Lashmanova wins race walk in world record time

London, England – Elena Lashmanova set a new world record in the women's 20-kilomter race walk Saturday at the London Games, as Russia claimed gold and silver.

Lashmanova, the 2010 world junior champion, crossed the finish line 1 hour, 25 minutes and 2 seconds, breaking the world mark of 1:25:08 set by compatriot Vera Sokolova in 2011. Lashmanova was the second Russian to break a race walking record on Saturday after Sergey Kirdyapkin set a new Olympic mark in winning the men's 50km.

At 20 years and 124 days old, Lashmanova is the youngest winner in this event. She completed the race seven seconds before countrywoman Olga Kiniskina, the defending Olympic champion and winner of the last three world championships.

Kiniskina joins Norway's Kjersti Platzer as the only women to win two medals in this discipline.

Taking the bronze medal was China's Qieyang Shenjie, who placed fifth last year at the world championships. Qieyang finished in 1:25:16, 44 seconds before China's Liu Hong came across the line for her second straight fourth- place finish at the Summer Games.

Including the two men's races, Russia won two golds and a silver in race walking at the London Games. China had four total medals with one gold and three bronze.

Maria Michta of the United States finished in 29th place after achieving a personal best with a time of 1:32:27.