This is Kent --TOM BOSWORTH got his season off to the perfect start by smashing his 10k personal best at Coventry.
The Kemsing racewalker's tough winter training paid dividends with a superb display, coming home in 40min 44sec. Incidentally, the time is the fastest by a British athlete in 21 years.
"I'm over the moon," 23-year-old Bosworth said. "With tired legs I went out there to just try to prove my fitness and to get the backing of England Athletics to go to the next couple of 20km races in Europe. I needed to perform, but I didn't think I would do that well."
Buoyed by his early form, Bosworth is off to Lugano, Switzerland, for an open 20km Grand Prix race where he is targeting a World Championship qualifying A standard. Bosworth walked one hour 24min 49sec last year, but needs 1.24:00 to qualify for Moscow.
"That 10km time proved I'm well under," Bosworth said. "I don't think there will be any problems."
It seems a change in winter training has done the trick for Bosworth. He usually spends a chunk of the winter months warm weather training in Australia or Spain, but this year decided to stay in the UK.
"It's been tough, especially staying in England," Bosworth said. "It's my first winter since 2010 in England as I had a dissertation to complete.
"Despite that, and despite the weather, I have had a brilliant winter. I've put the miles in. It could not have gone any better."
He added: "It's my final year at university, I'll be done by April and I think that will help me. Previously I've had assignments to do before competing in the European Championships. This time, the season is open.
"I hope I can really push on and hopefully get in the top 100 in the world or even higher than that." Reported by This is 3 hours ago.