Johanna Atkinson has continued her strong return to race walking by finishing 12th in her first 20k event after a break from competitive action
Teesside race walker Johanna Atkinson has continued her strong return to the sport by finishing 12th in her first 20k event after a break from competitive action.
Johanna, formerly Jackson, but now competing under her married name, set a good time of 93min 43secs in the Lugano Trophy in Switzerland.
While the time is outside her personal best, she was taking it cautiously as she builds up full fitness, and works on her technique, following disqualification for having both feet off the ground at the same time, in the London Olympics of 2012.
She had set 95.25 in Spain shortly before the Olympics, so is not far from top form, as she targets the Rio Olympics in just over two years’ time.
But more importantly she is now racing ‘clean’ having worked on the technicalities that cost her dearly in London. She took a break from competitive action after that, relocated on Teesside, and trained on her own.
The 29-year-old’s next event looks set to be near Shanghai in May when she plans to compete in the World Race Walking Cup in China.
She set the required national qualifying time in Switzerland, and is awaiting selection.
She has competed in China before, for she took part in the Beijing Olymics in 2008, where she finished 22nd in 91.33.
The event in Switzerland was only her second of any sort since last summer, when she eased her way back in the Albert Park Run in Middlesbrough last June.
Earlier this year she got that winning feeling in a 10k event in Coventry, finishing fourth overall and first in the women’s section.
Her coach Maureen Jackson said: “She’s back in competitive action, highly motivated, and looking forward to the challenges ahead, though now she has to juggle work and competitive athletics.”
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