Russian Borchin retains world 20km race walk title

Compiled from news reports

Russian Valeriy Borchin retained his world men's 20km race walking title in Daegu, South Korea, on Sunday.

The 24-year-old clocked 1hr 19min 56sec around a street circuit in downtown Daegu to finish ahead of compatriot Vladimir Kanaykin (1:20.27), with Colombia's Luis Fernando Lopez taking bronze (1:20.38).

In warm, humid conditions, Borchin forced his inimitable style on the race, pushing the pace to a punishing level that saw his rivals fall by the wayside.

Long-time chaser Zhen Wang of China, the fastest man this season, was reeled in by world record holder Kanaykin and then by Lopez in the final 2km of the race and eventually finished fourth in 1:20.54.

Kim Hyun-sub of South Korea finished sixth in 1:21.17.

Yusuke Suzuki set the pace early when he and Giorgio Rubino broke away from the pack. But neither could hold the lead in humid conditions, with Rubino dropping out at the 11-kilometer mark -- tossing his water bottle in frustration. Suzuki held onto third until the 18-kilometer mark, when he, too, faded to finish eighth.

Borchin and Wang eased past Suzuki to make it a two-man race. But Borchin surged and Wang couldn't hold onto second, dropping back in the final kilometer to allow Kanaykin and Lopez to pass him.

Soon after crossing the finish line, Borchin and Kanaykin embraced. It was a sweet 1-2 for the pair who have struggled to overcome adversity in the past, with Borchin serving a one-year suspension for doping that ended May 31, 2006, and Kanaykin serving a two-year ban from 2008.

Lopez came in a surprise third, racing to a season best in of his best times at an international event. The Colombian national record holder finished fifth two years ago at the worlds.