England Athletics Senior 10k Championships

Sunday 11 March 2018

New HPH members Agata Kowalska and Erika Pontarollo both got a mention in England Athletics race preview last Wednesday (https://www.englandathletics.org/england-athletics-news/england-10k-walks-champs?returnLink=bmV3cy5hc3B4P3NpdGVzZWN0aW9uaWQ9NDImc2l0ZXNlY3Rpb250aXRsZT1FbmdsYW5kK0F0aGxldGljcytOZXdzJm9yaWdpbmFscGF0aD1lbmdsYW5kLWF0aGxldGljcy1uZXdzJnBhZ2U9MiZyYW5nZT0=) with an expectation of a good “…head to head…”.

This wasn’t how it turned out on the day with mixed fortunes for our debutants. Erika had had to step out of training on Thursday with soreness from strength and conditioning work earlier in the week. Although she started the race well, she was still struggling and was unable to finish the distance.
But it was a different story for Agata. In difficult conditions she walked strongly, pulling away from the three women fighting it out for the English title. Her dominance in the race continued and she crossed the line over four minutes ahead of Ana Garcia (Sheffield). Although Agata achieved her sub 50 minute target – finishing in 49:42 – she was disappointed to marginally miss her own PB set in Poland. Her time places her second on the HPH all-time rankings behind Ellie Dooley (49:26) but ahead of New Zealand international Alana Barber (51:50).
In the Junior 5kw, Pagen Spooner started her season with a 5th place 31:13, being just edged out of 4th by regular close rival Laura Achurch (Leicester) by just 6 seconds.”
Sam Dooley

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