China's Liu Hong competes during the women's 50km race at the Chinese Race Walk Grand Prix in Huangshan, east China's Anhui Province, March 9, 2019. Liu Hong became the first woman to break the 4-hour barrier in 50km event as she cruised to a 3:59:15 victory to set the world record on Saturday. (Xinhua/Shi Yalei)
HUANGSHAN, China, March 9 (Xinhua) -- China's star race walker Liu Hong became the first woman to break the 4-hour barrier in 50km event as she cruised to a 3:59:15 victory to set the world record at the Chinese Race Walk Grand Prix here on Saturday.
The top two finishers both beat the former world record of 4:4:36 set by countrywoman Liu Rui at the 2018 IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships in Taicang.
The 31-year-old Liu, gold medalist at the 2016 Olympic Games, also holds the women's 20km world record thanks to her 1:24:38 win in La Coruna, Spain back in 2015.
