The Italian Francesco Fortunato and the Chinese Jiayu Yang, world record holder of 20 kilometers, reigned this Sunday in the Gran Vía in Madridin the II Madrid Marcha International Grand Prix, where the Ecuadorian David Hurtado and the Mexican Alegna González took the third position on the podium on a ten kilometer route.
Fortunato, fifth last year at the European Championship in Munich at 20 kilometers, He achieved victory by entering the finish line located only on Gran Vía in Madridwhere he was received with applause by the hundreds of fans who had come to witness the trial.
“I am happy. I didn’t expect to win, although I did expect to be on the podium. This success gives me strength for what is to come this year because it is very difficult to win in Madrid because of the level of the participants”, said Fortunato, at the end of the race, after stopping the clock at 38.56.
Behind the 28-year-old Italian walker, the Brazilian Caio Bonfim (39.03) entered the finish line.two-time Olympian and sixth at the World Cup in Eugene (United States) in 2022.
The third drawer of the podium is occupied by Ecuadorian David Hurtado (39.06).eleventh in the 2022 Eugene World Cup at 20 kilometers and already has the minimum score for the 2024 Paris Games, surpassing Italian Massimo Stano, 20-kilometer Olympic champion, at the finish line.
Spaniard Paul McGrath, fifth with 39.09achieved the best Spanish score in history in the under-23 category, surpassing the previous best record, 39.27, by Valentín Massana in 1992.
“To see the Gran Vía turned upside down in the march, passing through a delicate moment, was wonderful. Public attendance is high and that is the best promotion“said the walker Diego García Carrera, organizer of the event, who finished ninth, one place better than the Swedish Perseus Karlstrom, European runner-up at 20 km.
In the women’s category, the winner was the great favorite, China’s Jiayu Yang, with a time of 43.20followed by his compatriot Quanming Wu (43.33) and the Mexican Alegna González (43.35), who arrived in Madrid after a prestigious victory in Dudince (Slovakia) a month ago, improving his mark to 1h28 :09.
The best Spaniard was Antía Chamosa, ninth with 44.49and Raquel González, 35K silver medalist at the European Championships in Munich, twelfth with 45.00.
This year’s route is the same as the first edition, fully including the Gran Vía in Madridbetween the intersection of San Bernardo and Fuencarral in Montera and the climb towards Callao, where the finish line is.
The test in Madrid, which marks for the world ranking of 20 kilometers, is part of the gold category of the World Athletics walking circuit.
Source: La Verdad
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