Athletics Diary

Mexico has a strong tradition in the discipline but Sanchez and Rodriguez didn’t finish Wednesday’s 50-kilometre walk in the World Championships, and Mercenario was a disappointing 24th.

“The federation isn’t interested in the walkers,” Sanchez said. “They want victories, but they don’t support us.”

“We lack many things,” Rodriguez said. “We need more help and when we ask, they make us wait and everything is paperwork.”

SECURITY TIGHTENED: Ridiculed when Basque separatist protesters sneaked on stage at the opening ceremony last Friday, Spanish police have clamped down on security.

Fans, journalists and even VIPs were subjected to airport-like security searches. Reporters at some gates waited in long lines as their bags were passed through an X-ray machine and they were ushered through metal detectors.

HOTSTUFF: Even after race-walking 50 kilometers (31 miles) under a searing sun for nearly four hours, German Skurygin of Russia still had enough energy for a victory lap.

The 35-year-old grabbed a Russian flag from someone in the stands and jogged around the track, while a flock of photographers had a tough time keeping pace. “It was hard, but not the worst I’ve felt in my career,” Skurygin said. “When you are winning, you are relaxed.”