British Athletics have today announced five athletes that will #REPRESENT their country in the 20km at the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships in Taicang, China from 5-6 May 2018.
Tom Bosworth (coach: Andi Drake; club: Tonbridge) and Bethan Davies (Drake; Cardiff) earn selection, and lead the team, announced less than a week after securing brilliant 20km silver and bronze medals respectively at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
Bosworth will head to Taicang in fine form having set a new British record of 79:38 minutes to claim Commonwealth silver in Australia and is set for his fourth successive appearance at the Championships as one of two men selected.
Callum Wilkinson (Drake; Enfield & Haringey), who finished a hugely impressive seventh at the Commonwealth Games, will also join Bosworth in China while Gold Coast bronze medallist Davies made her debut at the Championships in 2016.
Davies, who set a new personal best of 91:53 in Switzerland in March, is part of a British women’s trio to earn selection alongside Gemma Bridge (Mark Wall; Oxford) and Heather Lewis (Chris Jones; Pembrokeshire), which gives Britain the chance to compete for a place in the women’s team standings in China.
Bridge and Lewis both also competed at the Commonwealth Games, finishing fifth and seventh respectively, and will compete alongside Davies in the women’s 20km on 5 May. Bosworth and Wilkinson will compete in the men’s 20km a day later on 6 May.
Team Leader Andi Drake said: “Fresh from a successful Commonwealth Games for British race walking in Australia, we have selected a strong team of five for next month’s IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships in China.
“The Championships come quickly after Gold Coast but it is a great opportunity for the team to carry over their form onto the world stage. Tom and Bethan have the experience of competing at the Championships before while Callum, Gemma and Heather will relish the challenge of walking in China.”
The British team set to #REPRESENT in the 20km at the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships Taicang 2018:
Men:
Tom Bosworth (Andi Drake; Tonbridge)
Callum Wilkinson (Andi Drake; Enfield & Haringey)
Women:
Bethan Davies (Andi Drake; Cardiff)
Gemma Bridge (Mark Wall; Oxford)
Heather Lewis (Chris Jones; Pembrokeshire)
