Maria Perez and Alvaro Martin at the World Championships in Budapest (© AFP / Getty Images)
Race walking takes a literal step into the unknown with the first marathon mixed relay at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24 on Sunday (21).
There have been experimental races in various countries as race walkers gear up to its inclusion at the Olympics in Paris, but this will be the first time in a major championship. And it seems there is no lack of enthusiasm for a brave new world.
Three Olympic champions – Italian duo Antonella Palmisano and Massimo Stano, plus Poland’s Dawid Tomala – along with double world champions Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez of Spain have all put their names down.
Olympic medallists Lorena Arenas of Colombia, Evan Dunfee of Canada, Jonathan Hilbert of Germany, Koki Ikeda of Japan and Liu Hong of China as well as 2023 world medallists Caio Bonfim of Brazil, Masatora Kawano of Japan and Jemima Montag of Australia are also dipping a toe into relay waters.
The format is two athletes, a man and a woman, cover the distance alternating as follows: 12.195km for the man, 10km for the woman, 10km for the man, and a final 10km for the woman to the finish line.
In short, it’s man, woman, man, woman exchanging a wrist band within a 20-metre long takeover zone.
One of the favourites, Spain, has named their entire group of relay race walkers which include Martin, Perez, Laura Garcia-Caro, Alberto Amezcua, Miguel Angel Lopez, and Cristina Montesinos.
Minus Perez, Spain was out in force racing the new concept in Valencia on 3 March. The relay was won by Martin and Garcia-Caro, which was no great shock, but whether Perez becomes Martin’s new partner has yet to be decided.
The real purpose of the Valencia race was to find the best way to repeat same in Antalya, and later at the Olympics.
As posted by the Spanish federation: “How does a human body deal with stop-and-go? What should athletes do during the approximate 40 minutes they have to stop while their partner walks?”
The immediate answer was to collect pin prick blood samples mid race, as well as keeping the likes of Martin readied at race pace using resistance bands to bring him up to speed for a third leg.
The repeating athlete needs to literally hit the ground running, or rather race walking, but can’t afford to venture far from the handover zone while doing it. On top of which, they can only build up that readiness towards the end of their partner’s leg.
In effect, the balancing act is to keep active for fear of stiffening up without tiring oneself for the racing part. Measuring hydration and glucose levels and how to maintain what’s needed without overdoing is apparently just as important.
All data has been analysed at the sports department within the university in Murcia to further Spain’s chances of optimum performance.
In terms of current world performances, Spain is headed by Ecuador.
The combination of world 35km silver medallist Brian Pintado and Glenda Morejon, the 35km winner at the last edition of these championships, won in 2:56:49 at the 2023 Pan American Games.
However, both are also down to contest the individual 20km races in Antalya, which take place just before the relay.
The Martin-Garcia-Caro pairing follows in 2:57:04, who in turn head teammates Paul McGrath and Montesinos, López and Antia Chamosa, plus Amezcua and Mar Juarez – and less than two minutes between the lot.
China is the first country from Asia to feature on the current relay rankings in sixth place. Wang Kaihua and Yang Jiayu clocked 2:59:09 at the Modugno Race Walk Relay in Italy.
Italy’s Olympic champions Stano and Palmisano are one place further back, also one place behind the Chinese in Modugno, finishing in 2:59:30. On paper, this duet should provide the biggest challenge to Spain.
Italy also has the luxury of Francisco Fortunato and Valentina Trapletti – who have respective PBs of 1:18:59 and 1:29:47 – as back-up.
Australia and Brazil should also be in contention. Factor in Montag off the back of a 1:27:09 PB in February and one from Rhydian Cowley, Kyle Swan, Will Thompson, or Declan Tingay, and the yellow-and-green vests will mix it with the best.
If Brazil pairs Bonfim with either Viviane Lyra or Erica Sena, enjoying a renaissance two weeks shy of her 39th birthday, they too will be at the sharp end.
The addition of China – who will be fielding world 20km record-holder Yang – will make it five very good teams battling for three podium places.
The next ranked countries are Mexico (3:03:18), Portugal (3:10:50), USA (3:13:27), Greece (3:18:38), Croatia (3:34:02), Czech Republic (3:42:04) and hosts Türkiye (4:24:44).
A further 27 countries have also declared entries for the first marathon race walk mixed relay at the World Race Walking Team Championships.
Event ambassador Robert Korzeniowski will be one of many very interested spectators. The four-time Olympic champion and world record-breaker is ready to embrace the innovation.
“I am very curious how the mixed relays will proceed in terms of qualifying for the Olympics,” said the Polish race walks legend. “This will be a very exciting and most important pre-Olympic test, and I believe that the marathon distance of the relay and its mixed nature perfectly fit into the new trends in athletics.
“I must admit that instead of commentating on the relay, I would like to try my hand at it myself, for example with my sister Sylwia with whom I took part in the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.”
The final team declarations will be made nearer to the time of the race.
Paul Warburton for World Athletics
