By the end of the second lap of the 2K course, Hongiun Zhu was still with the lead pack, but his teammate slid back leaving the front to Brugnetti, Jefferson Perez, Nathan Deaks, and Fernandez.

With so many people at the front, other walkers took their turn in the front of the pack.  Here, Noe Hernandez (2519) of Mexico moves up for a bit.

With the lead pack firmly established, John Nunn lead the chase pack.  If Seaman and Eastler’s concerns about the heat materialized, it seemed Nunn was also in an excellent position to capitalize on other walkers’ foolishly fast start.  Could our trio of walkers exploit the same strategy that Larry Young employed in the ’68 Olympic Games leading to the USA’s first 50K Olympic medal.

By about 5K, still close to last, Seaman and Eastler see their plan take form.  Eastler remembers “the reel in had started.”

Unobserved by many, Ernesto Canto (Olympic 20K gold medalist), commentated the Telemundo broadcast.

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