By DPA
Osaka (Japan) : Jefferson Perez completed an unprecedented hat-trick of world championship titles in the 20-km walk Sunday, but the Ecuadorian was stretchered off with cramps instead of celebrating with a victory lap.
Undeterred by an early lead of Italian Olympic champion Ivano Brugnetti, Perez eventually walked away from Tunisa’s Hatem Ghoula with two kilometres left to win in 1 hour 22 minutes 20 seconds.
Three others went through all emotions until the other medals were settled later when the ruling body IAAF granted a Spanish appeal against the disqualification for lifting of their second-place finisher Francisco Javier Fernandez.
Fernandez took silver same as at the last two worlds and 2004 Olympics and Ghoula got Tunisia’s first ever medal at the worlds, a bronze. Eder Sanchez of Mexico had to settle for fourth.
Perez, 33, slowed down on the final metres in Nagai stadium, and collapsed right after crossing the line, holding his left thigh muscle and falling to the ground in agony. Medical personnel were on hand immediately and Perez was fine again soon afterwards.
“I am not sure, but this could be the toughest of my victories,” said Perez, who also owns the 20km world record and won Olympic gold over the distance in 1996.
Ghoura said he played it safe in the end: “In the home straight, I drastically reduced my pace. I saw the judges close to me and got scared I could get disqualified.”
Like Saturday’s marathon, the walk in the Nagai stadium area took place in searing heat, with temperatures well above 30 degrees despite an early 8 a.m. start.
German Andre Hoehne was taken to hospital with symptoms of a heat stroke after collapsing with just 200m to go while lying in sixth place.
Austrian Guenther Weidlinger was then also rushed to hospital after crashing to the ground just before one of the obstacles early in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase heats.
He reportedly drifted in and out of consciousness and suffered a concussion.
Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya also fell in that heat but regrouped to qualify along with the other favourites.
Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell of Jaimaca started her quest for a sprint double with a 100m heat win in 11.33 seconds.
Defending champion Lauryn Williams had 11.41 and fellow-American Carmelita Jeter led the way with 11.07. The 47-year-old Slovenian Merlene Ottey made a brief eighth appearance at the worlds, crashing out in 11.64 seconds.
“It wasn’t good. I have had a difficult season with not enough training,” said Ottey, who was unable to train from May to July due to injury but hopes to be at the Beijing Olympics.
Defending champion Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus barely made the evening shot put final while titleholder Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania qualified for the men’s discus final along with Estonian title rival Gerd Kanter.
In the women’s 400m heats, Novlene Williams of Jamaica led the way with 50.21 seconds in the absence of not qualified Sanya Richards, the American who went unbeaten 2006 and has the best 2007 time with 49.52.
Three medal events were scheduled for later Sunday, the blue-riband men’s 100m race, the women’s shot put and the completion of the women’s two-day heptathlon.