Kimberly Garcia leads from Alejandra Ortega in Brasilia (© World Athletics 
Oscar Munoz Badilla)
Peru’s Kimberly García produced a decisive mid-race break to take the women’s half marathon title at the Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26, winning in 1:35:00 after a prolonged head-to-head battle with Mexico’s Alejandra Ortega.
In what proved to be one of the most compelling contests of the weekend – both individually and in the team standings – García and Ortega were locked together for much of the race before the Peruvian pulled clear just before 15km and maintained her advantage to the finish.
García, the double world champion in 2022, adds this title to her victory over 20km at the 2024 edition as the championships transition to the new standard race-walking distanes.
The early stages quickly developed into a two-athlete contest. By 4km (17:50), García and Ortega had forged a gap on Peru’s Evelyn Inga, and by 5km (22:16) their advantage had extended to 13 seconds. Despite receiving a second red card at 6km, Ortega held firm alongside García as the pair steadily increased their lead.
The lead duo’s advantage grew to 43 seconds at 8km while the chase group, led by Inga, Italy’s Nicole Colombi and Ukraine’s Lyudmila Olyanovska, began to fragment behind them.
By 10km (44:35), Colombi had moved into third on her own, with Australia’s Elizabeth McMillen advancing into fourth, but the leading duo remained almost 50 seconds clear. García and Ortega continued to dictate the pace through 14km (1:02:39), their margin stretching beyond one minute.
Further back, the race for the minor medals began to take shape. Spain’s Aldara Meilán and Sofía Santacreu – the U20 silver and bronze medallists from 2024 – started to close on the leaders.
The decisive moment came shortly before 15km, when García injected a surge that Ortega could not match and she continued to pull ahead over the following kilometres.
At 16km (1:11:34), Ortega trailed by 31 seconds, while Santacreu had moved into third, just four seconds ahead of Meilán, with Inga and Colombi slipping to fifth and sixth. At that stage, Spain had moved into pole position in the team standings.
García’s lead reached its maximum at 18km (1:20:44), where she was 42 seconds clear, but the closing stages saw the dynamics shift behind her. Ortega remained secure in second, while Meilán and Santacreu produced the fastest closing kilometres of the leading group to reel in the gap ahead.
While the Spanish duo continued to close on Ortega, Ukraine were also packing well and regained the lead in the team standings with just two kilometres to go.
García, meanwhile, maintained control through to the finish, crossing the line in 1:35:00. Ortega held on for silver in 1:35:21, by far her best ever performance on the global stage, while Meilán secured bronze in 1:35:58 after moving clear of Santacreu, who finished fourth in 1:36:02.
Further back, Ukraine’s Hanna Shevchuk placed seventh in 1:37:39, and with three athletes finishing inside the top 10, Ukraine claimed the team title with 25 points. Spain took silver with 28, while Australia secured bronze with 30. With just five points separating the top three nations, it was the closest team competition of the weekend.
“I want to dedicate this win to all Peruvians," said García, who trains with Paula Torres, winner of the marathon at these championships.
“We have a strong tradition of race walking in South America, from Érica Sena, Glenda Morejón and Daniel Pintado to athletes like Paula coming through now. It’s encouraging to see the discipline growing across the region.
“An athlete’s trajectory is never straightforward," added García, who owns three World Championship medals but is yet to reach an Olympic podium. "I’ve had my ups and downs, but I’m here again. I have the same drive and I’m looking forward to my next goals. This is a stepping stone towards the Olympic Games. My childhood Olympic dream is still alive.”
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics
| WOMEN'S HALF MARATHON INDIVIDUAL RESULTS | ||
| 🥇 | Kimberly Garcia (PER) | 1:35:00 |
| 🥈 | Alejandra Ortega (MEX) | 1:35:21 |
| 🥉 | Aldara Meilan (ESP) | 1:35:38 |
| 4 | Sofia Santacreu (ESP) | 1:36:02 |
| 5 | Rebecca Henderson (AUS) | 1:37:05 |
| Full results | ||
| WOMEN'S HALF MARATHON TEAM RESULTS | ||
| 🥇 | Ukraine | 25 |
| 🥈 | Spain | 28 |
| 🥉 | Australia | 30 |
| Full results | ||
