25 February 2008

Jo Jackson (Redcar Race Walking Club) broke the eight-year-old British 20km walking record by a healthy margin with a stunning victory at the Australian Championships in Melbourne on Saturday.

The 23 year old athlete, competing as a guest, clocked a time of 1:31:40, an Olympic Games ‘A’ qualifier, to smash Lisa Kehler’s previous best of 1:33:57.

Jackson, who has developed into the country’s first international-class walker for many years, decimated her previous fastest time of 1:36:28.

She finished well clear of Australia’s Kellie Wapshott and Claire Woods, who also produced lifetime best marks of 1:32:57 and 1:33:02 in Fawkner Park.

It was Jackson’s third and most important success since beginning a spell of warm-weather training and competition Down Under.

Jackson won a 3km walk in Canberra last month then, competing as a guest, claimed the New South Wales 5km title in Sydney.

Alton Towers provided a stage for thrilling performances at the 2008 National Cross Country Championships on Saturday.

In the senior events:

Tom Humphries (Cannock & Stafford AC) ran 00:32:03 to claim first place in the men’s 12k race.

Defending champion Liz Yelling (Bedford & County AC) triumphed in the women’s 8k race, ahead of a highly competitive field, with her time of 00:23:44.

For full results please visit www.englishcrosscountry.co.uk