International athletics circuit event set for Hobart


01 Feb 2010

A collection of the world best race walkers will head to Hobart next weekend, for the opening of the 2010 International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) Race Walking Challenge.

The 11 race series has never ventured to the southern hemisphere, since it began in 2003, but thanks to the depth of racewalking in Australia and Tasmania's reputation for hosting events, some of the world's best will be hitting the streets of Hobart.

The 20km races (for both men and women) will not only be the Australian Championships, it will also double as the Australian selection trial for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The 2010 Hobart 20km Australian Race Walking Championships has attracted the elite of the elite.

In particular, the men's field features not only Australia's finest, but indeed some of the world's, including;

  • Nathan Deakes - 2007 World 50km Champion and former 50km world record holder
  • Jared Tallent - 2008 Olympic silver and bronze medallist
  • Luke Adams - 2007 IAAF Race Walking Challenge winner
  • Chris Erickson - 2006 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist
  • Adam Rutter - 2008 Olympian
  • Duane Cousins - 1998 Commonwealth Games silver medallist

With only three athletes to be selected for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, competition will be fierce amongst the Aussies.

They won't have everything to themselves however, with a collection of the best walkers from Mexico, Japan and New Zealand being lured to the race.

In the women's event, a deep field of Australian competitors will also line up with Commonwealth Games selection on their mind;

  • Cheryl Webb - 2006 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist
  • Jess Rothwell - 2009 World Championships representative
  • Claire Tallent - 2008 Olympian
  • Kellie Wapshott - 2008 Olympian

Not only are top flight international athletes coming to Hobart, the course to be used is highly spectator friendly and will showcase Hobart's beauty to the rest of the world.

Whilst this will be the first occasion on which the State has been invited to host an athletics world circuit event, Tasmania has a strong connection with international athletics with three world records having been set in Hobart in the past. Betty Cuthbert ran 23.2 for 220 yards in March 1960 whilst Ron Clarke set his over 5000 metres in January 1965, whilst the affinity with race walking was established by Kerry Saxby Junna with new world mark in the 5000 metres walk at the Domain in February 1996.

Following the race in Hobart, the IAAF Race Walking Challenge will move to Portugal and Switzerland, with the series finale to be conducted in Beijing, come September.

Using the Hobart Waterfront as a picturesque backdrop, athletes will race from the bottom of Elizabeth street, along Morrison Street and Castray Boulevard, turning each lap in the CSIRO carpark.  The 2km loop provide spectators with the ideal viewing situation, with the race to start at 6pm on Saturday February 13.

The Hobart leg of IAAF Race Walking Challenge is part of a bumper weekend of athletics which also includes the Briggs Athletics Classic and Australian Combined Events:

  • Briggs Athletics Classic - Friday February 12, 5:30pm at the Domain Athletics Centre
  • Australian Combined Events - Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 February at the Domain
  • 2010 Hobart 20km Australian Race Walking Championships - Saturday February 13, 6pm on the Hobart Waterfront