Tom Bosworth and Abigail Jennings take the England 20k walks titles

Tom Bosworth (Tonbridge AC: Andi Drake) and Abigail Jennings (Aldershot Farnham & District AC: Verity Snook) took the England 20km race walk titles at the Brownlee Centre.

Bosworth moved to the top of the UK Rankings for 2022 clocking 85.27, as he regained the title he last won on 2018. Bosworth had the added bonus of clocking 40.53 at the 10km mark, well inside the England Commonwealth Games standard of 41.30. Jennings took the title in a new personal best of 1.48.57.

Bosworth set the early pace alongside, Guy Thomas (Tonbridge AC: Verity Snook) and Leeds-based Chris Snook (Aldershot Farnham & District AC) who were also chasing the Welsh and English standard of 41.30 over 10km. Bosworth put in 3.59 third kilometre to drop Snook and Thomas and passed the 5km mark in 20.21. Snook paid for a brave effort of trying to go with Bosworth and dropped out just after the 5km point. Thomas was disqualified at the 7km point. Bosworth forged ahead to pass the 10km mark on 40.53. He backed off the pace in the second half with a 22.02 split between 10km and 15km and a final 5km split of 22.31 to bring him home in a finishing time of 85.27.

Bosworth said, "My main aim today was to get the England Commonwealth time at 10km and then use the second half to see where my fitness is at. I am racing over 10km in Madrid in 2 weeks' time and will then chase the 20km qualifying time for the World and European Championship in La Coruna at the end of May."

Cameron Corbishley (Medway and Maidstone: Andi Drake) improved his season's best of 88.12 that he set in Podebrady to clock 88.02 and move to 2nd on the UK Rankings for 2022 - taking the silver medal. Tom Partington (Manx Harriers) took the bronze medal in 96.09.

Abigail Jennings (Aldershot Fareham & District: Verity Snook) set a new personal best of 1.48.57 improving on her debut performance of 1.49.29 set at Kew Gardens last year to take her first England title over 20km. Jacqueline Benson (Ashford AC: Chris Hobbs) took the silver medal in the England Championship in a new personal best of 1.57.14.

England Results

Men

1 Tom Bosworth Tonbridge AC SM 01:25:27
2 Cameron Corbishley Medway & Maidstone AC SM 01:28:02
3 Tom Partington Manx Harriers SM 01:36:09

Women

1 Abigail Jennings Aldershot Farnham & District AC U23 01:48:57
2 Jacqueline Benson Ashford AC U23 01:57:14

Photo: Mark Easton