Mexican walkers Joel Sanchez, Miguel Rodriguez and Carlos Mercenario have a message for their national athletics federation: take a hike.

Mexico has a strong tradition in the discipline but Sanchez and Rodriguez didn't finish Wednesday's 50-kilometre walk in the World Championships, and Mercenario was a disappointing 24th.

``The federation isn't interested in the walkers,'' Sanchez said. ``They want victories, but they don't support us.''

``We lack many things,'' Rodriguez said. ``We need more help and when we ask, they make us wait and everything is paperwork.''

SECURITY TIGHTENED: Ridiculed when Basque separatist protesters sneaked on stage at the opening ceremony last Friday, Spanish police have clamped down on security.

Fans, journalists and even VIPs were subjected to airport-like security searches. Reporters at some gates waited in long lines as their bags were passed through an X-ray machine and they were ushered through metal detectors.

HOTSTUFF: Even after race-walking 50 kilometers (31 miles) under a searing sun for nearly four hours, German Skurygin of Russia still had enough energy for a victory lap.

The 35-year-old grabbed a Russian flag from someone in the stands and jogged around the track, while a flock of photographers had a tough time keeping pace. ``It was hard, but not the worst I've felt in my career,'' Skurygin said. ``When you are winning, you are relaxed.''