Mexico’s Alegna González and China’s Shi Shengji were victorious at the Gran Premio Cantones, a World Athletics Race Walking Tour Gold meeting, held in La Coruña on Saturday (23).
Contesting the half marathon, world 20km silver medallist González achieved her first win in Cantones, while 19-year-old Shi became the first Chinese race walker to triumph in the Spanish coastal city since Wang Zhen in 2016.
The women’s contest opened with an early lead by Antía Chamosa, Spain’s world 20km race walk seventh-place finisher. The 26-year-old gave the local fans something to cheer about over the new circuit as she took command of the race to become a solo leader from the gun.
Chamosa, who is a training partner of double world champion María Pérez, set a 4:25 cadence to progressively build a strong margin over the favourites including González, Pérez, the Italian pair of Antonella Palmisano and Sofia Fiorini, and Peru’s Kimberly García. The Spaniard had created a lead of 22 seconds on the chasing group by the 5km checkpoint, which was reached in 22:07.
China’s Yang Liujing fulfilled most of the pacing duties in the chase group, 10 seconds behind Chamosa (44:21/44:31) at 10km, and they caught the local athlete with the clock reading 50:45. The fireworks came during the 15th lap when González increased her pace to cover that circuit in 4:18, still with Pérez, Palmisano, Fiorini, Yang, Mexico’s Alejandra Ortega and Japan’s world bronze medallist Nanako Fujii tucked behind the Mexican.
The in-form González won last Saturday in Rio Maior and seemed determined to maintain her winning streak as her relentless 4:17 rhythm began to pay dividends. First Yang and then Fujii lost contact before an even quicker 4:14 18th lap saw Pérez and Ortega drop back, while the surprising Fiorini still remained at González’s shoulder. The 21-year-old Italian, who placed runner-up at last month’s World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Brasília in the marathon, tried to follow in González’s footsteps but she finally began to lose ground some 1.4km from home as the Mexican flew over the penultimate lap to clock 4:12.
González kicked again to cover the final kilometre in 4:06 to secure her first win in Cantones in 1:32:24 following her second-place finishes in 2021, 2024 and 2025, plus a third place in 2023.
Fiorini clocked 1:32:36 and last year’s victor Pérez – making her competitive debut over the half marathon distance – recorded 1:32:51 to complete a quality podium.
“I’m more than happy as I had always made the podium here, but I had never won. Fortunately, today I managed that feat,” said González. “I felt very comfortable throughout and over the last laps I thought: ‘It’s my turn’.
“I liked the new circuit and we were lucky as it was a windless day. I’ll next compete in Madrid next Sunday (31), while my primary goal for this summer season is to shine at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo.”
Teenager Shi proves strongest
The men’s race kicked off at a moderate pace, the opening two kilometres covered in a comfortable 8:13. A large Chinese squad was at the helm alongside the other favourites including Japan’s Kento Yoshikawa and Spain’s world bronze medallist Paul McGrath.
China’s Shi Shengji wins in La Coruña (© Almudena Míguez)
Surprisingly, shortly after the third kilometre which was covered in a much brisker 3:58, Brazil’s world 20km champion Caio Bonfim began to lose ground. By the fifth kilometre (20:06) the front group was led by China’s Yang Kaiyuan, Li Chenjie and Shi plus the Japanese duo of Tomohiro Noda and Keisuke Hara while Bonfim travelled outside the top 20, some nine seconds in arrears.
To the delight of the home crowd, McGrath moved to the front some 25 minutes into the race, the 24-year-old local hero setting the rhythm for a couple of laps to open a shy lead before being reeled in. China’s Qian Haifeng then broke away to build a 10-second advantage on Shi, Yang and Mexico’s Ricardo Ortiz. The 10km mark was reached by the leaders in 39:59 while Bonfim edged towards the chasing group.
Following several circuits in the 3:56/3:58 range, Shi effectively ended the competition as he unleashed a devastating kick to cover the 15th lap in 3:48. Only Li and Hara could live with that pace, but Shi continued to accelerate to produce the quickest kilometre – 3:46 – for the next circuit.
Noda began to falter but Li managed to remain at his compatriot’s shoulder. Yet his resistance came to an end some 1:06:30 into the race when Shi finally managed to lose Li thanks to another 3:48 17th lap.
Shi maintained 3:50 pace over the final few laps which was enough to keep Li at bay, while Hara was a lonesome third way back.
Shi crossed the finish line in 1:23:23 to Li’s 1:23:25, while Hara completed a classy podium 29 seconds behind the winner.
Loyal to his usual tactics of finishing strongly, Bonfim maintained a sub-4:00 cadence throughout the race to overtake all but the first three race walkers. He finished fourth in 1:24:08 after passing Ecuador’s David Hurtado and China’s Qian over the last couple of laps.
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics
