26th April 2012

Walking World Cup

26 April

UKA today announced a 10-strong Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the IAAF World Race Walking Cup to be held in Saransk, Russia on 12-13 May.

Headlining the team is 2010 Commonwealth champion and UK record holder Johanna Jackson (coach: Andi Drake), who will compete in the senior women’s 20km at her fourth IAAF World Race Walking Cup. The Middlesbrough & Cleveland athlete will be looking to improve on her competition best of 45th, which was achieved four years ago in Cheboksary, Russia.

In the men’s senior 50km event, twins Dominic King (Andi Drake) and Daniel King (Andi Drake) lead the GB&NI charge. The duo return to the IAAF international scene after a four-year absence. Dominic goes into the race in good form after taking eight minutes off his personal best to record an Olympic B standard time of 4:04.49 in Slovakia last month.

The squad of 10 is the largest to be selected for the IAAF World Race Walking Cup since 1999 and the event is also the first time Great Britain & Northern Ireland has had representation in all five of the event disciplines since the introduction of junior races in 2004.

The remarkable rise of Ellie Dooley (Andi Drake) continues to gather pace. The 16-year-old Leeds City athlete only began race walking in July 2011 and will compete in the junior women’s 10km, alongside national champion Heather Lewis (Martin Bell) and English schools winner Tash Webster (Martin Bell).

2010 Commonwealth Games competitors Tom Bosworth (Andi Drake) and Alex Wright (Ray Hall) are set to feature in the senior men’s 20km as well as 2012 RWA 20km champion Ben Wears (Jacinto Garzon).

Finally, Jamie Higgins (Andi Drake) will compete in the junior 10km.

 

MEN

Senior 50km: Dominic King (Andi Drake), Daniel King (Andi Drake)

Senior 20km: Tom Bosworth (Andi Drake), Ben Wears (Jacinto Garzon), Alex Wright (Ray Hall)

Junior 10km: Jamie Higgins (Andi Drake)

 

WOMEN

Senior 20km: Johanna Jackson (Andi Drake)

Junior 10km: Ellie Dooley (Andi Drake), Heather Lewis (Martin Bell), Tash Webster (Martin Bell)