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| Zuzana Schindlerova is one of the leading names in the women's 20km walk in Podebrady. |
The third of this year's four European Athletics Race Walking Permit Meetings will be held in the Czech spa town of Podebrady on Saturday, with Benjamin Sanchez and Zuzana Schindlerova arguably the leading names among nearly 200 competitors from 14 countries.
Spain's Sanchez, the 2005 European Athletics U23 Championships 20km walk silver medallist and third as a junior the year before in the World Cup 10km walk, is looking to get a good time at the 79th edition of the famous event that will put him in contention for selection for this year’s big events.
Injuries in the last nine months have meant that his last race was at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Chihuahua, Mexico, last May, where he finished 22nd.
Sanchez can boast of an impressive personal best of 1:20.48 from three years ago.
Spain have sent a strong men’s and women’s squad to Podebrady, including junior teams, as it will be the last chance for their athletes to stake a claim for selection for the European Cup Race Walking which will be held in Olhão, Portugal, on 21 May.
Sanchez’s main rivals appear to be Ireland’s Colin Griffin, who won in Podebrady five years ago, and also the established Italian international Fortunato D´Onofrio.
The senior races also incorporate an eight-nation match that sees hosts Czech Republic up against Belarus, Italy, Lithuania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
In the women’s 20km walk, the leading names are top local talent and 2009 European Athletics U23 Championships 20km silver medallist Zuzana Schindlerova, Italy’s Sibilla Di Vincenzo, Spain’s Lorena Luaces and the Swiss sisters Laura and Marie Polli, as well as Canada’s Rachel Seaman.
Italy’s 2010 Youth Olympic Games 10km winner Anna Clemente will contest the junior women’s 10km race, which will be over a 1km circuit rather than the senior course of 2km.
Podebrady is steeped in race walking history and as well as the annual meeting, one of the oldest walking events on the international calendar, the town hosted a hugely successful IAAF World Race Walking Cup in 1997.
Further details of the 2011 course and timetable can be found on the race website.
The fourth and final European Athletics Race Walking Permit Meeting will be the 18th Dublin International Grand Prix of Race Walking in the Irish capital on 26 June.