16.08.2009

Women's 20km walk LIVE

Australian champion Cheryl Webb has gone under 1.30 this year, so enters the championships in great shape. Webb, Jess Rothwell and Claire Tallent completed their preparation in the high altitude of St Moritz, Switzerland.

Just about set for the start now. A great field has been assembled and includes Susan Feitor from Portugal who is appearing at her 10th world championships.

They're off. Just like the men's race yesterday the women will walk east, away from the Brandenburg Gate for 1km before returning to complete the 2km loop.

The pace is fairly relaxed in these early stages and the Australians are close to the front of the field.

Leading the group is Sabine Kranz from Germany, who has a best this year of 1.29.03.

The defending champion Olga Kaniskina from Russia will be the one to beat though. She is the second fastest of all-time with her 1.25.56 from earlier this year.

Jess Rothwell, who hails from Victoria and has made rapid improvement this year, surprised to come second at the national titles in 1.30.25.

Here they come through the Brandenburg Gate for the first time and it's Krantz leading the pack of over 30 walkers. All three leading Australians are in the main pack.

Tallent is the leading Australian after 2 kilometres. Of course, most will know that Tallent is the wife of Jared Tallent who placed sixth in the men's event yesterday.

Webb is still well placed just behind compatriot Rothwell. Webb placed third in the Commonwealth Games back in 2006 and the 32-year-old is now in her best shape ever.

A look at the all-time list shows all positions in the top 10 belonging to Russia and it will be no surprise to see Kaniskina make it a Russian double today following Borchin's tremendous win yesterday.

Through the 4km mark and the second loop completed the Australians are still looking strong in that large main pack.

Maria Vasco from Spain, Kjersti Platzer (Norway) and Kratz are in a line across the front of the field as they go through the cooling showers lining the course.

Platzer will be one of leading contenders with her credentials including two Olympic silver medals (2000 and 2008).

Webb has one warning against her and she has dropped off the lead pack. And now so too does Tallent. The women will have to be careful now lest they suffer the fate of teammate Adam Rutter, who was disqualified after leading the field in yesterday's men's race.

The main group has broken up now with 2008 Olympic champion Kaniskina pushing the pace out in front. Tallent is the best of the Australians at the 6km mark, with Rothwell not too far behind. Webb looks to be about 10 seconds away.

Kaniskina has walked faster than the world record on two occasions but insufficient officials on both occasions have prevented her from claiming the record from fellow-Russian Olympiada Ivanova.

32-year-old Tallent has a personal best of 1.32.12 which she walked when placing third at the national championships in Melbourne this year.

Kaniskina, Platzer and Russian Anisya Kirdyapkina come through the Brandenburg Gate at the 6km mark in that order.

Tallent is still the best placed of the Australians. Rothwell is about 20 metres behind her and Webb has lost touch with her fellow Australians.

No official placings just yet from the IAAF but we are approaching the half-way mark with athletes having been out for 40 minutes now.

The 5km splits have just come through but placings have changed dramatically since then. Jess Rothwell was 23.21 in 19th place, Tallent 22nd in 23.21 and Webb 23.23 in 29th.

Australia has a great tradition in the women's walks with Kerry Saxby-Junna a former bronze medallist (third in 1999).

Joanne Jackson from Great Britain, well known to Australian walk fans, has just been disqualified. A disappointment for the British record-holder.

Kaniskina leads at the 10km mark in 44.58. Tallent and Rothwell are in 21st (46.41) and 22nd (46.43) position respectively. Webb is placed 34th one and half minutes behind the top two Australians.

At 12km Kanaskina retains her commanding lead. She is now 45 seconds in front of second place.

Webb has been disqualified after receiving three warnings. Tallent has two warnings of her own and Rothwell one.

Rothwell, just 20 years of age, is now the best placed of the Australians.

The sponge stations are getting plenty of attention today in this Berlin heat.

But what a disappointing end to an otherwise successful year for Cheryl Webb, who when winning the national title in March set the fastest time ever by an Australian on home soil.

1 hour and 10 minutes down and Kaniskina has a huge lead over her rivals. It looks like the Russian is heading to her second world title.

The 15km splits have Kaniskina leading in 1.06.22 from the surprising Olive Loughnane (Ireland) and Hong Lui (Chinea).

Rothwell is 19th (1.11.14) and Tallent is a further 30 seconds back in 24th place.

Loughnane was seventh in the Olympic Games last year but the 33-year-old veteran is heading to her best ever result at a major championships.

Kaniskina goes through the gate for the second last time and is slowing down a little now, perhaps content to hold on to her lead of nearly a minute over her rivals.

Loughnane and Liu remain in second and third.

One kilometre to go now for the leader.

And there goes Jess Rothwell through the Brandenburg Gate for the last time. She has one warning but is walking a great race and is currently placed in the top 20.

Tallent now on her last lap as the crowd is really getting into the spirit with clapping and singing.

Kaniskina finishes with her arms raised and collects her second title. More noise, but mostly from the Irish commentator as Loughnane collects the silver medal, a fantastic result. Liu holds onto third to go one better than in her native China at last year's Olympics.

Loughnane appears ecstatic as she talks to the world's media.

Rothwell now crosses the line in probably 22nd position (yes - confirmed as 22nd). Fantastic result for the youngster. 1.36.01 for the Victorian.

Jared Tallent is on the side lines as he cheers his wife home in 27th place and a time of 1.38.12 in very tough conditions. That's one pace better than in Beijing last year.

At the end of the race it was 30 degrees out on the course.

Jess Rothwell was happy with her performance in the tough conditions.

"The first few k's were comfortable, and I just listened to the crowd. It got hotter and hotter and it was tough, very tough.

"There was a few DQ's and didn't want to be in that boat.

"It was a huge experience. Just even walking in the pack there were feet everywhere so you really had to fight for your position. Hopefully I have got a lot of experience from that."

To view Jess Rothwell's post race interview click here