Tingay Marches into History as Records Tumble at Supernova 2

Australian race walking stars Declan Tingay and Jemima Montag made it back-to-back wins in the World Athletics Race Walking Tour with dominant performances at Supernova 2, led by Tingay’s stunning Australian record of 38:03.78 over 10,000m and an Under 18 record by Marcus Wakim.

Shattering David Smith’s national record of 38:20.9 set in 1985, Tingay marched into history as Australia’s fastest ever race walker over 10,000m – showing the world-class field at the Australian Institute of Sport a clean pair of heels on Thursday night.

Beating home three-time World Championships medallist Perseues Karlstrom of Sweden and Canadian Olympic medallist Evan Dunfee, the 23-year-old coached by Brent Vallance was dominant in clinching the win and record on home soil – even surprising himself. 

“There was something on the cards tonight! The plan was never to pace it that aggressively but I just committed to it early and followed through with it, unrelenting pressure was the theme of today. I wasn’t expecting to hold it together but we built a substantial buffer,” Tingay said.

“Each lap I was looking at the judging board and following what the judges are thinking and if the judges are happy, I keep up the pace, and if they are not then I reconsider,” Tingay said.

Carving 39-seconds off his previous personal best of 38:42.33 set when winning silver at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, Tingay reaped the rewards of a four week training block at altitude in the Perisher Valley as part of the Supernova initiative.

“I just love it. I always say that no one comes out of a Supernova camp worse off than when they went in, and that held up as the truth this month. Having Perseus and Rhydian breathing down my neck is pretty motivating, it gets you going faster,” Tingay said.

The brilliance of 16-year-old Marcus Wakim (Adam Garganis) was on display with an national record of his own, becoming the fastest Under 18 Australian race walker over 10,000m with his performance of 42:21.92 eclipsing Doug Connolly’s 1999 mark of 42:40.54.

Jemima Montag (Brent Vallance) sailed to her second win of the Supernova series with a punishing burst over the closing kilometres, stretching away from some of the world’s premier women to win in a time of 43:46.01.

Montag finished ahead of Greece’s double European champion Antigoni Ntrismpioti and Spain’s Raquel Gonzalez, also defeating training partner and Olympic silver medallist Sandra Lorena Arenas of Colombia. The Commonwealth champion flexed her early season form after a strong training block in the Perisher Valley, where she trained alongside 20 of the world’s best race walker as part of an Australian led study into the impact of nutrition on adaptation to altitude training for women.

The Australian race walking fraternity will now turn its attention to the Australian 20km Championships at Melbourne’s Fawkner Park on Sunday February 12, and while many of the internationals are extending their stay down under to race, Tingay plans to continue his dominance.

“I am always confident. The national 20km is a chance for me to punch the clock, show up and get it done. This result definitely sets me up for some good potential over 20km, I think I will give the 35km another crack but the focus for me is Budapest this year,” Tingay said.

A full replay of Supernova 2 can be found HERE. Official results can be found HERE.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 3/2/2023