HAVING already conquered Australian tracks, Willetton’s Declan Tingay has made his mark on the international stage after winning bronze at the recent IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships.
The 19-year-old joined Kyle Swan and Mitchell Baker on the Australian 10,000m team that finished the competition third behind Japan and China.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Tingay, who was heading towards a time under 41 minutes when he was given a time penalty with just 200m to go in the race.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWHe said it was difficult waiting in the wings while competitors walked passed him, but he still finished with a road personal best of 42.01 minutes.
“The race went almost entirely as expected, the field split a little earlier than expected but the race still played out with the Chinese and Japanese teams breaking up the lead pack during the final stages of the race,” he said.
“I couldn’t quite bridge the gap between the chase pack and the lead pack, and I think my downfall was in trying too hard to push the chase pack to make that gap smaller.
“I was pretty disappointed about getting the time penalty, because it ruined my result and meant my chances of achieving my individual goals were effectively impossible.
“However, after learning we still managed to hang onto the team bronze my spirits lifted.
“The atmosphere in our team was amazing after that, but I still felt a pretty deep disappointment about my own result.”
Tingay is now in preparations for July’s IAAF World U20 Championships in Finland.
MORE: Man charged with murder over Queens Park death
MORE: Former Waroona Australia Post employee fined for mail theft
MORE: Perth’s dry May to come to a wet end
MORE: Maddington man charged over obscene acts, indecent assault