English race walkers gain international experience in Switzerland

Bosworth was part of the England Athletics race walking team competing in Switzerland, which comprised Callum Wilkinson, Erika Kelly – who will represent the Isle of Man at next month's Commonwealth Games – and Cameron Corbishley.

Kelly became only the tenth British woman to break the 100-minute barrier over 20km, securing a new Manx record and shaving two minutes off her personal best with her first sub 1:40.00, as she clocked 1:39.36 to land seventh place.

This result moves Kelly up to ninth on the UK's all-time rankings in a historic day for British race walking.

Fresh from his 3000m World Indoor best in Glasgow two weeks ago, Bosworth walked his first 20km since last year's World Championships, where he was disqualified.

He overcame cold, wet conditions to secure a second-place finish with 1:21:28, just two hundredths of a second behind the Japanese winner Koki Ikeda and three hundredths ahead of third-placed Masatora Kawano, also from Japan, making it the closest finish in the race's history.

Bosworth finished the race with his fourth-best time in poor conditions and no red cards, boosting his technical and physical credentials ahead of the Gold Coast.

"This was an opportunity to practise my race tactics, but I just left it too late to take the victory," said Bosworth, 28, who passed the race's halfway mark with the lead pack in 40.50.

"It was so cold and wet today, I am looking forward to racing in much warmer conditions on the Gold Coast."

Bosworth's success eased the blow of both Wilkinson and Corbishley being disqualified, with Wilkinson crushingly picking up a third red card on 17km.

But team coach Andi Drake encouraged the disqualified athletes to find a silver lining in their disappointment.

"It was a strong day from a British perspective, with two podium finishes and progression from Tom and Erika in the England team," he said.

"For the disqualified athletes, they should look to Bethan Davies, disqualified last year.

"She worked hard on technique, nutrition and confidence as well as fitness, and was our top finisher in the World Championships and made her first podium this weekend."

Sportsbeat 2018