Commonwealth Games Trials for Jackson

Leeds Met Sports Performance student Jo Jackson will take part in the Commonwealth Games Trials this weekend in London.

The 25 year old athlete, based at the UK Athletics National Race Walking Centre at the University's Headingley Campus has enjoyed a fine start to the season with success at both the CAU Inter Counties Championships and in a recent international 20k event in Switzerland.

This year is a busy one for Jackson who will be part of England's Commonwealth Games team in Delhi as well as competing in the World Cup in Mexico and the European Championships in Barcelona.

Speaking ahead of the weekend's trials in Victoria Park, London Jo said: "My target on Sunday is to set a new British 20km record which will qualify me for all this year's major championships.  I currently hold the record at 91:16, but 91:15 is the standard for the European Championships, so if I can dip under that, as well as winning, then I'll be selected automatically."

Carnegie Director of Race Walking, Dr Andrew Drake adds: "Jo heads up a quality group from Carnegie competing at the Nationals this weekend - Tom Bosworth and Alex Wright from her course are making their 20 km debuts. They are the top two ranked 10 km athletes in the UK currently so it is equally exciting to be working with Jo and seeing if the guys can transfer their shorter distance form into a Commonwealth Games qualifying performance - if they can it will be the perfect end to our first twelve months of operation as the The UKA National Centre for Race Walking".