It was an idyllic experience to run through the streets of Paris at the Olympic Games. It was the opportunity to stretch. It was the moment for Alegna González, seen as one of the great promises of Mexican walking and who this Thursday, at 25 years old, has shown that she can compete among the world’s leaders. The Mexican pushed her body to the limit to try to stay at the top of the race. She finished in fifth position, the same mark she achieved in Tokyo. González is not leaving the French capital because she still has the unprecedented mixed marathon relay race with Éver Palma, on August 6.
The Mexican began the race walk at the foot of the Eiffel Tower a few minutes late due to weather conditions, although as the minutes passed the temperature rose and it was stifling for the competitors. The Mexican started the race from 29th place. In the first five kilometers she climbed to seventh position and after 10 kilometers she was in second place. Most of the competition was fought by a group of seven athletes, including González. From kilometer 15 onwards the Mexican’s performance began to suffer problems and her rivals began to gain ground. González finished the race in 1:27:14. In Tokyo 2020 she completed the race in 1:30:33. The race in Paris was won by the Chinese Jiayu Yang, followed by the Spanish María Pérez, the Australian Jemima Montag. The fourth place was taken by the Colombian Lorena Arenas. The Peruvian Kimberly García, one of the favorites in the race, finished in sixteenth place.
“I can’t describe the feeling I have: it’s anger, it’s happiness, I feel satisfied because I gave everything on the track. I didn’t hold back, in the end, the last laps, I felt like I couldn’t go on, but I fought until I reached the finish line. I didn’t give up. Alegna’s participation in these Olympic Games isn’t over yet,” the race walker told the specialized media. Everything, except football.
Alejandra Ortega came in 24th place and Ilse Guerrero in 39th place. In the men’s event, Mexico did not fare as well. The best placed was Noel Chama with a 13th place, followed by Ricardo Ortiz in fourteenth place. José Luis Doctor was disqualified by the judges. The best place was that of Alegna González, the face that best represents Mexican athletics that still wants to recover the brilliance it had with its great race walkers such as Daniel Bautista, Raúl González, Ernesto Canto, Carlos Mercenario, Bernardo Segura, Noé Hernández, Joel Sánchez or María Guadalupe González. Alegna González, with youth on her side, is waiting for the award that can recognize a unique talent in her country.
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