|
Dublin GP of Race Walking
12 July 2003
Ireland's World Record Holder
Gillian O’Sullivan and Italy’s 1995 World 20km Champion Michele
Didoni announced their very serious medal intentions for next
month's World Championships in Paris with stunning performances in
unseasonal Mediterranean type weather in the Dublin Grand Prix of
Race Walking today (Saturday).
O’Sullivan, who in the process won her fifth successive Irish title
took the lead straight from the gun and had Ireland’s Olive
Loughnane, Turkey’s Yeliz Ay and German Andrea Meloni for company
for the first two kilometres reached in 8.50.
Thereafter, O’Sullivan found herself alone defying the warm
temperatures to win the event in 1.29.22, her fourth sub 1.30
performance in 2003.
“I’m delighted with that performance and as I’m back in very heavy
training for Paris it is very satisfying to break 1.30 again this
year, particularly on tired legs”
For Loughnane, whose sister Ann had earlier this week won Irelands
first ever major Championship walking medal when taking silver at
the IAAF World Youth Championships in Sherbroke, there was the
forced withdrawal of the race at 4km due to a knee injury.
The Italian Sports daily La Gazetta Del Sport had billed the 20km as
D-Day in Dublin and they were not wrong as Didoni and 1999 World
50km Champion Ivano Brugnetti had been given an ultimatum by their
federation FIDAL — winner takes all and gains the third Italian
place for next month's World Championships.
The first 2km was walked in a scorching 7.50 and the second even
faster before a hamstring injury forced Brugnetti’s withdrawal
leaving Didoni alone at the front of the field looking as strong as
he has since he won the world title in 1995.
After reaching halfway in 40.30 he visibly eased off and left the
large crowd of onlooker in no doubt that he will once again be a
serious contender in Paris.
Spain's David Sanchez took the 50km after reaching halfway in
1.58.57, in 7th position.
20km Walk Men
1 Michele Didoni Italy 1.21.44
2 Andre Hohne Germany 1.22.30
3 Maik Berger Germany 1.23.49
4 Theodoros Stamatopoulos Greece 1.27.04
5 Birger Falt Sweden 1.27.27
6 Jamie Costin West Waterford AC 1.28.46
7 Walid El Sabahi Qatar 1.30.17
8 David Kidd S.L.O.T 1.37.43
9 Pat Ryan Mullingar Harriers 1.38.53
10 Nathan Adams England 1.42.31
11 Peter Kaneen Isle of Man 1.43.01
12 Neil Bates Isle of Man 1.49.43
13 Alan Callow Isle of Man 1.52.13
14 Ronan Griffin Ballinamore AC 1.57.44
15 Aidan Walshe Limerick 2.10.36
15 Sean Pender Kilmurray/Ibrikane 2.26.24
Jan Albrecht Germany DNF
Peter Domjan Hungary DNF
Mike Smith England DNF
Ivano Brugnetti Italy DNF
Gianluca Trombetti Italy DNF
Ben Shorey USA DNF
Trond Nymark Norway DNF
20km Walk Women
1 Gillian O’Sullivan Faranfore / Maine Valley
1.29.22
2 Yeliz Ay Turkey 1.38.29 NR
3 Estle Viljoen South Africa 1.42.14
4 Marie Latham Isle of Man 1.55.29
5 Georgina Tuohey Tullamore Harriers 1.56.41
Olive Loughnane Loughrea DNF
Andrea Meloni Germany DNF
Bridget Kaneen Isle of Man DNF
50km Walk Men
1 David Sanchez Ferrer Spain 4.01.58
2 Robert Tubak Hungary 4.18.25
3 Rodrigo Dominguez Fernandez Spain 4.19.53
4 Hirofumi Tadamasa Japan 4.24.42
5 Kenji Katsurayama Japan 4.41.50
Marek Janek Slovakia DNF
Denis Trautmann Germany DNF
Jacob Sorensen Denmark DNF
Zoltan Czukor Hungary DNF
Andi Drake Coventry Godiva, England DNF
Alessandro Mistretta Italy DNF
Jani Lehtinen Finland DNF
Andreas Gustaffson Sweden DNF
Full Results of all
Events
|