NSW Teams Race Walking Championships: Jack McGinniskin inform as Sophie Polkinghorne starts treble

1 June 2025

NSW Teams Race Walking Championships: Jack McGinniskin inform as Sophie Polkinghorne starts treble

The second NSW winter race walking championship of the season was held in ideal conditions at the new home of NSW race walking – Newington Armory.

Mingara’s Jack McGinniskin, the 2024 NSW Winter Male Distance Walker of the Year, was untroubled winning the open 10km walk. Jack clocked 43:47, equal to his best track time, but just outside his road best at the distance. He defeated Winston Hills athlete Brendan Pospischil who clocked 55:18. Sydney University’s Hannah Parker won the open women’s event in a time of 57:25.

“I'm happy with that considering where I've been this year so far. It’s my best 10k I've done all year,” noted Jack.

Multi-talented Hills athlete Sophie Polkinghorne won the under-16 5km walk by over three minutes in a time of 24:54. The time was a 92 seconds PB. But it was just a warmup for a massive day for Sophie. After a couple of hours rest, she returned to competition at the same venue in the afternoon’s NSW Cross Country Relays. Competing in both the under-18 and under-16 events, she recorded the fastest legs in each event.

A couple of other notable performances from two winners at the road walks were: Joel Byatt (Girraween) U20 10km walk 46:47 and Callum Martin (Adamstown New Lambton) U16 5km walk 24:42.

Next challenge for Jack McGinniskin?

It has been a terrific 18 months for Jack. He took a moment to reflect on a bright period in his career and what is next up for him. Two years ago, Jack’s best 20km walk was 1:36.16, but over the last two years he has taken exactly 10 minutes form that time. In 2024 it was down to 1:27.57, then in February this year another leap forward to 1:26.16.

“I walked a massive PB there. I clocked 1:26.16, which was a big time for me,” said Jack.

“That was obviously off the back of a big 2024.

“In 2024 I got a lot stronger so it made it a lot easier to walk the quicker times and then also a month training camp in Canberra, through January, helps a lot to get really strong and quick. So off the back of that, the races are generally pretty good.”

Jack clocks up between 100km and 120km of training each week. It is a big commitment and requires a lot of perseverance.

“Some days it's hard but I see how good the other boys are doing and their times and then that's just motivating me more because I want to be able to be up there with them and make those teams. So that's kind of what keeps me motivated and helps me get through all the hard training and even the tough races,” said Jack who is studying exercise and sports science and a casual job.

His current goal is to make the World Race Walking Teams Championship in 2026. His push starts next Sunday in Canberra at the Lake Burley Griffin Federation walks.

“I’ll walk 35km down there. It's going to be my second 35k that I've done.”

Is he thinking he is a 20km or 35km athlete?

“I'm fluctuating in between at the moment because I'm looking forward to trying to race a marathon at the end of the year and see how that goes.”

Marathon and half marathon will be the new race walking distances from the end of 2025.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Jack McGinniskin (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)