Race walkers show strong form ahead of Delhi

Sports Performance Students Jo Jackson and Alex Wright competing in their last competition before the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, wrapped up their respective National 10km titles and UKA Race Walking Challenge Series at the UKA/EA/RWA National 10km at the University of Warwick.

In the Women's 10km Jo Jackson dominated the race from start to finish, to take the title in 45.31. Despite being in heavy training for the Commonwealth Games, she passed halfway in 22.30 and maintained a strong pace to the finish in 45.31. Speaking after the race Jackson said "I found that quite tough today, we have been in really hard training this week, and we have been using the Climate Chamber at Carnegie to acclimatise for India". Looking ahead to Delhi "I  am ranked number 1 in the Commonwealths, but the Aussie Girls will be pretty tough, I will be really disappointed not to come away with a medal". Behind Jackson, triple Commonwealth games Medallist and Carnegie Graduate Lisa Kehler, warmed up for her 5th Commonwealth Games by recording a seasons best of 48.24.

In the Men's 10km England's Commonwealth Games representatives, Carnegie duo Alex Wright and Tom Bosworth along with  Luke Finch (Colchester Harriers) moved ahead of the field in the early stages. The Leeds Met duo of Wright and Bosworth moved ahead of Finch at the 3km mark and went through 5km in 20.57. Boswoth and Wright continued together, but Boworth had 2 DQ's on the board. Bosworth made his move at the 7km mark and pulled out a 20 metre gap on Wright, but received his 3rd and final DQ at the 8km point. Finch meanwhile turned his ankle and decided not to risk further injury ahead of Delhi. This left the way clear for Wright to cruise home in a new personal best of 42.38 to put him top of the UK Rankings at 10km. Behind him a heavily strapped up Brendan Boyce had a cautious start but moved through the field to take 2nd in 45.55 to make it a Leeds Met 1-2, ahead of Dan King (Colchester Harriers) 46.25.

Wright said "It was great to walk a new personal best despite having done a real hard week's training, I have not tapered for this race at all and even yesterday did an hour session in the climate Chamber". Wright at the age of 19 has made a massive breakthrough in his first year as a Senior, looking forward to Delhi said "this is my first major Championships and I am hoping to produce a good performance and learn from the experience for the future".

Video footage and interviews with Jackson and Wright are available here