Australian 50km Road Walking Championships – 13/12/2015
Fawkner Park, Melbourne
It was an important day for Chris Erickson as he looked to book his ticket for the 2016 Rio Olympics. In the end he didn’t have it all his own way as two other Australian’s, in Brendon Reading and Ian Rayson, both produced impressive PB’s to push Erickson all the way to the finish. However it was Erickson who finished as the 1st Australian across the line, and most importantly the all important position on the Australian team for the Rio Olympics.
On Facebook Erickson said:
“After trying and missing out at the last two Olympics today was a case of 3rd time lucky as finally booked my spot to race an Olympic 50km! Job done, box ticked, now time to get down to the business of clocking up some km’s on the #RoadtoRio”.
“Family affair as always! Big thanks to SuperCoach Brent Vallance, VIS & Athletics Australia for support, and my precious wife Rachel for putting up with me!”
Men 50km Race Walk Championship Open Results
1 Evan Dunfee 90 (CAN) 3:43:45
2 Chris Erickson 81 (VIC) 3:54:10*
3 Marc Mundel 83 (RSA) 3:54:12
4 Brendon Reading 89 (ACT) 3:55:03*
5 Ian Rayson 88 (NSW) 3:55:17*
6 Inaki Gomez 88 (CAN) 4:04:12
In the women’s 20km race the top-5 performers all recorded Olympic qualifiers for Rio.
Results – Women 20km Walk
1 Regan Lamble 91 (VIC) 1:30:45 (just outside PB of 1:30:08 set back in 2012)
2 Stephanie Stigwood 90 (TAS) 1:32:22 (PB)
3 Alana Barber 87 (NZL) 1:32:50
4 Rachel Tallent 93 (VIC) 1:34:16 (PB)
5 Tanya Holliday 88 (SA) 1:34:56
6 Nicole Fagan 89 (NSW) 1:37:59
7 Kristie Goznik 93 (SA) 1:41:37
