EIGHT ATHLETES SELECTED FOR GB & NI FOR THE EUROPEAN THROWING CUP IN CYPRUS

Eight athletes are selected to represent the GB&NI team at the European Throwing Cup in Cyprus (15-16 March), which will feature two senior international debuts.

After setting a new personal best of 56.06 in the discus at the recent UKA/England Athletics Winter Long Throws Championships in Loughborough, Zara Obamakinwa (Blackheath and Bromley, Mark Chapman) will be heading to Cyprus in superb form for her senior international debut. Paris Olympian Nick Percy (Harrow, Zane Duquemin) will look to open his season in the discus out in Nicosia.

Charlotte Payne (Newbury, Dave Smith), the youngest British female to ever throw 70m, will be confident going into the hammer competition after winning in Loughborough earlier this season with a throw of 64.28. Welsh athlete Amber Simpson (Wrexham, Jay Lambert/Gareth Simpson) will be making her senior international debut alongside her in the hammer.

After making her senior international debut at the European Indoor Athletics Championship this weekend, Serena Vincent (Mike Winch, City of Portsmouth) will be swapping the indoor circle for the outdoors. The European Under 23 silver medallist will be eager to take the experience from this weekend in the Netherlands on to Cyprus.

The 2018 World Junior Champion, Jake Norris (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow, Paul Dickenson) topped the podium with a throw over 70m in Loughborough and will be eager to continue form in the men’s hammer competition. The England U23 Champion Ben East (Team Kennet, John Trower) will throw in the U23 javelin competition, while American-based Piers Cameron (Birchfield Harriers, Kyle Stringer) will make his junior international debut in the men’s U23 shot put.

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the European Throwing Cup, Cyprus (15-16 March):

Women

Shot put

Serena Vincent (City of Portsmouth, Mike Winch)

Discus

Zara Obamakinwa (Blackheath and Bromley, Mark Chapman)

Hammer

Charlotte Payne (Newbury, Dave Smith)

Amber Simpson (Wrexham, Jay Lambert/Gareth Simpson)

Men

Shot put

U23 Piers Cameron (Birchfield Harriers, Kyle Stringer)

Javelin

U23 Ben East (Team Kennet, John Trower)

Discus

Nick Percy (Harrow, Zane Duquemin)

Hammer

Jake Norris (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow, Paul Dickenson