With the event in its infancy, Inês Henriques (POR) had set the world record in January.

Two years prior to this becoming an IAAF ratified event, Erin Taylor-Talcott held the world record.

Behind the lead pack, a chase pack formed by Yang Shuqing (CHN), Katie Burnett (USA) and Nair da Rosa (BRA) walking closely together past 15k before da Rosa fell off the pace.

Yin managed to pull back a few seconds over the final 5k, finishing less than a minute short of Henriques' previous world record, but Henriques took two and a half minutes off of that record with this win in 4:05:56.

Both silver medalist Yin and fourth place Burnett set their respective continental records.