10th July 2020

GB & NI STARS CONFIRMED FOR THE MÜLLER BRITISH ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Several Great Britain and Northern Ireland stars have confirmed their participation at the Müller British Athletics Championships which will take place on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th September.

Among those athletes who have committed to the Championships to date are eight finalists from the 2019 World Athletics Championships and six reigning British outdoor champions.

European indoor silver medallist and seven-time British outdoor champion Holly Bradshaw (coach: Scott Simpson; club: Blackburn) will make a return to action in the women’s pole vault. World finalist and reigning British champion Abigail Irozuru (self-coached; Sale Harriers Manchester) will take on 2016 European silver medallist Jazmin Sawyers (Lance Brauman; City of Stoke) in the women’s long jump.

Jodie Williams (Stuart McMillan; Herts Phoenix) claimed the 200m title in 2019 and is among the entries for the Championships, while Laviai Nielsen (Christine Bowmaker; Enfield & Haringey) claimed her first British title over 400m last August and will be seeking a defence of her title in September.

In the endurance events, after a seventh-place finish in the 20km race walk at the world championship last year, Tom Bosworth (Andi Drake; Tonbridge) will take on the 5000 metres race walk.

World 5000m finalists Eilish McColgan (Liz Nuttall; Dundee Hawkhill) and Laura Weightman (Steve Cram; Morpeth) will also be in action. The Scottish athlete is a three-time British gold medallist outdoors, while the Morpeth athlete is a four-time national champion over 1500m, and she also sealed bronze over the 5000m distance last year.

Jake Wightman (Geoff Wightman; Edinburgh) – fifth in the men’s 1500m at the 2019 World Athletics Championships – is ready for a tilt at his first outdoor British title following two silvers and a bronze medal since 2016.

Other athletes confirmed are Trafford’s Naomi Ogbeta (Tom Cullen) who will make the short journey to the Manchester Regional Arena for the women’s triple jump, while European indoor pentathlon silver medallist Niamh Emerson (David Feeney; Amber Valley & Erewash) and last year’s 400m hurdles bronze medallist Chris McAlister (Marina Armstrong; Thames Valley) also join the entry list.

Cherry Alexander, Major Events Director at British Athletics, added:

“At last, I am delighted to commence the announcements of athletes who will be competing at the Müller British Athletics Championships in September at the Manchester Regional Arena. There has been a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes to make the organisation and delivery of this event possible. We are delighted to be welcoming our world class athletes back to competition in Manchester.

“These are unprecedented times so the Championships will have a different feel to them this year, but we will do everything possible to make this a special event for the athletes and coaches, and the fans watching on the BBC.”

With the championships being broadcast live on Friday night on BBC2, 1830-2100 and Saturday, afternoon on BBC1, 1315-1630, Britain’s best athletes will be lining up to provide athletics fans with their fix of the country’s favourite Olympic and Paralympic sport.

The format and shape of the competition and guidelines that will be adhered to for competitors and those helping to stage the championship will be subject to the government guidelines in place and will be communicated in due course.

The Müller British Athletics Championships will be broadcast live on Friday night on BBC2, 1830-2100 and Saturday, afternoon on BBC1, 1315-1630.