Boys' 10,000m walk final report - Donetsk 2013

WRITTEN FOR THE IAAF WEBSITE

Toshikazu Yamanishi claimed Japan’s first 10,000m Race Walk victory in the 14-year history of this championship in a dramatic last lap, which saw Guatemala’s Jose Alejandro Barrondo disqualified with only 60 metres remaining whilst in the silver medal position.

Clocking the second-fastest time of the year with a 41:53.80 lifetime best, Yamanishi was followed home by Russia’s Maksim Krasnov and Spain’s Diego Garcia, with the former winning a thrilling sprint finish for the silver medal in a 42:03.10 personal best to Garcia’s 42:03.32 lifetime best for third.

The early pace had been set by Australia’s Nathan Brill who took Yamanishi through the first kilometre in 4:14.12, with Krasnov and Garcia 30 metres further back.

Upping the tempo with a 4:05.78 and 4:09.29 second and third kilometre split, Brill then took off at the 4,200m mark with Yamanishi for close company.

But with 13 laps remaining, Krasnov and Garcia caught the duo as Brill was forced to concede the lead just after the halfway point which was reached in 20:53.73.

Seventeen year-old Diego subsequently took his turn at the head of the pack with Yamashita and Barrondo in close contention and with eight laps remaining, a group of six were packed tightly together as Garcia, Yamanishi and Barrondo moved into the medal positions, while the pace dropped to around 4:20 per kilometre pace.

As the lap counter read 5 remaining, Krasnov moved to the front and was quickly chased by Barrondo and Garcia as Brill paid for his early exuberant tempo and dropped off the group.

As the 9,000m point was reached with a swift 4:09.06 kilometre split, Barrondo then headed back to the front and with 800m to go, Garcia looked to have lost his chance of a medal, losing touch with Yamanishi and Krasnov who were closely guarding the Guatemalan’s move.

Seventeen year-old Yamanishi decided to unleash his kick for home 600m out as Barrondo rallied 10 metres adrift with 17-year-old Krasnov another 10 metres back.

As the Japanese athlete stormed clear for victory following a superb 3:52.50 final kilometre split, Barrondo suffered as dramatic disqualification with only 60m remaining whilst in the silver medal position.

Taking the surprise opportunity for a medal upgrade, Krasnov and Garcia battled right to the finish-line in a last-gasp effort, as  Japan’s Yuga Yamashita and Brill finished fourth and fifth, respectively with a 42:07.94 personal best and 42:54.70.

Krasnov’s silver follows Russia’s fine tradition in this event with six victories in eight editions of this championship, whilst Garcia claimed Spain’s first ever medal in this event.