Olympic Walks Trials
21 Feb 2012
At an international level, race walking is without a doubt, Australia’s strongest athletics discipline.
World records, Olympic medals, Commonwealth Champions and World Champions. In the last 7 years, Australian’s have produced all of these, in race walking.
Remember Jane Saville at Sydney 2000 getting disqualified less than 200m from Olympic 20km glory? That’s the sport we are talking about.
We are so strong in fact, that it’s the only event that Athletics Australia selectors will have to ‘select’ our 2012 Olympians, as it’s the only disciple that has in some cases, more than 3 athletes achieve the qualifying standard.
Competition is so tight; they ought to have a trial to select the team.
Oh wait, they do and it’s in Hobart this weekend.
It will be the biggest race of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere this year. Being on the Hobart waterfront, it will also be the most scenic.
The IAAF Hobart Race Walking Challenge will be held over 20km. starting at 6pm outside Princess Wharf Shed number 1, it features a long list of international level athletes, many of whom will be medal contenders in London.
Headlining the list of entries is Olympic bronze medalist Jared Tallent from the AIS.
He will be joined by former 50km world record holder and world champion Nathan Deakes, along with IAAF Race Walking cup champion Luke Adams.
Adam’s and Tallent join Adam Rutter as the three men with Olympic qualifiers. The interesting thing is that all three of them recorded the fast times at this event last year, when it was the world championships trial.
A host of internationals have also confirmed for the race, including the New Zealand race walking team, along with athletes from Canada, India, UK and Sweden
Three Australian women have also achieved the Olympic standard, giving added strength to the trial on Saturday night.
Defending champion Claire Tallent will be looking to make it another husband and wife double in 2012.
Tasmania’s own race walking darling couple, Daniel Coleman and Stephanie Stigwood, will also be racing.
Stigwood carries strong form after a 5000m personal best in Sydney at the weekend, while Coleman is looking to recapture the form that saw him as the nations best junior a few years ago.
A 10km race for under 20 athletes will be held in conjunction, with local athletes making the grade. Sophie Eberhardt and Emma Walker will take on an international field in the girls race, with youngster Louis Rose looking to hold his own in the boys race.
Richard Welsh Column
As featured in the Hobart Mercury on Tuesday February 21.
