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July 2021

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England team selections announced for Antrim Coast Half Marathon

Larne 21k at 4m - Scullion Scott Farah Connor

England Athletics continue to provide opportunities for runners to represent England on the road as the COVID-19 restrctions ease. The team selected to compete at the 2021 Antrim Coast Half Marathon were based on expressions of interest from athletes who met the standards within the selection policy.

Tom Craggs (the England Road Running Manager) added,

“We are delighted to be able to offer athletes the chance to gain more international experience in a race with a high-quality field, giving the opportunity for fast times. Congratulations to the selected athletes and their coaches.”

Women

  • Rose Harvey (Clapham Chasers, Phil Kissi)
  • Georgina Schwiening (Cambridge Runners, self-coached)
  • Sophie Wood (Sale Harriers, self-coached)
  • Kirsty Longley (Liverpool Pembroke Sefton)

Men

  • Mahamed Mahamed (Southampton AC, Idris Hamud)
  • Nigel Martin (Sale Harriers, Norman Poole)
  • Josh Grace (AFD, Geoff Watkin)
  • Daniel Connolly (Mercia Fell)

Rose Harvey (handicap 0.6) makes her debut for England after her 2:30:58 Commonwealth Games standard at the Cheshire Marathon. She is joined by Georgina Schwiening (handicap -0.9) who has a 33:36 time for 10km. she won the Peterborough Marathon in the springtime. Sophie Wood (handicap 0.5) is progressing back to her best as shown after running 75:35 at the Tatton Half this year. Kirsty Longley (handicap 0.1) finished second at Cheshire Elite Half Marathon.

CAU cross country champion Mahamed Mahamed (handicap -6.8) is a respected endurance runner selected to run his first half marathon with a recent 28:26 at the Müller British Athletics 10,000m Championships. Nigel Martin (handicap -5.9) ran 28:58 for 10,000m in June and finished 10th in the Olympic Marathon Trial. Josh Grace (handicap -5.6) was a 12th finisher at Antrim last year and ran 29:30 at the Müller British Athletics 10,000m Championships. Daniel Connolly (handicap -4.3) makes his debut after taking 3rd in  65:37 at the Cheshire Elite Half Marathon.

Mohamed Farah (handicap -7.6) and Lily Partridge (handicap -1.5) won in the 2020 race on the beautifully fast  Antrim Coast Half Marathon in Northern Ireland.

The England team will face stiff opposition from the home nation (team not yet announced) who have three athletes making their final preparations for the Tokyo Olympic marathon with Stephen Scullion (handicap -6.7), Kevin Seaward (handicap -4.8) and Paul Pollock (handicap -5.4)  who all ran below the qualifying standard of 2:11:30. Ann-Marie McGlynn (handicap -1.6) was just outside the time with 2:29:34. She holds the Northern Ireland Half Marathon Record and may well go out to better it at Antrim.

Picture shows (L to R) Olympians Ben Connor,  Marc Scott, Mo Farah and  Stephen Scullion at 5 miles from 2020 race