Carlos Sánchez took the men's 20 kilometre Pan American Race Walking Cup title in the Mexican city of Lazaro Cardenas ©Getty Images

Mexico's Carlos Sánchez took the men's 20 kilometres Pan American Race Walking Cup title after coming third in the International Athletics Association Federation (IAAF) Race Walking Challenge in the Mexican city of Lazaro Cardenas. 

The Pan American competition had been integrated into the fifth leg of the IAAF Race Walking Challenge won by Sweden's Perseus Karlström in 1 hour 23min 40sec.

Sánchez secured the continental title as the athlete with the fastest time from the region, coming third in 1:24:01. 

It was the first time that a male Mexican had claimed the accolade at 20km since 2013. 

Spain's Diego García, joint winner of the 2018 IAAF Race Walking Challenge, finished second with a time of 1:23:59.

Sweden's Perseus Karlström won the men's 20km in the fifth leg of this year's IAAF Race Walking Challenge in Lazaro Cardena in Mexico, beating Spain's Diego García ©Getty Images
Sweden's Perseus Karlström won the men's 20km in the fifth leg of this year's IAAF Race Walking Challenge in Lazaro Cardena in Mexico, beating Spain's Diego García ©Getty Images

Brazil's Erica De Sena triumphed in the women's 20km in 1:29:22, taking both the Pan American and overall victory. 

Peru's Kimberly García completed the race in 1:29:33 to claim second place.

Spain's European champion Maria Pere was in third place with 1:31:11 on her season debut.

The competition is due to continue tomorrow with the men and women's 50km event.