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All three medalwinners from the womens 20km walk at the 2008 Olympics were on the startlist for the IAAF Challenge in Sesto San Giovanni on the 1st of May. I was really looking forward to race with Kaniskina the Olympic winner from Russia, but neither she, nor Borchin the Russian Olympic winner in the mens 20km in Beijing, came to Sesto. I was disappointed!

My goals for the race were for the statistics:
1) Finish on the podium/top 3
2) Walk under 1h30min
Without Kaniskina in the race it was Olympic bronse medalist Elisa Rigaudo who took the lead from the start in the stadium. She took the command and put up a nice pace for the start of the race. When we came out on the road, passing two km in 9:12. Sabine Krantz from Germany took the lead and increased the pace. The leadpack contained number two, three, six, seven, eight and nine from last years Olympics (Plätzer, Rigaudo, Pasqual, Loughnane, Cabecinha and Santos). Also strong international athletes like Krantz and Ines Henriques were part of the first group.
Sabine continued to hold the pace fast, I followed her and shortly before 5km we got a lead on the others. Then Sabine and I walked side by side from 5 to 15km, walking a litle bit faster each lap. Between 15 and 16 km I got a small lead on Sabine and I felt strong enough to win the race. At 16km I checked my watch and saw that I only had to walk two more laps (of 2km) in 9:00 to walk under 1h29minutes. I walked 8:50 from 14 to 16 km, so I could just control the pace to the finish line. I was happy for the victory and for my time:1.28:50.
Sabine Krantz became second in 1.29:03 and Elisa Rigaudo had a strong finish and became third one second behind Sabine.
For me this was a race for the statistics:
My 20th 20km time under 1h30min
My 8th time on the podium in Sesto = top of the Sesto statistics
My third win in Sesto = top of the Sesto statistics together with Turava (BLR), Salvador (ITA) and Saxby (AUS).

The mens race was won by Paquillo Fernandez (ESP), my brother Erik Tysse (NOR) was second and Joao Vieira (POR) became third.

EAA race report

IAAF race report

Results Sesto womens race

IAAF results Sesto mens race

IAAF challenge standings overall women

IAAF challenge standings overall men

 

2009-05-09