Sprint finish brings Jefferson Peréz 20 km crown

Last year's surprise winner of the Olympic 20 km walk, Jefferson Peréz, confirmed he is no one-shot-wonder as he beat the world's greatest walkers again to clock 1:18:24 in the men's 20 km in Podebrady. His victory in the IAAF World cup, which earned him a $ 20.000 Competition Award, was a personal best and the fastest ever recorded in this competition. In a superb race, where the first five finishers clocked personal bests, tactics prevailed before a blazing finale.

Peréz decisive effort came on the last 2 km lap when he accelerated away from China's Tan Mingjun, who in an effort to recover the lead, let his emotions get the better of his technique and he was disqualified in the last 80 metres (although he continued to walk until the finish).

Mexico's Bernardo Segura also suffered the same indignity as he battled side by side with countryman Daniel Garcia, who won the silver, in 1:18:27. Oliympic silver medallist Ilya Markov of Russia finished third in 1:18:30 to secure Russia's victory in the team event. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day was the performance of Julio Martinez of Guatemala. In finishing fifth in 1:18:51, Martinez took more than three minutes of his best. Defending champion Li Zewen of China finished fourth in 1:18:32.

Peréz walked a cagey race, happy to "hide" in a pack of around 40 for the first part of the race. The early pace was steady, with 5 km reached in 19:57 but a gradual increase in speed saw 10 km reached in 39:40 and the group cut down to 18.

The Russians, particulary Markov and Andrey Makarov, looked particulary strong as did the Chinese, the Mexicans and the Belorussians. Gradually, the group splintered, first to 13 then to 8, with Peréz and the Chinese looking the most relaxed. By the start of the final lap the race was between 7 men, Markov, Peréz, the two Chinese and Segura and Garcia of Mexico. But as Mingjun gambled on a break (he already had two of the permissable three warning), Peréz was right on his tail. Only in the last 300 metres did Peréz move into a clear lead. Peréz gritted his teeth as he turned into the final 100 metres straight but his excellent technique held up as some of thoise chasing paid the ultimate price.

In team competition, Belorussia finished second with Mexico third.

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Pictures of the race