Australian Deakes sets 50km walk world record

ADELAIDE, Dec 2 (Reuters) Nathan Deakes of Australia set a world record of three hours 35 minutes 47 seconds for the men's 50 kilometre road walk at Geelong today.

Deakes wiped 16 seconds off the previous world record of 3:36.03 set by Robert Korzeniowski of Poland at the 2003 world championships in Paris.

Deakes, 29, was two minutes under world record pace at the 40km mark and held his stride together over the final stages despite reaching near exhaustion.

''It's obviously quite a surprise. I didn't think I was in that kind of shape,'' he told reporters.

''To break a world record is really special. To do it at home is even nicer.'' Deakes has been among the world's top walkers for the past five years but has never won a world or Olympic title although he completed the 20km-50km double at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games.

He finished third in the 20km at the 2004 Athens Olympics but was disqualified for lifting in the 50km after challenging Korzeniowski for the lead.

''I had a great training camp at altitude in U.S. but the key has been the fact that I have been injury free for the last six months,'' he said.

''I'm getting older and it's getting harder, but right now I'm very, very content.'' REUTERS PM RAI0938