Racewalker defies odds to take silver

Bunbury champion racewalker Lyn Ventris has once again defied the odds and had international success.

Ventris won silver in the 5000m track walk at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Perth which were held last month.

But her reoccurring hamstring injury caused heartbreak for the 60-year-old, after she was forced to pull out of the 10km road walk.

Ventris said she was proud to get the silver medal.

“Considering I only had three weeks preparation for these championships I was happy to just be out there and competing,” she said.

Ventris said she was disappointed to not be able to contest the 10km road walk as planned.

“The next day I went to train and it was really sore,” she said.

“I contacted the physio and doctor and they said considering what I have coming up that it was not worth the risk.

“It was going to set me back.”

Ventris has not rested though, with the racewalker already back in the gym working towards next year’s World Masters Indoor Athletics Championships in South Korea.

“I am targeting that at the moment,” she said.

“I will aim for the 300m at the indoor track and the 10km road walk outside.”