Near the end of the first loop on the 2K course, our leaders settled in, with Ivano Brugnetti (2161) of Italy, leading the pack.  He was followed closely by the Chinese walkers as well as the other favorites, Jefferson Perez (1544) of Ecuador, Nathan Deaks (1056) of Australia, and Francisco Javier Fernandez (1578) of Spain.

Not comfortable with the lead pace, John Nunn, the lead American, set a pace of his own.