Results
2022 Men's 35km 2022 World Athletics Championships - Eugene, Oregon - Page 1 of 6
Two days earlier the women in the 35km race put on a clinic tearing up the 1km course in grand fashion. Temperatures remained cool, but the clouds offering mercy to the athletes were long gone. Unlike the women’s race the gold and silver medalists from the 20km men’s race were not competing in the 20km. However, Perseus KARLSTRÖM who finished third was toeing the line for the 35km along with many other men doubling. In previous World Championships, the longer distance race typically started conservatively and became a war of attrition as the pack accelerated through the kilometers. 6:15 came and although there was an issue with the streaming coverage, the race started on cue.
Massimo STANO seemed to make the first statement, taking the pack out of the "gate."
That didn't last more than a few clicks of the shutter, because Daisuke MATSUNAGA shot from a canon and in a matter of the slightest number of steps, he surged ahead of the field. I've never seen anything like it in a major international competition. Given that the 35km was relatively new ground, it was anyone's guess whether this strategy would pay off.
In less than half a lap, MATSUNAGA established the lead pack as a pack of one.
STANO looked like he and Eider ARÉVALO would break out as a 2nd pack.
While KARLSTRÖM, Miguel Ángel LÓPEZ, and Brian Daniel PINTADO lead a large pack of walkers in chase.
The sole USA representative, Nick CHRISTIE, was content to go out conservatively and follow.
Shockingly, by the time MATSUNAGA came by again he was a lone man walking sub 4 minutes per kilometer, shocking everyone.
What was his plan? Was he being a rabbit, if so, no one bought what he was selling.
The pack followed 29 seconds back in a relatively pedestrian 4:26. Clearly, there were two camps on the best approach to the race. We only had to wait 34 more laps to know who was the wiser.
CHRISTIE came thru in a small trail pack while looking in control and rock solid.
Was it a one lap fluke? Nervousness? or a master plan? MATSUNAGA answered by continuing to pound the pace. As he did, he looked completely fluid and in control. To put it in perspective, if he was only going 20km, the pace would be reasonable, but 15km is a long way from 20km.
Unfazed the case pack walked their race.
CHRISTIE, who can go out hard, continued to look like a well-oiled machine, ready to clock off the extra kilometers in stride.
MATSUNAGA showed the first lap was no fluke. Hammering a 2nd lap at 3:58, he continued to increase his gap on the rest of the field. MATSUNAGA looked completely relaxed and his technique was never in question. Could he pull off an unthinkable margin of victory?
The lead pack walked in solidarity, as if MATSUNAGA wasn't even in the race.
Evan DUNFEE lurked behind the lead pack. His still has always been to go out conservatively and then pour it on at the end. Was that the plan today? So far, that's how it looked!
Slight gaps formed in the lead pack, but really nothing of significance.
If this were a 50km, there would be no question to let MATSUNAGA go, but there wasn't a lot of data on 35km and what athletes peaking for a world event could achieve.
Meanwhile, the rest of the field started to spread out.
