Walkers Dunfee, Perez win first gold medals of Tokyo worlds

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TOKYO - Evan Dunfee of Canada and Spanish defending champion Maria Perez prevailed in suffocating Tokyo humidity to win the first gold medals of the 20th World Athletics Championships in the 35-km walks on Saturday.

Dunfee, the pain of the gruelling effort in tough conditions etched on his face, crossed the line at the National Stadium in two hours, 28 minutes and 22 seconds to claim his first global title.

It is a dream come true, said Dunfee. I am turning 35 this year but I just feel like I am getting better and better.

I was just patient today. That is part of my game and everyone who knows me knows that I can become better in the second half of the race.

Caio Bonfim of Brazil won silver in 2:28.55 while Hayato Katsuki took a popular bronze for hosts Japan in 2:29.16.

World record holder Perez, who did the 20-km-35-km double at the last world championships in Budapest two years ago, roared in delight as she hit the tape in 2:39.01 before sinking to her knees on the track and sobbing.

Italian Antonella Palmisano, the 2021 Tokyo Olympic champion at 20km, took silver more than three minutes behind in 2:42.24, while bronze went to Paula Milena Torres in an Ecuadorian record time of 2:42.44.

I kept fighting throughout the course and this is what race walking is about, to aim to be a better athlete and person, said Perez.

I feel privileged to beat Antonella. She is my idol.

The start times of both races were shifted back by half an hour in a bid to mitigate the heat and humidity in the Japanese capital.

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