8th January 2019

EMERSON LEADS BRITISH TEAM FOR INDOOR COMBINED EVENTS INTERNATIONAL MATCH

World Junior heptathlon gold medallist Niamh Emerson (coach: David Feeney; club: Amber Valley & Erewash) and Commonwealth Games decathlon sixth placer John Lane (Toni Minichiello; Sheffield & Dearne) head the British team for the Indoor Combined Events International Match in Cardiff on the 26th & 27th January.

The full 14-strong British contingent will face-off against teams from France, the Czech Republic, Spain and Poland in the Welsh capital, which hosts the match for the first time since 2012.

Emerson, who also claimed Commonwealth bronze in 2018, kicked off her 2019 season with two personal bests in the 60m hurdles and the shot put, adding over a metre to her previous best in the latter, and looks on course for a good score in Cardiff.

Ellen Barber (David Feeney; Yeovil) took silver behind Ireland’s Kate O’Connor, recording personal bests in the shot put and 60m hurdles and equalling her high jump best of 1.71m. Alice Hopkins (Marcia Marriott; Oxford City) and Lucy Turner (Gateshead Harriers) complete the women’s squad.

Lane claimed his first national indoor heptathlon title in Sheffield with victory in the heptathlon, notching an indoor long jump best of 7.33m as he finished over 200 points clear of silver medallist Andrew Murphy (Colin Sinclair; Kilbarchan).

Fellow Gold Coast decathlete Ben Gregory (Aston Moore; Birchfield Harriers) earns another British vest after securing his first English championship medal since 2015, with Howard Bell (Iain McEwan; Edinburgh AC) rounding off the senior team.

2016 European Youth & 2017 Commonwealth Youth long jump champion Holly Mills (Laura Turner-Alleyne; Andover) and European Youth decathlon sixth place finisher Jack Turner (Kevin Skinner; Exeter) headline the junior teams.

Mills, who took bronze in last year’s match in Spain, claimed a second straight Under-20 pentathlon crown, improving her shot put best by over half-a-metre and pushed her own Championship best to 4051 points in the process.

Amaya Scott (Matthew Watson; Southampton) was 80 points further back, with three personal bests to add to her overall best score of 3971. Jenna Blundell (Julie Alexander; Team Bath) rounds off the team after a third place finish.

Turner claimed five personal bests and equalled his lifetime bests in the pole vault and high jump on his way to his maiden indoor title, topping the standings on 5329 points and moving ninth on the all-time Under-20 indoor heptathlon rankings.

British Under-17 record heptathlon record holder Scott Brindley (Mark Stringer; North Ayrshire) earns his maiden British vest, while Joel McFarlane (Central) will hope to improve on his sixth-place finish in Madrid last year.

 

The British Athletics team for the Indoor Combined Events Match on January 26-27:

Senior Men

Howard Bell (Iain McEwan; Edinburgh AC)

Ben Gregory (Aston Moore; Birchfield Harriers)

John Lane (Toni Minichiello; Sheffield & Dearne)

Andrew Murphy (Colin Sinclair; Kilbarchan)

 

Senior Women

Ellen Barber (David Feeney; Yeovil)

Niamh Emerson (David Feeney; Amber Valley & Erewash)

Alice Hopkins (Marcia Marriott; Oxford City)

Lucy Turner (Gateshead Harriers)

 

Junior Men

Scott Brindley (Mark Stringer; North Ayrshire)

Joel McFarlane (Central)

Jack Turner (Kevin Skinner; Exeter)

 

Junior Women

Jenna Blundell (Julie Alexander; Team Bath)

Holly Mills (Laura Turner-Alleyne; Andover)

Amaya Scott (Matthew Watson; Southampton)