08 April 2010

Top British race walker Jo Jackson (Redcar WC) will compete at Victoria Park, London on Sunday 11 April in a bid to make the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team which will contest the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Chihuahua, Mexico, 15-16 May.

Jackson, who set two British 5000m walk records in 2009 including an early season world-leading mark of 20:46.58 and then a British 20km walk record of 1:31:16, will make her third outing of the season in the senior women’s race.

She said: “Winter prep has gone really well. After spending the last two winters training out in Australia I decided to stay home this year and tough out the English weather with my new training group in Leeds. The big change for me since the summer has been relocating to Leeds Met Carnegie now the UK National Race Walking Centre. Its great to finally have training partners pushing me in sessions on a daily basis after training solo for so long. After the disappointment of being disqualified in Berlin I’ve also worked very hard on improving my technique over the winter months.

“I’m looking forward to the trial race this weekend and feel confident that I’m in shape to break my PB and finally break 91 mins, I’ve already broke my 10km PB by a minute this season so my 20km time definitely needs revising.”

The London venue also encompasses the National 20km Race Walking Championships, junior 10km Championships and RWA Younger Age Group Championships in a four race format beginning at 13:00.

Returning victors from last year include defending senior men’s champion Luke Finch (Colchester Harriers) and Mark O’Kane (Coventry Godiva), who won the Junior men’s 10k last year. 

2009 winners Emma Achurch (Ashford AC), Laurence Green (Steyning AC), James Green (Manx Harriers) and Jonathon Hobbs (Ashford AC) step up in their age groups for 2010, hoping to replicate their success and continue development towards senior racing.

Results will be available on www.uka.org.uk

Race Schedule

1.00 pm           Under 13 Boys and Girls 2kms

1.20 pm           Under 15 Boys and Girls 3kms

1.40 pm           Under 17 Mens and Womens 5kms

2.15 pm           Men/Women 20kms and Junior 10kms