Olympic medal contender Montag breaks Australian record in 20km walk

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Jemima Montag has shown why she will be a medal contender at the Paris Olympics by smashing her own national 20-kilometre walk record.

Competing at the Australian 20km Race Walking Championships in Adelaide on Sunday, Montag stopped the clock at 1 hour, 27 minutes and 9 seconds.

She shaved 7 seconds off the previous national record she set while claiming the silver medal at last year’s world championships in Budapest.

The 25-year-old Victorian was sixth in the 20km walk at the Tokyo Olympics.

Montag has also won the past six national crowns.

She will be among Australia’s best medal hopes at the Paris Olympics as the Australian track and field squad look to build on their record six-medal haul from the 2023 world titles.

Canadian Evan Dunfee was first across the line in the men’s 20km race in Adelaide in a time of 1:19:23.

The Australian title went to the second-placed Kyle Swan (1:19:52).

AAP