Athletics Australia – News – Lamble clocks first world champs qualifier in Taicang

Up and coming walker Regan Lamble has this morning joined Claire Tallent in posting an IAAF world championships qualifier in the women’s 20km walk at Round 6 of the IAAF Race Walking Challenge in Taicang (CHN).

Crossing the line in a new personal best of 1:31:37, Lamble, who in 2010 placed eighth in the 10,000m walk at the world junior championships, has in recent months joined Brent Vallance at the Australian Institute of Sport with her form continuing to improve at the open age 20km distance.

“I’m feeling pretty good all considering, the time today was definitely above my expectation and you that’s what you want from every race,” Lamble said.

"I’d always hoped to walk at world university games and with this time I am confident of a strong result there but after today fingers crossed my training will have to continue all the way through to Daegu.

“The move to Canberra to train at the AIS has been such a positive experience for me, the squad I work with are fantastic and the motivation they give me to perform well is invaluable.”

Claire Tallent’s time of 1:32:40, her fourth world championships qualifier, further highlights continuing form for the already Deagu-bound athlete. Victory at the Australian 20km Race Walking Championships in Hobart in February was soon followed by fourth placed (1:35:39) at the Chihuahua (MEX) instalment of the IAAF Race Walking Challenge only a month ago.

In the men’s event, world championships bound 20km and 50km walker Jared Tallent clocked 1:19:57 for fourth, with Adam Rutter (1:23:48) and Brendon Reading (1:24:51) just off the pace. Reading’s time was a three minute personal best and yet another world university championships qualifier.

“Jared is a world class walker and his performance again today highlights that, but for Regan the result here in China is a massive step forward,” Brent Vallance said.

“She’s only 19 and to walk such a massive personal best and a world championships qualifier proves she has a real future in the sport.”

Today’s race in Taicang (CHN) follows MKR Hong Kong International Race Walk ten days ago.

With athletes from Hong Kong, Japan, China, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei all taking to the 10km course, Australia was represented by up and coming stars Dane Bird Smith, the ASICS Junior Athlete of the Year, Rhydian Cowley, Beth Alexander and Lamble.

Chinese athlete Liu Jian Min (43:40) won the event as Bird Smith (43:48) and Rhydian Cowley (44:43) placed second and third respectively. Lamble, in another outstanding performance, won the girl’s event in a time of 46:30.

Competing at the event for the third consecutive year, Australia’s walking contingent were four of 1600 athletes on the start line at an event which all but stops the central business district of Hong Kong.

“This is an eye opening event for a place that realistically doesn’t have elite walkers,” Simon Baker, who travelled with the team as coach, said.

“There is an amazing number of spectators, and I am pretty sure we saw a marching band which makes the event really exciting for such a great group of Australia’s developing walkers.

The IAAF Race Walking Challenge now moves to Sesto San Giovanni (ITA) on May 1, 2011.

Athletics Australia – News