26th June 2019

57 SET TO REPRESENT THE BRITISH TEAM AT EUROPEAN ATHLETICS UNDER-23 CHAMPIONSHIPS

European U23 leaders in the rankings Kristal Awuah and Cameron Chalmers, reigning 200m champion Finette Agyapong, Olympic sixth placer Morgan Lake, and 2018 world junior champions Jake Norris and Jona Efoloko are among the names to headline a British team of 57 for the European Under-23 Championships which will be held in Gavle, Sweden next month from 11-14 July.

Reigning champion Agyapong (coach: Coral Nourrice; club: Newham & Essex Beagles) and double world junior bronze medallist Kristal Awuah (Matthew Thomas; Herne Hill) earn selection in the 200m. Awuah leads the continental 2019 rankings following her 23.24 clocking at the weekend in difficult weather conditions.

Awuah will also join the women’s 4x100m relay team at the Gavlehov Stadium Park, which will also include Alisha Rees (Leon Baptiste; Edinburgh) who she joined forces with as part of the bronze-medal winning relay team at the world juniors last year. Agyapong is part of the women’s 4x400m set-up.

Chalmers (coach: James Hillier; club: Guernsey) is selected for the individual 400m at these championships following a commanding victory at the trials in Bedford last weekend.

The Guernsey athlete will also spearhead the men’s 4x400m relay, a team in which he won gold at the 2017 championship. The 2018 senior European 4x400m relay silver-medallist will join Lee Thompson (John Henson; Sheffield & Dearne) in the relay who was also part of the triumphant team in Bydgoszcz two years ago.

Meanwhile, Commonwealth silver medallist Morgan Lake (Fuzz Caan; Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow) goes in the women’s high jump. A double world junior champion back in 2014, Lake will compete in her first European U23 Championships.

Following a British U23 record of 1:21:34 in the 20km race walk, Callum Wilkinson (Andi Drake; Enfield & Haringey) books his place on the plane to Sweden. His PB set in Podebrady in April was a significant best by over a minute and ranks him second in Europe this year.

After revising her career best to 2:01.45 earlier this month, Jemma Reekie (Andy Young; Kilbarchan) will be a strong contender for the podium places in the 800m, an event she is ranked second in Europe. She narrowly won a tough battle with Ellie Baker (Jon Bigg; Shaftesbury Barnet) at the trial, and both athletes will take on the best in Europe.

Also lowering her 1500m PB to 4:05.82 in Ostrava last week, Reekie doubles up over the three-and three-quarter lap distance.

British Indoor 60m champion Dom Ashwell (Marvin Rowe; Shaftesbury Barnet) and Oliver Bromby (Southampton) head up the men’s 100m, while Shemar Boldizsar (Vincent Lawrence; Harlow AC) secured his first international call-up in the 200m following an excellent performance at the trials. All three will be involved in the men’s 4x100m relay team which will be among the favourites for the European crown.

World junior champions Jake Norris (Paul Dickenson; Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) and Jona Efoloko (Michael Afilaka; Sale Harriers Manchester) are also included on the team sheet for Gavle; Norris selected for the hammer while Efoloko joins the men’s 4x100m relay squad.

Team Leader Michael Afilaka commented:

“We are delighted to have selected such a strong team for these championships in Sweden. It is a proud moment for the athletes and their coaches and I congratulate them on earning selection.

“We have several medal contenders who will push the best in Europe over the four days of competition. There is great variety on the team, from those who have medalled at previous age-group championships, to those who have made excellent progress in recent years to earn selection again or their first call-ups for the British team. For others, it will be a key marker for the World Championships later this year. I’m excited to see how they all perform in Gavle next month.”

 

The British Athletics team for the European U23 Championships in Gavle, Sweden between 11-14 July:

Men:

100m: Dom Ashwell (Marvin Rowe; Shaftesbury Barnet); Oliver Bromby (Southampton)

200m: Shemar Boldizsar (Vincent Lawrence; Harlow AC); Toby Harries (Brighton Phoenix)

400m: Cameron Chalmers (James Hillier; Guernsey)

800m: Spencer Thomas (Jon Bigg; Brighton Phoenix)

1500m: Piers Copeland (Bob Smith; Wimborne); Jake Heyward (James Thie; Cardiff)

5000m: William Fuller (George Gandy; Blackheath & Bromley); Petros Surafel (Mick Woods; Thames Valley)

10,000m: Emile Cairess (Philip Townsend; Leeds City); Mahamed Mahamed (Peter Haynes; Southampton); Jake Smith (Cardiff; James Thie)

110m Hurdles: Cameron Fillery (Michael Baker; Woodford Green & Essex Ladies); Tade Ojora (Caryl Smith-Gilbert; Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow); James Weaver (Laura Turner-Alleyne; Enfield & Haringey)

400m Hurdles: Alex Knibbs (Nick Dakin; Amber Valley & Erewash)

20km Race Walk: Cameron Corbishley (Andi Drake; Medway & Maidstone); Callum Wilkinson (Andi Drake; Enfield & Haringey)

4x100m Relay: Dom Ashwell; Oliver Bromby; Shemar Boldizsar; Kaie Chambers-Brown (Sharon Morris; Birchfield); Jona Efoloko (Michael Afilaka; Sale Harriers Manchester); Michael Olsen (Jonas Dodoo; Edinburgh)

4x400m Relay: Joe Brier (Matt Elias; Swansea); Cameron Chalmers; Ellis Greatrex (Michael Baker; Woodford Green Essex Ladies); Alex Haydock-Wilson (Michael Baker; Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow); Alex Knibbs; Lee Thompson (John Henson; Sheffield & Dearne)

High Jump: Tom Gale (Denis Doyle; Team Bath)

Pole Vault: Adam Hague (Trevor Fox; Sheffield & Dearne); Joel Leon Benitez (Robert Philips; Notts); Charlie Myers (Chris Boundy; Middlesbrough)

Long Jump: Reynold Banigo (Lukasz Zawila); Jacob Fincham-Dukes (Zivile Pukstiene; Leeds City)

Triple Jump: Ade Mason (Alfredo Melo; Shaftesbury Barnet)

Discus: George Armstrong (Zane Duquemin; Newham & Essex Beagles); George Evans (Colin McCulloch; Shaftesbury Barnet)

Javelin: Harry Hughes (Mark Roberson; Newham & Essex Beagles)

Hammer: Jake Norris (Paul Dickenson; Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

 

Women:

200m: Finette Agyapong (Coral Nourrice; Newham & Essex Beagles); Kristal Awuah (Matthew Thomas; Herne Hill)

400m: Lily Beckford (Linford Christie; Shaftesbury Barnet)

800m: Ellie Baker (Jon Bigg; Shaftesbury Barnet); Jemma Reekie (Andy Young; Kilbarchan)

1500m: Jemma Reekie

5000m: Jodie Judd (Mick Judd; Chelmsford); Amelia Quirk (Mick Woods; Bracknell AC)

10,000m: Julia Paternain (Mark Vile; Cambridge & Coleridge)

3000m Steeplechase: Aimee Pratt (Vicente Modahl; Sale Harriers Manchester)

4x100m: Kristal Awuah; Hannah Brier (Glyn Hawkes; Swansea); Shannon Malone (Glyn Hawkes; Deeside AAC); Melissa Roberts (Matt Elias; Birchfield Harriers); Alisha Rees (Leon Baptiste; Edinburgh)

4x400m: Finette Agyapong; Lily Beckford; Yasmin Liverpool (Stewart Marshall, Coventry); Melissa Roberts; Lauren Russell (Bedford & County); Hannah Williams (Glyn Hawkes; Herts Phoenix)

High Jump: Morgan Lake (Fuzz Caan; Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow)

Long Jump: Alice Hopkins (Marcia Marriott; Oxford City)

Triple Jump: Naomi Ogbeta (Tom Cullen; Trafford)

Shot Put: Divine Oladipo (John Hillier; Blackheath & Bromley)