This Article is From Oct 09, 2010

Oz couple win medals in 20 km walk

Oz couple win medals in 20 km walk
New Delhi: Australian husband and wife Jared and Claire Tallent had a day to remember on Saturday when both medalled in the Commonwealth Games 20km walk.

Jared powered to the men's gold while his wife crossed the line for silver in the women's race, behind England's Jo Jackson who broke a 20-year Australian stranglehold on the event.

"We try to help each other out. She helps me, I help her. It's great," said Jared.

"This is special. It's right up there for me. I'm feeling ecstatic."

The Beijing 2008 Olympic bronze medallist crossed the line in one hour, 22 minutes and 18 seconds, a new Games record time as he capitalised on a stumble by teammate Luke Adams who came second.

Harminder Singh walked a new personal best time of 1:23.27 to take a rare bronze for India, which followed Kavita Raut's third place success in the women's 10,000m on Friday.

Australia has now won the men's 20km walk at the last five Commonwealth Games and it was a three-man show for most of the race Saturday.

The Australians made their break at the 14km mark to leave Singh behind and Adams then started to pull away at 18km.

But he suddenly stumbled and veered towards the edge of the road and by the time he recovered, Tallent had surged to a winning lead
It was an agonising moment for Adams who has now finished second at three consecutive Commonwealth Games.

"This is my third silver in the Commonwealth Games. I didn't come to win silver. I mean getting a medal is good, but I wanted gold," he said.

"I hit a blob near the finish and almost went for a six. That ruined my chances."

Singh was ecstatic at claiming bronze.

"I am really proud of myself. The crowd helped," he said.

"I wanted to try for the gold but I am happy to win the bronze. Up until today, this is the biggest result for me."

Jared Tallent waited on the finish line for his wife to finish, and they embraced as she crossed.

"My goal was to get on the podium. I just wanted to do my best and this is really special," Claire Tallent said, adding that her husband encouraged her during the race.

"When he went past he gave me a 'c'mon' and that was really good."

But the day belonged to Jackson who took gold in a new Games record time of 1:34.22 to smash Australia's dominance of the event.

Kenya's Grace Njue won the bronze.

Jackson, who became the first British women to win a major race walking title, said she was thrilled.

"I was the gold medal favourite, so I did my job," she said, with her closest rival, Jess Rothwell of Australia, not making the trip to Delhi due to injury.

"The race got very hard towards the last half hour, but I decided to stay with the leaders, a risk, but in the end it paid off."
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