Olympic Medallists Shine at World Athletics Racewalking Tour in Dublin

by Perri Williams

It was a decisive victory for the Olympic Gold Medallist Massimo Stano at today’s World Athletics Racewalking Tour final in Raheny, Dublin. Competing over 35km the Italian dropped long time leader Ricardo Ortiz (Mexico) over the final 5km to take the World Athletics Tour by a margin of two minutes. A further minute behind Caio Bonfim (Brazil) the 2024 Olympic silver medallist from Paris, sealed his World Athletics Tour victory with a third-place finish. Spectators lined the course from start to finish, one of the largest audiences seen in recent years.
With over 250 athletes participating from over 30 countries and 4 continents, this World Athletics Tour event was as successful as it was prophesied to be. Supported by over 100 international athletes, it was as much of a victory for the organisers as it was for the athletes themselves. Encouragement was given at every opportunity with international athletes getting that “racing at home” vibe as much as the domestic ones. From the jolly antics of the Stano, who as a sportsman knows how to entertain his audience, to the top-class performances all round, this certainly was the sporting event to be at this weekend. The organization of this event is in no small way attributed to the great racewalking luminary of World Athletics – Pierce O’Callaghan, who despite his love of all things athletics has an obvious predilection and passion for race-walking.

35km - Olympic, World, and European Medallists
Twenty-five personal bests were set by Irish athletes, in a day that was conducive to fast times, no wind, a large group of encouraging spectators and most importantly, the will to succeed. As expected, Kate Veale added another national title to her growing repertoire of titles, as she crossed the line in, 3:25.57, and fourth in the international competition. The winner was Alejandra Ortega of Mexico with the Brazilian pair of Gabriela De Souza Muniz and Elianay Pereira second and third. The men’s race was very much dominated by Olympic Gold medallist Massimo Santo (Italy) and Ricardo Ortiz (Mexico). Content to let Ortiz lead the way, the taller figure of Santo tucked in behind the Mexican, who was maintaining a steady pace throughout. Oritz was feeling the effects from his strong pace with his laps starting to drop by ten seconds each. Santos moved ahead and increased his pace over the final 10km bagging not only a win but also valuable world ranking points. While the effervescent Santo was celebrating his win, Ireland’s Oisin Lane (Mullingar) and Joe Mooney (Adamstown) were accumulating valuable ranking points with both recording new personal bests. Over ten nations were represented in this very competitive field.

20km - Ireland's David Kenny outshines the international talent
There was a welcome return to competition for David Kenny (Farranfore/Maine Valley) as he took both the National Title and the World Athletics Tour title in the 20km. That nefarious devil called injury sidelined him for 2024, forcing him to forego his Olympic dream in favour of injury rehab. The former European u23 silver medalist recorded a very respectable time of 1:22.31 in a strong international field of twenty-eight athletes. Callum Wilkinson, the British national champion who was 16th over a similar distance at the Paris Olympics was unable to respond as Kenny started to inject pace over the final 5km. In third place was Michele Antonelli (Italy) who recorded his third fastest 20km race this year. Despite an excellent start from Samuel Gathimba (Kenya) the highly decorated African champion, he was forced to retire at 16km, which was no doubt a disappointment to him. It is worth noting the rise of racewalking in Africa, in particular in Kenya, where endurance athletes thrive. A possible indication of a force waiting to be unleashed on the racewalking world.
Karla Ximena Serrano (Mexico) won the ladies 20km. The former World u20 champion recorded her second-best time over the 20km distance this year as the 21-year-old adjusts to the longer senior distance. Ireland was amongst the fourteen nationalities that was represented, many of them national champions in their respective countries.

10km - Irish athletes shrounded with personal bests.
The 10km races for men and ladies u20 demonstrate the huge international potential Ireland has within its remit currently. While ambivalent about tackling the longer 10km distances Savannagh O’Callaghan (Tuam) and Matthew Newell (Tuam) were reassured that their recent winter training proved efficacious. Both athletes had represented Ireland at the u18 European Championships this summer. A huge increase in motivation on the back of this representation, saw both athletes mix with some of the best international walkers around. O’Callaghan was up against Alessia Pop (Roumania) the European u18 silver medallists who was also 4th in the World u20s this year. Pop led from the gun but behind her a stream of Irish girls were making their own history. Mullingar’s Aisling Lane (u20), Kenmare’s Éabha DE Faoite (u23) and O’Callaghan (u18) all recorded new personal bests. A promising indicator of what 2025 may be like for them. Matthew Newell was pushed all the way by Jake O’Brien (Moy Valley) and Seamus Clarke (Moy Valley). The three Irish boys worked together for most of the race, with the more experienced O’Brien moving ahead over the final 2km to take the gold. Newell on the other hand finished with a time of 45.44, which puts him very much on the trajectory to qualify for the 2025 European u20 championships.

Juveniles Impress
Julia Lebeau (France) was the overall winner of the girls 5km with the vastly improved Leah O’Gara (Finn Valley) finishing second and Robin Og Murphy (Longford) in third. Their respective results are the quintessential example of perseverance and dedication to a sport despite the adversities thrown at them through the years. Panagiotis Saltis (Greece) was a runaway winner of the boys 5km where both Ciaran Kelleher (South Galway) and Daniel Glennon (Mullingar) both recorded personal bests.
CliodhnaiI Chonaill (Castlegar) has improved substantially this year. The 14-year-old recorded a new personal best of 16.22 to hold off a much-improved Taillte O'Callaghan (Tuam) who staged something of a comeback after struggling with competition this summer. Sean Walsh (Adamstown) and Senan Markey (Tir Mona) both recorded new personal bests to finish first and second in the boys 3km.
A large field of over 30 athletes contested the 2km race where four countries were represented. The lead in this race oscillated between Natalia Gavrilovic (Roumania) and Cusile O’Callaghan for much of this race. The Roumanian finally getting ahead to take victory in a new personal best. Smiling as incandescently as ever O’Callaghan was happy with her second place as she dipped under 10 minutes by one second. Hazel Dinkin (Clare River Harriers) finished 3rd. The boy’s race was won by Tadgh O’Callaghan (St Senans) from Grofu Newell (Tuam). The gravy train of talent continued with Owen Gannon (Athenry) recording a rather deft 5.32 to win the boys u12 with Ann Dinkin (Clare River Harriers) winning the girls u12.
There was much excitement in the Cork camp with Robert Heffernan cheering on his two daughters who looked every bit the champions in the girls u10 race. Regan and Tara Heffernan demonstrated top class race-walking for their tender years.
Nicolas Picard (France) took the gold in the Masters men’s 10km from Modris Liepins (Latvia). The ladies’ race was won by Modra Liepina (Lativa). Colm Walsh (Mullingar) won the Irish championship with Maggie O’Connor (St Josephs) winning the ladies. St Coca’s AC Bobby King is an enduring figure in race walking. The 78-year-old has been walking for over five decades and once more took part in the Raheny event.

Brazil, Greece, Mexico, Hungary, India. Kenya, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Ethoipia, Roumania, France, UK, USA, Sweden, Lativa, Spain, Italy are just some of the 30 nations represented in Dublin today. Testimony to the sucess of Ireland in hosting this event is their committment to return to this race year after year bringing with them more competition, more athletes and continued excellence in racewalking itself.
With the international competitive action closed for 2024, Athletics Ireland can be confident that the peek given today of the current quality and quantity of Irish racewalkers indicated enormous potential success for 2025.