31st July 2019

KIRSTY TAYLOR NAMED BRITISH TEAM CAPTAIN FOR THE WORLD PARA ATHLETICS JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Kirsty Taylor (coach: Morgan Jones; club: Disability Sport Wales Para Academy) has been named the captain of the British team on the eve of the World Para Athletics Junior Championships taking place in Nottwil, Switzerland from 1-4 August.

The Welsh athlete will compete in the T44 100m and 200m – for athletes with a lower leg impairment competing without a prosthesis – at these championships. She will make her debut for the British squad tomorrow and lead a team of 15 into the second edition of the event.

Upon receiving the captaincy honour, Taylor said: “I’m really pleased to be named team captain; to be able to support all the guys in the team and bring everyone together. Everyone has done so well to earn their place on the team, so be captain for this championship is a great honour.”

On carrying out the captaincy role, she added: “I’ve been trying to bring everyone together. We all live in different parts of the country, so it has been great to get to know each other. I’ve been making sure they are all drinking plenty of water – they are even starting to call me mum now because I have been bothering them all.”

Taylor – who is supported by the British Athletics Paralympic Futures Academy – competes in the 200m on Thursday and the 100m on Friday. On the honour to pull on the GB & NI vest for the first time, the 19-year-old commented:

“It’s huge. We’ve all worked so hard to get here. It’s a massive honour to represent your country. It’s the best you can get – it’s very rewarding to earn your place on the team.”

“I’m just looking forward to getting out and enjoying it. It is my first championships. Everyone wants to run well and win medals, that’s the aim of the game. I want to go out and enjoy it and be part of a great team.”

The action gets underway on Thursday 1 August 2019 with Taylor joining Eden Rainbow-Cooper (Jenny Archer; Weir Archer Academy) [women’s T51-54 400m], Alexander Thomson (Thomas Graham; Red Star) [T35-T38 men’s 200m], Abbie McNally (Charles Forbes; Inverness)  and India Oates (Helen Bowles; Darlington Harriers) [T35-38 women’s 200m] in finals on the track.

The World Para Athletics Junior Championships will be streamed on the World Para Athletics website, here: https://www.paralympic.org/athletics

Find out more about the British team via our media guide, here: https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/news-and-features/world-para-athletics-junior-championships-british-team-media-guide/

 

The British team for the World Para Athletics Junior Championships:

U17 Women

Molly Hopkins (Morgan Jones; DSW Para Academy) – T62 100m

 

U20 Women

Abbie McNally (Charles Forbes; Inverness) – T37 100m & 200m

India Oates (Helen Bowles; Darlington Harriers) – T35 100 & 200m

Faye Olszowka (Christopher Harris; Bexley) – T20 400m

Eden Rainbow-Cooper (Jenny Archer; Weir Archer Academy) – T54 400m, 800m & 1500m

Kirsty Taylor (Christian Malcolm; DSW Para Academy) – T44 100m & 200m

 

U20 Men

John Bridge (Matt Elias; Cardiff) – T47 400m

Ben Callander (Peter Wyman; Kirkby AC) – T33-34 100m, 200m & 400m

Karim Chan (Femi Akinsanya; Charnwood) – T20 Long Jump

Matthew Cooper (Jenny Archer; Weir Archer Academy) – T34 100m, 200m & 400m

Barney Corrall (Chris Sinclair; Charnwood) – T38 Long Jump

Ethan Kirby (Nick Harris; Newton Abbot) – T20 400m

Prince Reid (David Liston; Blackheath & Bromley) – T20 400m & 1500m

Alexander Thomson (Thomas Graham; Whitemoss) – T38 100m & 200m

Zien Zhou (Job King; Coventry Godiva) – T34 100m, 200m & 400m