Perez gets 20km walk world title hat-trick for Ecuador

Aug 26, 2007, 2:46 GMT

Osaka, Japan - Jefferson Perez completed a hat-trick of world championship titles in the 20-kilometre walk on Sunday before being stretchered with what appeared to be violent cramps immediately after crossing the finish line.

Undeterred by an early lead of Italian Olympic champion Ivano Brugnetti, Perez walked away from Tunisa's Hatem Ghoula with two kilometres left to win in 1 hour 22 minutes 20 seconds.

Ghoula came second and Eder Sanchez of Mexico got bronze after the original second-place finisher Francisco Javier Fernandez of Spain was disqualified.

Perez, 33, slowed down on the final metres in Nagai stadium, and collapsed right after the end, holding his left thigh muscle and falling to the ground in agony.

Medical personnel was on hand immediately and Perez was stretchered off the track instead of enjoying a victory lap.

The two-time European champion Fernandez appeared to have stolen the silver from a stunned Ghoura on the final metres, but the Spaniard was later disqualified for lifting in that final burst.

Ghoura was bumped up to silver in 1:22:40 to get Tunisia's first ever medal at the worlds. Sanchez took bronze in 1:23:36 hours.

Like Saturday's marathon, the walk in the Nagai stadium area took place in searing heat, with temperatures well above 30 degrees despite an early 8 am start.

The heat likely played a role in Perez problem's while German Andre Hoehne collapsed on the gound in sixth place with just 200m to go.

Three further medal events were scheduled for later Sunday, the blue-riband men's 100m race, the women's shot put and the completion of the women's two-day heptathlon.