21 March 2016 

IAAF Race Walking Challenge, Dudince, Slovakia, 19 March

Tom Bosworth (coach: Andi Drake) continued his remarkable record breaking form by smashing Ian McCombie’s nearly 28-year-old British 20km walk record with a stunning victory in the latest IAAF Race Walking Challenge competition. The 26-year-old pride of Tonbridge Athletics Club made it four UK records in three months as he followed his two indoor 3000m performances in Sheffield and his 5km record in Bratislava by bettering the 82:03 that McCombie set for 20km at the Seoul Olympics back in September 1988, one year and four months before Bosworth was born.

Bosworth finished in 80:41, improving his own PB by 1:39. He powered through the halfway mark in 39:58 and only suffered a marginal drop in pace over the second half, winning by 11 seconds from Italy’s Matteo Giuppani, the runner up in 80:52, with Sweden’s Ato Ibanez third in 80:54.

“I know I’m in the form of my life and have been desperate to break the 20km record to complete my set,” said Bosworth. “I knew the form I was in I should by pass it and send a real message to the rest of the world. I did that and I know I have more in the tank to give. Exciting times for the World Race Walking Cup in May and of course Rio.”

Bosworth’s time was comfortably inside the British Athletics Olympic qualifying standard of 80:24, the fourth time he has finished inside the mark of 84:00. 

The 50km races incorporated the official British Athletics Olympic trial and the first British walker across the line in the men’s event was Dominic King (George Nibre). The Colchester Harrier finished 32nd in 4:08:00. The British Athletics Olympic qualifying standard is 4:02:00. King clocked a lifetime best of 3:59:22 in the German Championships in October last year. His twin brother, Daniel King (Dominic King) finished 39th in 4:19:12.

Callum Wilkinson (Mick Graham) was a clear winner of the under-20 10km event in 41:36 – just five seconds outside of the British junior record he set in Coventry earlier this month.

http://www.hrdosport.sk/Online?CompetitionId=96&DisciplineListId=2194&DisciplineCode=&Code=RES

Lisbon Half Marathon, Portugal, 19 March

Six-time Paralympic champion David Weir (Jenny Archer) led the way as British wheelchair racers completed a double one-two on the streets of the Portuguese capital. Weir won the men’s race in 42:23, his fastest time over the distance in seven years and a course record, with Simon Lawson (Ian Thompson) second in 43:55. Will Smith (Jenny Archer) was seventh in 52:28 and Moatez Jomni (Jenny Archer) eighth in 52:52.

The women’s race was a much closer affair, Shelly Woods (Jenny Archer) claiming victory in 49:49, just one second ahead of Jade Jones (Ian Thompson), second in 49:50, both achieving personal bests over the distance. 

http://www.meiamaratonadelisboa.com/en/classificacoes/classificacoes-2016/classificacoes-wheelchair-racing-2016/

Home Countries International Cross Country, Falkirk, 18 March

Scotland’s Andy Douglas (Sophie Dunnett) and England’s Claire Duck (Mick Baxter) took the individual honours in the senior races, while England completed a clean sweep of all four team events. Douglas finished five seconds clear in the men’s 10km race in 31:27, ahead of English athletes Alexander Teuten (Roderick Lock) and Alastair Watson. The battle for the women’s 8km title went down to a sprint finish, Duck getting the verdict in 28:32, the same time as runner-up and England team mate Jane Potter with Scot Sarah Inglis (John Lees) ten seconds back in third place.

The two U20 races were also close affairs. Christopher Olley (Mark Hookway) took the junior men’s 8km title in 25:07, just one second ahead of England team-mate Gus Cockle (Mick Woods), with Ellis Cross (Mick Woods) completing an English clean sweep in third. Gemma Holloway won the junior women’s 6km race in 21:31, a second ahead of her England team-mate Abbie Donnelly (Rob Lewis), with Anna McFadyen (coach: unknown) of Scottish Schools third in 21:56.

http://www.thepowerof10.info/resultsfiles/2016/147324_12658_19032016195554_HC_XC_2016.pdf

London Colleges Series, Parliament Hill, 19 March 

Rosie Clarke (David Harmer) ran the fourth fastest time by a Briton over the 2000km steeplechase with a time of 6:29.53. The Epsom & Ewell athlete was part of the British team at the European Indoor Championships last year and ran a convincing race to take the victory as well. 

http://www.powerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=163908

Please note, a full report from the IPC Grand Prix in Dubai will follow later today.