3rd July 2025

NOVUNA GB & NI TEAM CONFIRMED FOR EUROPEAN ATHLETICS U23 CHAMPIONSHIPS

UK Athletics has today announced the Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland (GB&NI) team for the U23 European Championships in Norway from 17–20 July.

A squad of 44 athletes has been selected in line with the selection policy, with the aim for these Championships being to maximise a top-five placing overall.

Jeriel Quainoo (Ryan Freckleton, Blackheath & Bromley), Kissiwaa Mensah (Prince Duwai, Chelmsford), Nia Wedderburn-Goodison (Ryan Freckleton, Harrow) and Success Eduan (Anita Richardson, Sale Harriers Manchester) all made their senior GB & NI debuts earlier this year, returning home with medals from the World Relays in China. Nia Wedderburn-Goodison will join Faith Akinbileje (David Sadkin, Blackheath and Bromley) on the start line in the women’s 100m, where they are the top ranked in the UK this year.

Emily Newnham (Nick Dakin, Shaftesbury Barnet) made her senior debut at the European Indoor Championships, winning a silver medal as part of the 4x400m relay team, and then went on to represent GB&NI at the World Relays and the European Team Championships.

In the women’s 1500m, Ava Lloyd (Trevor Painter, Wigan & District) is currently ranked second in Europe, with Mena Scatchard (Leeds City) just behind her in third.

In the men’s 800m, Justin Davies (Martin Rush, Team Bath), who made his senior international debut at the European Indoor finals earlier this year, has not looked back, clocking the World standard of 1:44.35 this season. He will be joined by Henry Jonas (Chris McGeorge, City of Norwich) and David Race (Kyle Bennett, Gateshead) on the start line.

In the men’s 5000m, U20 World bronze medallist Ed Bird (Mark Pauley, Poole AC) will line up alongside Will Barnicoat (Tim Eglen, Aldershot, Farnham & District), who finished just ahead of him at the U23 trials in Cardiff last weekend.

Gemma Tutton (Richard Pilling, Lewes), who is ranked number one in Europe in the pole vault, was recently awarded her first senior GB vest at the European Team Championships, where she finished fifth against an experienced field.

Kimani Jack (Julian Reid, Shaftesbury Barnet) will contest the high jump after making his senior GB debut in Madrid, where he cleared a personal best of 2.21m. Abigail Ives (Luke Gunn, Basildon) goes in the 800m after running her third-fastest time to date at the European Team Champs on her senior debut, whilst Madrid teammate Zara Obamakinwa (Mark Chapman, Blackheath & Bromley) has also been selected in the women’s discus capping off an excellent run of form so far this season.

In the multi-events, Abi Pawlett (Ashley Bryant, Trafford) will compete in the women’s heptathlon, while Sammy Ball (Rafer Joseph, Reading AC) contests the men’s decathlon. Both athletes gained valuable experience at the iconic Götzis meet earlier this year, where Sammy smashed his personal best and was voted Rookie of the Year.

As part of the selection process, athletes were asked if they wished to be considered for the Championships. With the Novuna London Diamond League taking place on 19th July, some athletes have chosen to focus their performance plans on that event, or in some cases other competitions taking place that week.

Finally, a big thank you to Welsh Athletics for hosting the European Athletics U23 Championships Trials alongside their Welsh National Championships on 28–29 June.

 

The Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the U23 European Championships in Norway on 17–20 July 2025:

Women

100m

Nia Wedderburn-Goodison (Ryan Freckleton, Harrow)

Faith Akinbileje (John Blackie, Blackheath and Bromley)

200m

Success Eduan (Anita Richardson, Sale Harriers Manchester)

Alyson Bell (Anne Scott, Glasgow Jaguars)

Kissiwaa Mensah (Prince Duwai, Chelmsford)

400m

Yemi Mary John (Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

Poppy Malik (Grant Barker, Harrow)

Rebecca Grieve (Francis Smith, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

800m

Abbie Ives (Luke Gunn, Basildon)

1500m

Ava Lloyd (Trevor Painter, Wigan & District)

Mena Scatchard (Leeds City)

10,000m

Jasmine Trott (Rothwell)

Jasmine Wood

400m hurdles

Emily Newnham (Nick Dakin, Shaftesbury Barnet)

3000m Steeplechase  

Emily Parker (Kyle Bennett, Poole AC)

Long Jump

Georgina Scoot (Richard Derrick, Torbay)

Pole vault

Gemma Tutton (Richard Pilling, Lewes)

Discus

Zara Obamakinwa (Mark Chapman, Blackheath & Bromley)

Javelin

Elizabeth Korczak (Bob Willows, Brighton & Hove)

Multi Event

Abi Pawlett (Ashley Bryant, Trafford)

Women’s 4×100

Joy Eze (Mike Donnelly, Gateshead)

Women’s 4×400

Holly Mpassy (Nigel Stickings, Blackheath & Bromley)

 

Men

100m

Micheal Onilogbo (Carl Graham, Newham & Essex Beagles)

200m

Jeriel Quainoo (Ryan Freckleton, Blackheath & Bromley)

400m

Brodie Young (James McMenemy, Airdrie)

800m

Henry Jonas (Chris McGeorge, City of Norwich)

Justin Davies (Martin Rush, Team Bath)

David Race (Kyle Bennett, Gateshead)

1500m

Thomas Bridger (Mark Vile, Cambridge)

Ryan Martin (Michael Wright, Falkirk)

5000m

Will Barnicoat (Tim Eglen, Aldershot, Farnham & District)

Ed Bird (Mark Pauley, Poole AC)

James Dargan (Mick Woods, Aldershot, Farnham & District)

10,000m

Johnny Livingstone (Exeter)

Dafydd Jones (James Thie, Swansea)

110m hurdles

Daniel Goriola (Tony Jarrett, Blackheath and Bromley)

400m hurdle

Harry Barton (Wells City)

Jake Minshull *subject to fitness (James Wright, Coventry)

Long jump

Archie Yeo (Lukasz Zawila, Kingston Upon Hull)

High jump

Kimani Jack (Julian Reid, Shaftesbury Barnett)

Men shot

Piers Cameron (Birchfield Harriers)

Multi event

Sammy Ball (Rafer Joseph, Reading AC)

Men’s 4×400

Brook Cronin (Andrew Kennard, Walton)

Thomas Hockley (Katy Odell, Harrow)