Kaniskina cruises to 20km world title, Ivanova quits

Aug 31, 2007, 8:26 GMT

Osaka, Japan - Olga Kaniskina of Russia led from start to finish to Friday win the women's 20-kilometres walk world title as compatriot title holder Oliampiada Ivanova quit injured early on.

Kaniskina, 24, was untroubled as she cruised to victory in 1 hour 30 minutes 9 seconds in the streets outside Nagai stadium. She led by 44 seconds at the halfway mark en route to her biggest career success one year after a silver at the European championships.

Fellow-Russian Tatyana Shemyakina took silver in 1:30:42 and Spain's Maria Vasco got bronze as she did at the 2000 Olympics in 1:30:47 hours.

'I was going on my pace, in my race. I was not watching the others, just my own with the goal to win,' said Kaniskina.

Ivanova didn't even last the first kilometre as a back and leg injury sustained during skiing six months ago didn't allow her to continue her first race of the year.

'I hoped to be OK, but I felt some pain and had to quit,' she said Ivanova, who won world titles 2001 and 2005 and also has an Olympic silver from 2004.

The women competed in warm and rainy conditions after scorching heat and high humidity had taken its toll on the marathon runners and men's walkers last weekend.

The other five medal events were scheduled for the evening: the men's 110m hurdles with China star Liu Xiang, the 400m with world and Olympic champion Jeremy Warnier, the women's 200m, javelin and triple jump.

Flamboyant American Breaux Grear had 86.78m to make the javelin final along with Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway. Others were due start in the second qualifying group later Friday.

'To be honest qualifying wasn't that hard with standard at 82m. Now the 90m metres are coming. Hopefully, there'll be three or four of us doing it and that is going to be exciting,' said Grear.

Defending champion Bryan Clay took an early decathlon lead with 989 points from a 100m run of 10.44 seconds and women's high jump qualifying also got underway in another morning event.