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Liu Hong sets women's 50km race walk world record

Published : 09 Mar 2019, 18:13

  DF-Xinhua Report
China's Liu Hong competes during the women's 50km race at the Chinese Race Walk Grand Prix in Huangshan, east China's Anhui Province, March 9, 2019. (Xinhua/Shi Yalei)

China's star race walker Liu Hong became the first woman to break the 4-hour barrier in 50km event as she cruised to a 3:59:15 victory to set the world record at the Chinese Race Walk Grand Prix here on Saturday.

The top two finishers both beat the former world record of 4:4:36 set by countrywoman Liu Rui at the 2018 IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships in Taicang.

The 31-year-old Liu, gold medalist at the 2016 Olympic Games, also holds the women's 20km world record thanks to her 1:24:38 win in La Coruna, Spain back in 2015.