GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND TEAM READY FOR THE WORLD ATHLETICS RELAYS IN CHINA 

At the start of a new Olympic cycle heading towards LA 2028, the squads are a mixture of experienced championship runners and developing athletes, with the overall aim of qualifying all relay events for the World Championships in Tokyo later this year.

There are three senior international debuts in the women’s 100m relay squad, Nia Wedderburn-Goodison (Ryan Freckleton, Harrow), the double gold medallist at the 2022 U18 Europeans, Success Eduan (Anita Richardson, Sale Harriers Manchester) who won U20 individual bronze medallist and silver in the relay at just 16 years of age in 2023 and Kissiwaa Mensah (Prince Duwai, Chelmsford) who claimed silver in the 200m at the UK Indoor Championships earlier this year.

They are joined by an incredibly experienced cohort of sprint talent comprising Asha Philip (Amy Deem, Newham and Essex Beagles), and Paris Olympic relay silver medallists Amy Hunt (Marco Airale, Charnwood), Desiree Henry (Linford Christie, Enfield & Harringey) and Bianca Williams (Linford Christie, Thames Valley).

In the men’s 100m relay squad, Paris bronze medallist Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Ryan Freckleton, Newham and Essex Beagles) features but he won’t be joined by Paris teammate Jeremiah Azu as just days before the competition he has withdrawn due to picking up an injury.

European 100m bronze medalist Romell Glave (Michael Afilaka, Croydon), Eugene Amo-Dadzie (Steve Fudge, Woodford Green Essex Ladies), Joe Ferguson (Richard Kilty, Sheffield & Dearne), Jona Efoloko (Ryan Freckleton, Sale Harriers Manchester) and Jeriel Quainoo (Ryan Feckleton, Blackheath and Bromley) are set to race in China.

In the women’s 400m squad, Paris Olympic relay silver medallists Hannah Kelly (Les Hall, Bolton), Lina Nielsen (Tony Lester, Shaftesbury Barnet), Nicole Yeargin (Vince Anderson, Pitreavie), Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham and Essex Beagles), and double Olympic medallist Laviai Nielsen (Tony Lester, Enfield & Harringey) are bringing huge experience to the team.

European indoor mixed relay silver medallist Emily Newnham (Nick Dakin, Shaftesbury Barnet) and Poppy Malik (Grant Barker, Harrow) will make up the rest of the team after making her senior international debut at those championships. Unfortunately, Ama Pipi who was initially selected has withdrawn due to injury.

In the men’s 400m squad, two of the Paris Olympic relay bronze medallists, Charlie Dobson (Leon Baptiste, Colchester) and Toby Harries (David Sadkin, Brighton Pheonix), are part of the team. Alongside Rio Mitcham (Leon Baptiste, Birchfield Harriers), Efe Okoro (Felipe Siqueria, Birchfield Harriers) and recent European indoor silver relay medallist Josh Faulds (James Wright, Rugby & Northampton), who came into the squad after Alex Haydock-Wilson withdrew earlier in April.

400m hurdler Sam Lunt (James Wright, Wirral) will make his international debut at just 19 years of age. Alongside Bailey Swift (Leon Baptiste, Northampton), who will also be making his senior international debut, after only specialising in the 400m just two years ago. Remaining squad member Lewis Davey picked up an injury a week before and will no longer compete.

More than half of the squad is made up by athletes who have come through the UK Athletics Futures programme, the pathway programme that started eight years ago.

The top 14 teams in each of the five disciplines will automatically qualify for Tokyo 2025, including a new event: the 4x100m mixed relay.

Darren Campbell, Head of Sprints, Hurdles and Relays at UK Athletics said:

“After our brilliant achievement in Paris at the Olympic Games, I am excited for the continued success and development of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland relay teams at this Championship.

“It is great to see a team combining World and Olympic medallists alongside several developing athletes to strengthen the depth of relay runners across the GB&NI team.

“I am looking forward to the squad developing their relay skills whilst performing their very best on the world stage and looking to secure those qualification spots for the Tokyo World Championships later this year.”

Women

*Success Eduan (Anita Richardson, Sale Harriers Manchester)

*Amy Hunt (Marco Airale, Charnwood)

Desiree Henry (Linford Christie, Enfield & Harringey)

*Kissiwaa Mensah (Prince Duwai, Chelmsford)

Asha Philip (Amy Deem, Newham and Essex Beagles)

*Nia Wedderburn-Goodison (Ryan Freckleton, Harrow)

Bianca Williams (Linford Christie, Thames Valley)

*Hannah Kelly (Les Hall, Bolton)

*Poppy Malik (Grant Barker, Harrow)

*Emily Newnham (Nick Dakin, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Laviai Nielsen (Tony Lester, Enfield & Harringey)

Lina Nielsen (Tony Lester, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham and Essex Beagles)

Nicole Yeargin (Vince Anderson, Pitreavie)

Men

Eugene Amo-Dadzie (Steve Fudge, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

*Jona Efoloko (Ryan Freckleton, Sale Harriers Manchester)

*Joe Ferguson (Richard Kilty, Sheffield & Dearne)

*Romell Glave (Michael Afilaka, Croydon)

Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Ryan Freckleton, Newham and Essex Beagles)

*Jeriel Quainoo (Ryan Feckleton, Blackheath and Bromley)

*Charlie Dobson (Leon Baptiste, Colchester)

Josh Faulds (James Wright, Rugby & Northampton)

Toby Harries (David Sadkin, Brighton Pheonix)

*Sam Lunt (James Wright, Wirral)

*Rio Mitcham (Leon Baptiste, Birchfield Harriers)

Efekemo Okoro (Felipe Siqueria, Birchfield Harriers)

Bailey Swift (Leon Baptiste, Northampton)

Over the weekend, catch all the action via the BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer.