Ikeda gifts Japan first 20km gold at IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships

TAICANG, China, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The second and final competition day at the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships witnessed two thrilling last-kilometer battles as Japan's Koki Ikeda landed the country's first men's 20km gold medal in history and Alegna Gonzalez of Mexico rallied to win the U20 women's 10km race here on Sunday.

The 20-year-old Ikeda, who just celebrated his birthday on Thursday, outraced local favorite Wang Kaihui in the last turn of the two-kilometer lap to win the individual gold in one hour, 21 minutes and 13 seconds. It was the first men's 20km title claimed by Japan in the history of the biyearly tournament, formerly known as the IAAF World Race Walking Cup.

Japan also won the gold in the team contest with strong performances from Ikeda and his teammates

Wang trailed the Japanese by nine seconds to notch up the silver, while Massimo Stano of Italy finished third in 1:21:33.

In the team standings, the hosts took the bronze medal behind Italy.

The under-20 women's 10km race was also staged under cloudy and humid weather conditions. Gonzalez shrugged off a six-second deficit with one kilometer to go and overtook two walkers before she hit the finish in style. Her winning mark of 45:08 is nine seconds faster than her own North American U20 record.

Ecuador's Glenda Morejon, who was deprived of the leading position just less than 200 meters before the finish, took the silver in 45:13, 16 seconds ahead of the bronze medalist Nanako Fujii of Japan.

Highly-favoured local race walker Ma Li, the runner-up from the last edition of this event in Rome and owner of the fastest PB in the entry list, dropped out of the leading pack after seven kilometres and finished sixth in 46:49.

Ecuador finished second in the team standings, and the Turkish team earned bronze.

After two days of competitions, China finished on top of the medal tally with six gold, four silver and two bronze medals. Japan collected four gold, two silver and two bronze medals to sit on second place, while Mexico finished third with two gold medals. Enditem