Sanchez and Garcia in Tijuana showdown (© Tizoc Santibanez for the IAAF)
German Sanchez gave Mexico a much-awaited win in the 50km race and booked his trip to the Olympic Games in Athens, as the first leg of the 2004 Race Walking Challenge successfully ended on Sunday in this north-western city on the Mexican-US border.
Sanchez, who had been in the world elite for over a decade, made an impressive late surge in the last 10km to walk past Spain's 2003 winner and No. 1 favourite Jesus Angel Garcia to take the victory in 3:48:11, the first for Mexico in the Challenge, after covering the 25-lap course on the Paseo de los Heroes avenue.
Garcia (3:48:25) and Mexico's debutant Mario Flores (3:49:07) and 1997 World championships bronze medallist Miguel Angel Rodriguez (3:49:43) followed in second, third and fourth, respectively.
Thanks to their performance on Sunday, Flores and Rodriguez also earned their slot in the Mexican team to Athens.
Under a cool temperature in Tijuana, Sanchez took an early lead in the first kilometre, but he let a 20-man pack join him and nearly the whole group stayed together for approximately two hours.
At that point, Mario Ivan Flores an Rogelio Sanchez moved up front, but the latter made a solo break to take the lead before the 27km mark.
His advantage increased to 51 seconds at the 38km mark, but he would eventually fade in the last 10km.
German Sanchez preferred to set his own pace and he was even out of the top eight at the 35km mark. He started to move up through the field and improved to sixth place with 10 kilometres to go.
As Rogelio Sanchez dropped back, Flores moved to the front at the 43km mark, but he could not hold Sanchez and Garcia's pace. This duo walked past him with less than four kilometres to go.
The eventual winner, nicknamed ‘Toluco’ in Mexico, took the decisive lead with less than three kilometres to the finish line, setting a blistering pace and keeping his Spanish rival a few meters behind. His last 10km split was timed in 45:40.
"Our main aim today was to go under four hours and finish among the top three Mexicans to make the Olympic team. The start was a bit slow as the weather was humid. I just followed my strategy to attack at the right time. I think we did a very intelligent race with Jesus and Ivan", added Sanchez, who was warmly hugged by his one-year old daughter Regina and congratulated by his wife Citlali Sainz.
"I am happy and I want to dedicate this win to my daughter and my wife, who accompanied me here, as well as those people close to me and my working group, including my coach Jersy Hausleber". He also thanked the thousands of spectators who supported the athletes along the course this weekend.
With Athens in mind, Sanchez believes the qualified trio can start a harder training "if we want to achieve a good result. Race walking has always given good results to Mexico and we will not disappoint our country". He could join an exclusive group of Mexicans who have taken part in four Olympic Games. He finished 18th in 1996 and was disqualified in 1992 and 2000.
"I have not performed well in the Olympics. I am conscious I have a great commitment coming up. We will do our best and represent our country with dignity. I want to improve my 12th place in Paris (at the 2003 World Championships) and I know I have to go under 3:45 to be in the top eight in Athens", he continued.
The 36-year old from Zinancantepec was third at the 1993 World Cup in Monterrey. He has participated in three Olympic Games, three World Championships and three World Cups, always in the 50km. He clocked his third best time ever in the distance, only slower than his 3:44:50 personal best in 2001 and a 3:48:06 in 2000. He returned to competition in 2000 after serving a 2-year old drugs ban.
He also claimed the 2003 Pan American title in Santo Domingo and was third last year in Tijuana.
Jesus Angel Garcia is also aiming at an Olympic medal, "the only major award missing in my pedigree". He was 10th in Barcelona'92 and 12th in Sydney 2000. He did not finish in Atlanta ‘96.
Garcia, the youngest man to win a 50km global title, at the age of 23 in Stuttgart ‘93, still holds the Tijuana course record (3:46:46) from his last year win.
The 34-year old Spaniard was welcomed and hugged by Sanchez. "Mexicans are the main protagonists here", said the Spaniard after congratulating the winner.
Flores, 25, made a great 50km debut, after a low par 2003 season in the 20km. "I always wanted to compete for Mexico in the Olympics and thank God I made it. I also want to thank (race walker) Mario Solis, the person who trust me and supported me, as well as my family and daughter".
"Now I will do my best in the Olympics. I trained hard for this 50km race. I felt strong and this performance gave me great confidence towards another positive result", he stated.
Only 17 athletes completed the distance, of nearly 50 athletes from 10 countries who started the race at 6.00 a.m. local time.
Notable DNF's included Guatemala's Pan American bronze medallist Luis Garcia. His compatriot Julio Martinez, who set the 20km world best (1:17:46) in 1999, was disqualified.
The 2004 results were much better than last year. Only two men were under four hours in 2003, compared to nine on Sunday. 2001 Edmonton World Championships Edgar Hernandez finished 10th in 4:01:47 and will be left out of the Mexican Olympic squad.
Canada's Tim Berrett (3:50:20) and Mexico's Claudio Erasmo Vargas (3:51:34) and Rogelio Sanchez (3:51:40) also bettered their personal bests.
On Saturday, Ecuador's world champion Jefferson Perez and Italy's Elisa Rigaudo took the 20km titles.
Based on a two-year experience organising a Challenge stage and the people's enthusiasm in race walking, Tijuana authorities have ambitions to host the IAAF World Cup in the near future, confirming the city's interest in this discipline. Mexico already hosted the event in 1993 (Monterrey).
The second stop on the Race Walking Challenge will be Rio Major, Portugal, on 3 April, the final tune-up prior to the 21st IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Naumburg, Germany, May 1-2.
