Athletics Australia – News – Adams to join Tallent in Moscow

Luke Adams (NSW) will join Jared Tallent (Vic) on the start line for the men’s 50km walk at the 2013 IAAF World Championships after winning the Australian championship in an ‘A’ Qualifying time of 3:57:24 this morning. 

Excitingly for the Australian Flame team, Ian Rayson (ACT) has staked his claim for the third and final spot after crossing the line second in 4:00:39, also an ‘A’ Qualifying time.

Adams looked strong from the outset.

Sitting alongside Rayson and fellow 2010 Commonwealth Games representative Chris Erickson (Vic) for the opening five kilometres, the 36-year-old Adams broke away from his challengers to a comfortable lead before moving through the 10-kilometre mark at 46:19.

Extending his lead to beyond 500 metres at the halfway point, Adams continued to surge before moving through 40 kilometres in 3:04.57 near on one kilometre ahead.

Erickson was forced to withdraw at 36 kilometres, leaving Rayson as a clear second, with Adams closing out his formidable race in a time of 3:57:24 and Rayson in 4:00:39.

Adam’s victory is his second national 50km walk title after winning in 2010. He has also won the Australian 20km walk championship on two occasions, and the Australian 30km walk championship once. A three-time silver medallist across 20km at the Commonwealth Games, Adams has donned the green and gold at two Olympic Games and five world championships, with 5th in the 50km walk in Daegu (KOR) last year his best result.

In other events at the Australian 50km Race Walking Championships this morning, Brendon Reading (ACT) won the men’s 20km event in a time of 1:26:24. This is his first qualifier for the Summer Universiade in Kazan (RUS) next year. Tanya Holliday (SA) won the women’s race in 1:36:31.

The boy’s 10km event was taken out by 2011 IAAF World Youth Championships representative Jesse Osborne (Qld) in a personal best time of 43:18, while Nathan Brill (Vic) etched a second qualifier for the 2013 World Youth Championships in Donetsk (RUS) next to his name bycrossing second in 43:44.

To view and download full results from the Australian 50km Race Walking Championships, please click here.

Athletics Australia – News