‘LINCO’ TO LEAD AS GB & NI LINE UP FOR EUROPEAN ATHLETICS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team is ready to take to the field of play at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in the Netherlands. The 42-strong team is filled with Olympic and World experience and features no less than 13 senior debutants. 

The team captain for the Championships will be 19-time UK Champion shot putter Scott Lincoln (City of York, Dale Stevenson). The two-time Olympian threw a championship record of 20.86 at the UK Athletics Indoor Championships earlier this year and is feeling in tip-top form to be in amongst the medals.

The Yorkshireman will be tasked with making the traditional Captain’s speech at the final team meeting tonight (Wednesday 5 March) and inspiring the GB & NI team to be fearless when performing at Apeldoorn this weekend.

“To be named team captain is a proud moment for me in my career. I see my role as captain to help motivate the athletes and get them excited to perform.”

“As team captain, I want to remind the squad that they’re all on this team for a reason. And to be fearless when approaching these championships.

“I know from past experience you can get in your own head at a championship. You can forget how you got there, but I want to remind the team that the work’s already done. It’s just a matter of going out there, doing it and putting it all together.

“It is great there are many debutantes in the team to experience what it means to put the senior vest on and compete for their country.”

Touching on his personal ambitions for this championship;

“I’ve changed coach in the last five months and I am still finding my feet with the new technique. My main aim for this champs is to put my name out there and push towards the medals.

“I feel in great shape, physically and mentally, so I am definitely looking to for a personal best. It’s just a matter of getting out there and performing on the day.”

Head Coach Paula Dunn said of Lincoln’s selection:

“Scott is well deserving of this captaincy this weekend. His longevity, number of UK championship titles both indoors and outdoors and his capacity to make major championship teams in a hugely globally competitive event shows his commitment, and even now he is still improving his performances year after year.

“He is always seeking improvement, and his experience and consistency means he is a great example of how to continue developing within this sport, being resolute and resilient – all great qualities to reach your full potential and achieve your goals. We are very proud of him and looking forward to hearing his words as Captain.”

Georgia Hunter Bell (Belgrave, Trevor Painter) goes in her first senior European indoor championships as a hot favourite in the women’s 1500m after storming a time of 4:00.63 at the Keely Klassic, three seconds quicker than the Italian Marta Zenoni, who is ranked behind her in second in the European rankings.

Amber Anning (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove) is ranked second in the women’s 400m, and with reigning champion Femke Bol sitting out the individual event, she will take on home favourite Lieke Klaver for that European title. She will be joined by teammates Ama Pipi (Tony Lester, Enfield & Haringey) and debutant Poppy Mailk (Grant Barker, Harrow).

In the men’s 3000m, George Mills (Thomas Dreissigacker, Brighton Phoenix) tops the road to Apeldoorn rankings after clocking a national record 7:27.92 earlier this season, moving him to second on the European all-time list. He will face reigning champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who will be doubling up at these championships, going in the 1500m as well as the 3000m.

Jakob will face GB’s Neil Gourley (Stephen Haas, Giffnock North) in the 1500m, who came away with silver two years ago and is in fine form after setting a Championship record 3:38.84 earlier this season.

In the women’s sprints, Bianca Williams (Linford Christie, Thames Valley) has bettered her personal best not once but twice this indoor season, taking home her first British title in Birmingham. Olympic relay silver medallist, Amy Hunt (Marco Airale, Charnwood) and young debutant Joy Eze (Michael Donnelly, Gateshead) will join her as they take on the reigning champion from Poland, Ewa Swoboda.

A trio of athletes will make their senior international track and field debuts in the field events, including Alice Hopkins (Linford Christie, Oxford City) in the long jump, Efe Uwaifo (Daniel Hooker, Harrow) in the triple jump, and Serena Vincent (Mike Winch, City of Portsmouth) in the women’s shot put.

The GB & NI team has a rich history in relays, which they will be looking to carry on with the men’s, women’s, and a new edition to this championship, the mixed 4x400m relays.

Elliot Giles (Jon Bigg, Birchfield Harriers) has pulled out of the squad due to injury, as well as Romell Glave (Michael Afilaka, Croydon) in the men’s 60m, who will be replaced by Andy Robertson (Alex O’Gorman, Sale Harriers Manchester).

Alongside this championship, the European federation is hosting international invitational para races; Luke Synott will compete in the men’s long jump, and Sophie Hahn and Ali Smith will compete in the women’s 60m on Saturday 8 March.

You can watch all the action live across BBC Sport from 6-9 March.

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the European Indoor Championships, Apeldoorn (6-9 March):

Women

60m

Joy Eze (Michael Donnelly, Gateshead)*

Amy Hunt (Marco Airale, Charnwood)

Bianca Williams (Linford Christie, Thames Valley)

400m:

Amber Anning (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove)

Poppy Malik (Grant Barker, Harrow)*

Ama Pipi (Tony Lester, Enfield & Haringey)

800m

Isabelle Boffey (Luke Gunn, Enfield & Haringey)

Grace Vans Agnew (Jon Bigg, Brighton Phoenix)*

Erin Wallace (Trevor Painter, Giffnock North)

1500m

Georgia Hunter Bell (Trevor Painter, Belgrave)

Ava Lloyd (Trevor Painter, Wigan & District)*

Revee Walcott-Nolan (Thomas Dreissigacker, Luton)

3000m

Melissa Courtney-Bryant (Rob Denmark, Poole AC)

Innes FitzGerald (Gavin Pavey, Exeter)*

Hannah Nuttall (Helen Clitheroe, Charnwood)

Long Jump

Alice Hopkins (Linford Christie, Oxford City)*

High Jump

Morgan Lake (Yannick Tregaro, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

Shot Put

Serena Vincent (Mike Winch, City of Portsmouth)*

Pentathlon

Jade O’Dowda (John Lane, Newham & Essex Beagles)

4x400m Relay

Amber Anning (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove)

Hannah Kelly (Les Hall, Bolton)

Poppy Malik (Grant Barker, Harrow)

Emily Newnham (Nick Dakin, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Lina Nielsen (Tony Lester, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Ama Pipi (Tony Lester, Enfield & Haringey)

Men

60m

Jeremiah Azu (Helen James, Cardiff)

John Otugade (Tom McNab, Shaftesbury Barnet)*

Andy Robertson (Alex O’Gorman, Sale Harriers Manchester)

400m

Alex Haydock-Wilson (Dai Greene, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

Efekemo Okoro (Felipe Siqueria, Birchfield Harriers)*

800m

Justin Davies (Martin Rush, Team Bath)*

Jack Higgins (Mark Hookway, Tonbridge)*

Thomas Randolph (Craig Winrow, Tamworth)

1500m

Neil Gourley (Stephen Haas, Giffnock North)

Thomas Keen (Mark Vile, Cambridge & Coleridge)

3000m

Adam Fogg (Cory Leslie, Coventry)

George Mills (Thomas Dreissigacker, Brighton Phoenix)

James West (Helen Clitheroe, Tonbridge)

60m Hurdles

Daniel Goriola (Tony Jarrett, Blackheath & Bromley)*

Triple Jump

Efe Uwaifo (Daniel Hooker, Harrow)*

Shot Put

Scott Lincoln (Paul Wilson, City of York)

4x400m Relay

Alastair Chalmers (Matt Elias, Guernsey)

Seamus Derbyshire (Alex O’Gorman, City of Stoke)

Josh Faulds (James Wright, Rugby & Northampton)

Alex Haydock-Wilson (Dai Greene, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

Efekemo Okoro (Felipe Siqueria, Birchfield Harriers)

Lee Thompson (John Henson, Sheffield & Dearne)

4x400m Mixed Relay

Comprised of existing relay selections

Those with * by their name will be making their senior international track and field debut.

Invites Para Athletes (Invitation from Dutch Association) 

60m

Sophie Hahn

Ali Smith

Long jump

Luke Synott

Team Staff

Team Leader

Paula Dunn

Team Coaches

Martyn Rooney

Allan Scott

Luke Gunn

Laura Weightman

Darren Ritchie

Ryan Spencer-Jones

Team Therapists

George Polglass

Laura Heathcote

Patrick Esson

Team Doctor

James Brown

Biomechanist

Nils Bogaard

Team Manager

Maddy Ibbett

Jess Flint