MELBOURNE, Australia — Canada’s Evan Dunfee finished second in the Australian men’s 50-kilometre race walk championship Sunday.
The 24-year-old from Richmond, B.C., led for most of the race but faded over the final 10 kilometres of just his third 50K race, to drop behind winner Chris Erickson of Australia.
Erickson finished in three hours 56 minutes 38 seconds, while Dunfee held on for a personal best 3:58:34. Brendon Reading was third in 4:19:30.
Triple Olympic medallist Jared Tallent was among the field of six athletes who lined up for the event, held in hot conditions. Tallent dropped out around the 18K mark due to stomach problems. Olympian Adam Rutter and Andrew Jamieson both dropped out soon after.
Dunfee, who set the Canadian record for 20 kilometres when he finished 11th at this year’s IAAF World Race Walking Cup, had a lead of over four minutes on Erickson at the 40K mark Sunday before starting to noticeably struggle.