Russia's Elena Lashmanova sets new world record in thrilling finish to women's 20km race walk

Russia's Elena Lashmanova set a new world record to take gold in a thrilling finish to the women's 20km race walk on The Mall today.

The 20-year-old passed compatriot and defending champion Olga Kaniskina in the final kilometre to take victory in one hour 25.02 minutes.

Kaniskina went off quickly and looked a certain winner as she continued to pull clear, leading her fellow Russian by 43 seconds at the 12km mark.

But Lashmanova had timed her race to perfection and closed that gap to 36 seconds by the 14km mark, 24 by the 16km point and 17 with 2km to go before reeling her rival in on the last lap.

Kaniskina, the three-time reigning world champion, took silver, seven seconds back, with China's Qieyang Shenjie taking the bronze.

Great Britain's Johanna Jackson suffered bitter disappointment as she was disqualified before the halfway mark.

The Commonwealth champion went through the 8km checkpoint in 30th place only for her race to end shortly afterwards.

PA