8 April 2014

British Athletics today announced the Great Britain & Northern Ireland team for the IAAF World Race Walking Cup to be held in Taicang, China on 3-4 May.

Johanna Atkinson (coach: Maureen Jackson), Tom Bosworth (Andi Drake), Emma Achurch (Steve Arnold) and Ellie Dooley (Drake) complete the British quartet.

2010 Commonwealth champion and UK record holder Atkinson, will compete in the senior women’s 20km at her fifth IAAF World Race Walking Cup. The Middlesbrough & Cleveland athlete will be looking to improve on her competition best of 42nd, which was achieved two years ago in Saransk, Russia.

In the senior men’s 20km, Bosworth is GB & NI’s sole representative in China. In 2012 he finished in 72nd position. Achurch and Dooley are two talented youngsters looking to make an impression on the world stage in the junior women’s 10km.

Andi Drake, GB & NI team leader said: “We set tough qualifying for this event so the athletes selected can be competitive in China.

“It’s good to have Johanna Atkinson back and in good form. Both Jo and Tom Bosworth will target European Championships 20 km qualifying times.

“Ellie Dooley and Emma Achurch have gone to fifth and seventh in the UK all-time list this year and they represent the strongest pairing ever selected for a World Cup Team in the under 20 10 km.”

Men

Senior 20km: Tom Bosworth (Andi Drake)

Women

Senior 20km: Johanna Atkinson (Maureen Atkinson)

Junior 10km: Emma Achurch (Steve Arnold), Ellie Dooley (Andi Drake)