19th July 2017

British Athletics team poised for European Junior Championships

The British Athletics junior team are all set for the 2017 European Junior Championships, which kick off in Grosseto, Italy on Thursday 20th July.

Having won 17 and 19 medals at the previous two editions of the championships, the team will once again look to top the medal table and follow in the footsteps of the likes of Sir Mo Farah and Goldie Sayers who were victorious the last time these championships were held in Grosseto back in 2001.

Leading the British medal charge will be Alicia Barrett (coach: Toni Minichello) who heads into the championships as the fastest in Europe this year having broken the British junior 100mH record with a 13.07 run at the trials in Bedford.

Markhim Lonsdale (Keith Lonsdale) is also Europe’s number one this year and he will head a strong British trio of male 800m runners with his 1.46.97 personal best. Sticking with the 800m Khahisa Mhlanga (Mick Judd) is ranked second ahead of the championships thanks to her 2.04.40 personal best, and still has another two years in the age group.

In the longer endurance events Scot Jemma Reekie (Andy Young) will attempt a 1500m-3000m double and will start her campaign in Grosseto as second fastest on paper in both events behind Swiss athlete Delia Sclabas.

In the field a trio of Brits are ranked second or third and will be aiming to step onto the rostrum; Tom Gale (Denis Doyle) and Divine Oladipo (John Hillier) are ranked second in the high jump and shot put respectively, whilst Jake Norris (Paul Dickenson) goes in third in the hammer and will aim to be the first British junior to win a men’s international hammer medal for 12 years.

In the blue ribband 100m Oliver Bromby (Sara MacDonald-Gray) has a 10.31 time to his name, which puts him second behind local favourite Filippo Tortu. Expect both Dom Ashwell (Marvin Rowe) and Rechmial Miller (Ryan Freckleton) to also feature.

Come the final day of the championships on Sunday, the British relay teams will also be looking for medals in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.
For a timetable, start lists or live stream information head here.

The British Athletics team for the championships can be viewed here.