By Owen Morgan
Welsh race walkers Bethan Davies and Heather Lewis have been included in a strong Great Britain team to compete at the European Race Walking Cup in Lithuania next month.
Lewis has made a spectacular start to 2019, having claimed the British Indoor 5K title in February and lowered her 10k personal best in March, before setting a new PB over 20k in the Czech Republic last weekend.
The Pembrokeshire athlete slashed 11 seconds off her previous best time as she clocked 95:04 at the Poderbrady Race Walking Competition, taking her to fourth on the UK’s all-time list over 20K.
Multiple British champion Davies, of Cardiff AC, was also in action at the weekend, taking part in the IAAF Race Walking Challenge in Rio Maior, Portugal, where she clocked 99:43 over 20K.
Both athletes took part in the European Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games last year, and are both survivors of the Great Britain team which took part in the last European Race Walking Cup two years ago in the Czech Republic.
The eight-strong team selected for this year’s event, which takes place in Alytus on May 19, includes men’s 20k British record holder Tom Bosworth, of Tonbridge.
Team Leader Andi Drake said: “I am delighted to announce a very strong British team to compete at the European Race Walking Cup in Alytus.
“Already this year we have seen some extremely promising performances from our race walkers, several already hitting world qualification standards, and we look forward to seeing what we can do in Lithuania next month.
“Seven of the eight athletes selected raced in the event two years ago and it is always a great opportunity to compete against the best in Europe and we expect to be competitive across the board.”
The full British team selected for the European Race Walking Cup Alytus 2019:
Senior 20km:
Men:
Tom Bosworth (Tonbridge; Andi Drake)
Cameron Corbishley (Medway & Maidstone; Andi Drake)
Dominic King (Colchester; George Nibre)
Callum Wilkinson (Enfield & Haringey; Andi Drake)
Women:
Bethan Davies (Cardiff; Andi Drake)
Erika Kelly (Northern; Steve Partington)
Heather Lewis (Pembrokeshire; Martin Bell)
Junior 10km
Men:
Christopher Snook (Aldershot Farnham & District; Verity Snook).