24th May 2009 05:09
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| A delighted Giorgio Runinho leads Italy to a clean sweep in the men's 20km in Metz. |
20km Men:
THERE IS nothing like a personal best to boost an athlete's confidence - and Gorgio Rubinho is not about to argue.
A month after the 23-year-old Italian sailed under 1:20:00 for the first time he played a waiting game in the heat of Metz, and then set the course on fire to win by a proverbial street to bring joy to new coach, the legendary Sandro Damilano.
One of the Roman's previous best marks was set at the European Cup two years ago in Leamington.
But this was no day for re-writing record books.
The kind of heat hated by fair-headed endurance athletes was always going to have a major say on the streets of Metz.
But along with Rubinho and the familiar face of former Olympic champion Ivano Brugnetti in second, the third man on the podium came out of an Italian blue.
Jean-Jacques Nkouloukidi has been one of the journeymen of Italian walking for the last four years - but the 27-year-old came of age here.
The walker born of a mixture of Congolese and Italian parents was never in contention for a medal until the last 2k lap from 10, and then sped past a tiring Robert Heffernan to steal the bronze medal.
It was the second time in a row the Irishman has suffered the fate after a final charge from others in 2007 also cost him dearly.
But what Yohann Diniz was attempting when he set off at 77:50 pace in searing heat, only the Frenchman will know.
If it was to impress his countryman, the glory lasted a mere 26 minutes before a group of three that had been 23 seconds back on the first lap caught up with the 2006 European champion.
Heffernan, Brugnetti and Pyotr Trofimov from Russia shot through 8km in 32:18, with Diniz labouring but still some way ahead of Rubinho in fourth.
But a further 3km along the blistering road and the Italian reversed the position with some ease - and then as if to show Diniz what even pacing was all about, sped past the leading three just after the 13km mark.
While Rubinho opened up the gap with ease, the following trio tracked each other barely out of step all the way to 16k.
And Trofimov was surely keeping an eye on the DQ board to notice his fellow travellers were living dangerously with only one life left each.
The Russian made a break for home and was quickly checked by Brugnetti, and in turn Heffernan reacted to move into third place.
Nkouloukidi had other ideas and a one-sided team victory was equally secure.
Rubinho said: 'I have a completely new team of physio, psychologist, osteopath - and of course a new coach, the legendary Sandro Damilano.'
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