Commonwealth Games awaits for Jackson

Leeds Met Sports Performance student Jo Jackson has been selected for England's 2010 Commonwealth Games team.

Jo has been selected following her victory in the UK and RWA National 20K Championships at Victoria Park, London, on 11th April.  Her winning time of 1hr 39min 14sec was within the guideline time of 1hr 42min a time she also bettered when recording 1hr 32min 37sec at the Gran Premio Citta di Lugano held in Lugano, Switzerland, during March.  As a result of her performance Johanna was recommended for selection by England Athletics and this was ratified by Commonwealth Games England.

Jo has made rapid progress in race walking having previously been a distance runner - she was a winner of the North Eastern Counties' Champs and finished in 12th place in the Under 20 National Cross Country Championships.  In 2004 she broke through into race walking and has gone on to be the fastest British woman of all time over both 20K and 10K.  At the last Commonwealth Games Johanna finished 7th but she has lowered her personal best time by a full 10min since then.

 Commenting on her selection Jo said: "I'm really excited to be selected for my second Commonwealth Games.  Four years ago it was a big learning experience for me but this time round I will be looking for a medal, hopefully gold.  I've never been out to India, however, I realise racing conditions could be difficult, but they will be the same for everyone and with the right preparations I hope to have a successful Games."

Carnegie Director of Race Walking, Dr Andrew Drake adds: "Johanna has now made her second Commonwealth Games Team after Melbourne in 2006 - since then she has gone on to compete in the European under-23 Championships, the World Athletics Championships (twice) and the Olympic Games. Our work together at Carnegie is to move Johanna to the front group in these races and the 2010 Commonwealth Games provides her with the opportunity to challenge for a medal, which will give her invaluable experience of learning to win in a Championship environment.

As part of her preparation Johanna will use the Environmental Chamber in the Carnegie Centre for Sport Performance & Wellbeing for three weeks prior to departing for the pre-Games holding camp. Jo's acclimation will form part of a study awarded a seeding grant from the Faculty entitled "The effects of an intermittent heat acclimation protocol on race walking economy" - the faculty will begin recruiting athletes to take part in this soon and it should create a productive training camp environment benefiting the Commonwealth Games athletes; others seeking late season performances; and the academic researchers studying high level performers.