The Ballarat Olympian claimed the title in Adelaide, about five kilometres from his home and training base on Sunday morning – with his men’s crown doubling as the Oceania Championship prize and round one of the IAAF World Race Walking Challenge.

Victory reinforces Tallent’s status as one of Australia’s leading athletes and top race walker.

The win strengthens his bid for the 20km race walk at the IAAF world track and field championships in Beijing later this year. Tallent has already been selected to compete in the 50km walk – an event in which the race walker has captured two Olympic silver medals.

“I definitely want to double in Beijing,” Tallent said. 

“I had a lot of success there in 2008 and it would be amazing to replicate that. I believe that I always walk better in the 50km event if I’ve had the chance to race the 20km earlier in the program.

“There’s a bit of work to do before then. I’ve got a couple of races on the cards in Mexico and Japan, and some time at the altitude house at the AIS as well. I’m looking forward to it all.”

Tallent was in dominant form to claim his Australian title.

He clocked a winning time of one hour, 24 minutes and five seconds to finish clear ahead of runner-up New Zealander Quentin Rew (1:25:22) and Victorian Chris Erickson (1:25:42).

Tallent built a lead from the first of 10 two-kilometre loops.

By four kilometres in, Tallent had a 30-second gap on his chasers Erickson, Rew and Victorian Rhydian Cowley.

Tallent kept pushing and was near his personal best pace by the half-way mark.

“My intention was to walk alongside Dane (Bird-Smith) but unfortunately due to sickness he wasn’t able to race today and that changed my plans from the outset,” Tallent said.

“I thought I would start a bit quicker and see if I was strong enough to hold off the other guys and I was able to do that, so it’s a good result.”

Rachel Tallent, Jared’s younger sister, claimed bronze in the Australian women’s 20km title race.

Tallent (1:35:03) was third to South Australian Tanya Holliday (1:34:05) in a tight, hard-fought battle with New South Wales’ Beki Smith second in 1:34:35.

Meanwhile, Ballarat’s Kathryn Mitchell renewed her summer duel with emerging javelin thrower Kelsey-Lee Roberts in the Adelaide Track Classic on Saturday night.

Mitchell (59.71m) got the better of Roberts by one centimetre but was forced to settle for second in the women’s javelin event to China’s Li Lingwei.

Eureka distance runner Stewart McSweyn continued a solid debut season on the Australian Athletics Tour.

McSweyn was third in the men’s 3000m, clocking 8:16.67, behind South Australian victor Reilly Shaw (8:15.79).

melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au