Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) walking couple Jared and Claire Tallent have defended their national titles at the 2011 Australian 20km Walks Championships in Hobart and Jared’s sister Rachel, also an AIS athlete, won the girls’ 10km event.

Jared led all the way in the men’s 20km – round one of the IAAF Race Walking Challenge – recording a time of 1:20.18: two minutes and 12 seconds under the qualifying standard for the 2011 IAAF World Championships.

AIS team-mates Luke Adams (1:21.00) and Adam Rutter (1:22.25) finished in second and third place, respectively, also giving them a chance for a spot on the Australian team for the 2011 world championships. The world championships take place in Daegu, South Korea from 27 August to 4 September.

‘It was tough out there in quite unusual Tasmanian humidity so I struggled in the last 10km to be honest,’ Jared said. ‘It’s a good start to my season and I’m now looking forward to upcoming races in Mexico and China before building towards the 20 kilometre and 50 kilometre double in Daegu.

‘I’ve qualified for both events now and came home from Beijing with two medals so that is what I want to see happen at the world champs.’

Jared’s wife Claire dominated the women’s 20km event, finishing in 1:33.38: one minute and 30 seconds ahead of AIS team-mate Reagan Lamble. The AIS’s Cheryl Webb finished in fourth place with a time of 1:36.55.

‘Jared seems to be showing the way of late and it’s always great to follow him across the line for first shortly after he finishes,’ Claire said. ‘Tonight’s time was outside the qualifying mark but with a few others to my name and now the national championship I have earned selection and that’s what I was chasing.

‘Like Jared I will head overseas to compete before coming back to Australia for some serious base training with Deagu in my sights as of now.’

Rachel Tallent won the girls’ 10km event in 48.40, beating her personal best by 50 seconds. The youngest of member of the Tallent family was thrilled with the result and now has her sights set on the 2012 junior world championships, taking place in Barcelona.

‘It’s been a great night for the family, we are all rapt with how we’ve walked and that’s exciting,’ Rachel said. ‘For me heading to the AIS has been amazing, Brent [coach Brent Vallance] and the facilities are fantastic and to take 50 seconds of my PB is just unreal.

‘World juniors in 2012 are where I want to be so I’ll keep working towards that with the Olympics hopefully somewhere in my future, fingers crossed.’