Inaki Gomez Reclaims Canadian 20K Race Walk Record
Walking in Nomi, Japan on Sunday, at the Asian Race Walk Championships, Inaki Gomez recaptured the Canadian record that he previously held after placing 13th at the London Olympics. Since that time both of Gomez’s training partners have held claim to the record.
In 2012 Gomez clocked 1:20:58 to break the record for the first time. Two years later, Evan Dunfee took possession of the record, clocking 1:20:13 at the World Race Walking Cup. Last year Ben Thorne took over the crown when placing 3rd at the World Championship in Beijing in 1:19:57.
Now Gomez has improved the record again, as he crossed the line on Sunday in 1:19:20 for second place. En route he may have set another record, as he split halfway in 39:21, bettering his own 10K mark of 40:01.
Dunfee and Thorne were both also racing on Sunday, but did not do so well. Dunfee was 14th in 1:22:09, while Thorne failed to finish.
The question is how long will Gomez be able to stake claim to the record this time? With all three athletes qualified, all will have ambitions to lower it again in Rio.
