On a not easy course that has a difference in altitude of about twenty meters in every one kilometer lap, the British Grand Prix of Race Walking 20km takes place on Sunday 30 June.
The race took place in a fairly cool morning with a temperature around 20° C
20km men
Exciting race
After 15 minutes, Wilkinson had taken to the front, leaving Bosworth in second, but just a few steps behind. The chasing pack were still together and were working hard to catch the leading men, now less than 15 seconds behind.
By the halfway point, Bosworth had caught Wilkinson once again and the men walked side by side, crossing the 10km mark in under 40 minutes.
Bosworth held the lead through the 11km mark, but by the 15km point, Wilkinson had reclaimed the lead. Still just half a lap behind, the race was heating up in the battle for the Grand Prix bronze medal, with Caporaso, Ojala, Kenny, McManamon, Boyce and Corbishley all still within a chance of a podium finish.
Victory for Callum Wilkinson (GBR) in 1:21:46.
The young U23 based in Leeds and trained by Andrew Drake came close to his personal best that he had obtained in Podebrady (CZE) on 6.4.2019 with a time of 1:21:34.
For Callum Wilkinson, who had improved his personal best in Bedford (GBR) on the 10,000m track walk (40:29.32) last week, the Leeds performance is the second in absolute of his career.
For him June 2019 was a very positive month.
Second place to Tom Bosworth (GBR) in 1:24:10.
For him almost a training (in fact he finished with his worst time of the 2019 season), after having obtained the fourth place in the European Cup for Alytus in 1:20:53 and in the prestigious La Coruna race the 25th place in 1:21:23
Third place to Teodorico Caporaso (ITA) with a time of 1:24:33 that improves the recent 1:24:55 obtained in La Coruna when he had to settle for 59th place
After a start not too fast, with a split time of 42:53 in the middle of the race, he managed to close in "negative split" changing the pace for a second part in 41:40.
Fourth place (and third for the British Athletic race) Cameron Corbishley (GBR) with a time of 1:24:42. Corbishley should also participate, as Caporaso, in the 50km of Doha.
20km women
Quick start of Heater Lewis (GBR) and established a strong lead ahead of Welsh compatriot Bethan Davies (GBR)
Their split times to 5km are 22:16 (Lewis) and 23:05 (Davies), respectively
In third place Erika Kelly.
Halfway through the race, Heater Lewis is in front of the race with a time of around 47:00, while Bethan Davies is second by just under a minute.
Victory for Heater Lewis (GBR) in 1:34:49 which still represents the new personal best of the athlete and the fifth time ever for a woman of the GBR on the distance of 20km.
Second place for Bethan Davies (GBR) in 1:36:59
Third place for Erika Kelly (GBR) in 1:42:54