Hanna Shevchuk, Liudmyla Olyanovska, and Mariia Sakharuk finished in the top ten at the World Race Walking Team Championships, thereby winning team gold for Ukraine in the half marathon event, according to the press service of the Ukrainian Athletics Federation.
The Ukrainian athletes led during the first 15 kilometers, but at the 16th kilometer the leading position changed to Spanish athletes: Spaniards moved up to third and fourth places, while Olyanovska, who had been in fifth, dropped several positions. However, she, along with Shevchuk and Sakharuk, did not lose belief or opportunities to regain the lead. In the final kilometers, all three performed excellently, simultaneously improving their individual rankings.
Hanna Shevchuk finished seventh (1:37:39), Liudmyla Olyanovska eighth, 15 seconds behind, and Mariia Sakharuk completed the top ten (1:38:15). Thanks to this performance, the Ukrainian team beat Spain by three points — 25 to 28. Australia won bronze with 30 points.
It is noted that Olyanovska started from the front line as one of the race leaders. She was assigned the number 666, which was lucky for her but far less fortunate for her competitors.
As for the individual winner, until the 14th kilometer it seemed the outcome would be decided only at the finish, as Kimberly García León of Peru and Mexico’s Alejandra Ortega were running side by side. However, at the 15 km mark García León began to pull ahead significantly, eventually finishing with a winning time of 1:35:00. Ortega finished 21 seconds behind, while Spain’s Laura García-Caro placed third (1:35:38).
