ATHLETICS: Kawano and Henderson set world records in marathon race walk

Japan's Masatora Kawano and Australia's Rebecca Henderson set the men's and women's world records for the marathon race walks at the All Japan Race Walking meet in Takahata on Sunday.

Kawano, a two-time world championships medallist in the 35-km event, set the inaugural men’s world record for the distance, with a time of 2:55:14.

Henderson improved on Italian Sofia Fiorini's record from the European Athletics Championships, clocking 3:14:52 at the World Athletics Race Walking Tour Bronze event.

The half marathon and marathon became official race walk distances in January this year.

-Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Clarence Fernandez/Reuters