace and broke away from her teammate, thanks to a 4:22 eighth kilometre. Veikkola edged into second place for a brief moment, but Jiang Jinyan came back in the closing stages to regain the runner-up spot. Jiang Yunyan was away and clear in the lead, though, and crossed the finish line in 47:48.
Jiang Jinyan took second place in 48:03 and Veikkola placed third in 48:11. Sholomitska came through to take fourth place in 48:53, eight seconds ahead of Sandery.
“I’m really thankful for the opportunity to compete at these championships,” said Jiang, who is the third Chinese athlete in a row to win the U20 women’s race at this event. “The weather is hot and the course was tough, but I’m pleased to finish the race with my teammates.”
With three athletes in the top six, China won the team title. Australia took second place in the team standings, while Spain earned bronze.
Sholomitska may have finished outside the top three, but simply reaching the startline was a huge accomplishment for all involved.
"I’m very happy to make it to this championship," said the 17-year-old Ukrainian. "The situation in my home country at the moment is very difficult and many people have died. We just want peace."
Olena Borysyuk, the team coach for Ukraine, echoed Sholomitska's sentiments.
"Coming here is a moment of glory for our country," said Borysyuk, who travelled with Sholomitska via Antalya. "Ukrainians are nice and great people; we have good hearts. We are not bad people. All we want is peace. What’s happening at the moment is not normal. My mother is from Russia, my father is from Ukraine. I just want peace, I don’t want war. We’re very thankful to make it to these championships."
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics
| LEADING RESULTS | ||
| 1 | Jiang Yunyan 🇨🇳 CHN | 47:48 SB |
| 2 | Jiang Jinyan 🇨🇳 CHN | 48:03 SB |
| 3 | Heta Veikkola 🇫🇮 FIN | 48:11 SB |
| Full results | ||
