Peru’s Kimberly Garcia Leon earned her second gold medal of these World Athletics Championships on Friday, winning the women’s 35-kilometer race walk in Eugene in 2 hours, 39 minutes, 16 seconds.
In a repeat of the podium finish in last week’s 20-kilometer race walk, Poland’s Katarzyna Zdzieblo took the silver medal and China’s Shijie Qieyang claimed the bronze.
Zdzieblo was 47 seconds behind Garcia Leon, finishing in 2:40:03, while Qieyang’s time was 2:40:37.
Garcia Leon and Zdzieblo traded the lead in the early part of the 21.7-mile race, which was contested on a 1-kilometer loop course along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near Autzen Stadium. But by the 20-kilometer mark, Garcia Leon had seized control with an 11-second lead.
Maria Michta-Coffey was the top American finisher, placing 22nd in 2:58:51. Stephanie Casey of Portland crossed in 3:00:54 to place 24th.
