Australia’s race walkers on show in Adelaide this Sunday

Australia’s charge towards Tokyo will step up on Sunday, as the nation’s best race walkers line up in Adelaide for the Oceania and Australian 20km Race Walking Championships. 

With much on the line as the Tokyo Olympic Games fast approach, athletes will be eyeing off all-important qualification opportunities and essential ranking points as Sunday becomes one of the most important dates on the Australian race walking calendar this year.  

Tokyo-bound Dane Bird-Smith (Dave Smith) won the men’s event in 2020 to secure his selection to the Australian Olympic Team and while he won't compete on Sunday, it will be an opportunity for the rising stars of the sport to make their mark. Rhydian Cowley (Brent Vallance) has notched up a 50km qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics, while up-and-comers Declan Tingay (Steve Tingay) and Kyle Swan (Brent Vallance) who have both represented Australia at the 2018 World Junior Championships in Finland will contest for the title.
 
In the women’s event, 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jemima Montag will be looking to defend her Australian title and continue her momentum as she prepares for her Olympic debut. Up against Montag will be Katie Hayward (Steve Langley) who will be aiming to cement her third Olympic qualifier, as well as rising star Rebecca Henderson (Simon Baker) who would have made her World U20 Championships debut last year if not for its postponement due to COVID-19. 

Athletics Australia (AA) General Manager of High Performance Andrew Faichney said this year’s edition of the Australian 20km Race Walking Championships would be like no other, as two spots for race walkers on the Australian Olympic Team had already been filled. 

“Last year Jemima and Dane won the Championships and having previously walked the Olympic qualification standard, their title wins saw them automatically nominated to the AOC for selection,” Faichney said. 

“This year, however, the pressure is on, with only two more spots for our men and women, and no more automatic nominations available. Athletes will be vying for those ranking points and qualification times to prove they’re worthy of selection for Tokyo this July.” 

Despite no international athletes in attendance to push Australia’s elite athletes, competition is expected to be fierce, said AA Event Group Lead – Walks, Brent Vallance.  

“Coming off competition in the last two weeks, we would expect that the qualification time of 1 hour, 21 minutes for our men, and 1 hour, 31 minutes for our female athletes is well within reach for many of our athletes,” Valance said. 

“As the Commonwealth Gold medallist and an athlete who finished top 10 at the 2019 World Championships, Jemima is expected to perform again. 

“Rhydian is not seeking Olympic selection for the 20km, but his standard over the last 18 months has seen him secure personal best times in the 10km, 20km and 50km and he’ll be looking to improve again on his own times. 

“For our younger athletes like Declan, Kyle and Katie, we’re looking for them to transition into what we hope will be our Olympic team this year too. 

“We expect Declan can give that time a shake in Adelaide, and if not, then the next opportunity will be in Melbourne but either way, we expect him to be very close to, if not under the qualification standard for the Olympics sometime this season.” 

Tingay most recently competed at the Supernova 5ish 10,000m Track Walk where conditions were conducive to fast times, and it was the same event Montag raced her way to an unofficial Australian all-comers record of 42.35.0. Cowley won the race, and reclaimed the 2021 world lead in the process, clocking 39.14.0.  

The vast majority of Australia’s elite race walkers have also recently completed two camps in the past two months; an altitude camp at Thredbo and another in Melbourne, providing significant motivation for athletes to continue their momentum. 

“The camps have probably indicated to all of them and each other who are the ones to beat,” Vallance said.  

“Bec Henderson is looking to do her first 20 kilometre race. She has been impressive on both camps we’ve had and did a big personal best for 10km last weekend. We need three races out of Bec to try and get close to an Olympic position, but that’s definitely not out of the question for her this summer either.”  

The Oceania and Australian 20km Race Walking Championships will take place from 7am ACDT, with the Oceania Under 20 10km Race Walking Championships taking place at 8am.  

By Sascha Ryner and Lachlan Moorhouse
Posted: 10/2/2021