The Latest: Despite heat, 50k walks to go on as scheduled

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The Latest on the track and field world championships (all times local):

5:45 p.m.

This will not be a walk in the park. The IAAF says the 50k race walks will go on as scheduled.

The races will take place Saturday night on the same course as the women’s marathon, which kicked off the night before at midnight in humidity that made it feel like 105 degrees (40 Celsius).

Twenty-eight of the 68 women dropped out. The IAAF pointed out that the completion rate was similar to those at world championships in Tokyo (1991) and Moscow (2013). Next year’s Olympic marathons in Tokyo are scheduled to start at 6 a.m., and runners can expect to face similar intense heat.

The IAAF said 30 runners visited the medical center as a precaution. A small number were kept under observation and one was sent to a hospital before being released.

Winner Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya crossed the finish line at 2:34 a.m.

Both the men’s and women’s race walks are scheduled for 11:30 p.m. Saturday. The women’s race should last around 4 hours, 30 minutes.