GB & NI TEAM SELECTED FOR THE DNA U20 INDOOR MATCH IN MADRID

*UPDATED 21 FEBRUARY – TEAM CHANGE

A squad of Great Britain and Northern Ireland junior athletes will head to Madrid next week to compete in the Dynamic New Athletics (DNA) U20 Indoor Match taking on the Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Portugal and Spain.

Following the trial event at the England Athletics Indoor U20/U17/U15 Championships at the weekend, a number of athletes booked their place on the team for the event which is being held in conjunction with the World Indoor Tour Gold meeting in Madrid, Spain on Wednesday 22 February.

European U18 bronze medallist Renee Regis (Tamunonengiye-Ofori Ossai, BFT Track Academy) will compete in the women’s 60m.

Another UK U20 Lead in the team is Isaac Kambamba Delaney (Michael Kiley, Preston) in the men’s shot put. With a season best of 17.43m, he will be seeking to add some valuable points to the GB & NI tally in the field.

In the relays, Etty Sisson (Grant Barker, Charnwood) – World U20 4x400m bronze medallist and European U18 relay champion in 2022 – joins a strong 4x400m mixed relay team which also includes Thomas Hockley (Katy Odell, Harrow), Ashley Nemits (Trevor Painter, Wigan & District) and Onyeka Okoh (Julie Benterman, Chelmsford).

The two-hour match will come down to the final event – The Hunt. With team honours on the line in the race, the quartet of (Leg 1 600m) David Race (Kyle Bennett, Gateshead), (Leg 2 400m) Jessica Astill (Paul Keeble, Stevenage & North Herts), (Leg 3 200m) Dean Patterson (David Watson, Glasgow Sch of Sport) and (Leg 4 800m) Ava Lloyd (Trevor Painter, Wigan & District) will be looking to guide the country to victory.

Performance Pathway Manager (Olympic) at UK Athletics, Dan Wagner said, “It is a fantastic opportunity for our junior athletes to have a competitive experience against some of the best athletes in their age group in Europe. It is an exciting new format covering a range of event groups, which I am sure our junior athletes will thrive in.

“It is a valuable experience for all the athletes ahead of a summer season which includes two continental age group Championships; the European U20 and U23 Championships, and two additional GB & NI junior teams at the Loughborough International and Mannheim Gala. So, I am looking forward to seeing how the team performs in Madrid.”

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the DNA U20 Indoor Match in Madrid, Spain:

60m Men

Rusciano Thomas-Riley (Ronnie Williams, Coventry)

60m Women

Renee Regis (Tamunonengiye-Ofori Ossai, BFT Track Academy)

60m Hurdles Men

Daniel Goriola (John Gates, Bexley)

60m Hurdles Women

Meg Corker (David Gough, Liverpool Harriers)

800m Women

Indienne King (Trevor Painter, Wigan & District)

Long Jump Women

Lucy Fellows (Zac Harrop, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

High Jump Men

Morgan Williams (Mike Stayman, Leeds City)

Shot Put Men

Isaac Kambamba Delaney (Michael Kiley, Preston)

4x400m Mixed Relay

Thomas Hockley (Katy Odell, Harrow)

Ashley Nemits (Trevor Painter, Wigan & District)

Onyeka Okoh (Julie Benterman, Chelmsford)

Etty Sisson (Grant Barker, Charnwood)

2x2x200m Relay

Sam Lunt (Andrew Fraser, Wirral)

Sophie Walton (Trevor Williams, Horwich)

The Hunt Relay

(Leg 1 600m) David Race (Kyle Bennett, Gateshead)

(Leg 2 400m) Jessica Astill (Paul Keeble, Stevenage & North Herts)

(Leg 3 200m) Dean Patterson (David Watson, Glasgow Sch of Sport)

(Leg 4 800m) Ava Lloyd (Trevor Painter, Wigan & District)

Team Staff:

Leon Baptiste – Team Leader & Team Coach (Track and Relay)

Sharon Morris – Team Manager & Team Coach (Track and Relay)

Nick Ridgeon – Team Coach (Field)

Lukasz Zawila – Team Coach (Field)