Six reigning European Champions headline British Athletics biggest ever European Championship Team
British Athletics has named its biggest ever team of 98 for the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 6-10 July. Headlined by six reigning European Champions, including 42-year-old Jo Pavey (handicap -1.6), the team shows a blend of newly crowned British champions already heading to the Olympic Games in Rio, plus those looking to show form and fitness ahead of the final selections next month.
Current European champions Greg Rutherford, Martyn Rooney), Tiffany Porter will join Pavey, as they look to defend the titles won two years ago and head to Rio as the best in Europe. Adam Gemili, the reigning 200m champion, switches to the 100m event in 2016 and James Dasaolu, reigning 100m champion, will only compete in the 4x100m relay.
Other European medallists from Zürich in 2014 who will be looking to stand on the podium again include Jodie Williams, Andy Vernon (handicap -5.9) and William Sharman. Plus Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Matthew Hudson-Smith and Eilidh Doyle, who do not compete individually this year, but are selected for the 4x100m and the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays respectively.
British Athletics has named four very strong relay teams, with the men’s and women’s 4x100m and the men’s 4x400m teams looking to repeat the success of two years ago and defend their European titles, whilst the women’s 4x400m will want to improve on the Bronze medal from 2014.
Performance Director for British Athletics, Neil Black said: “We have picked our biggest team ever for the European Championships and given everyone the best possible chance to put themselves in the frame for the Olympics in Rio.
We expect every athlete to make their individual final, with many challenging for places on the podium.
With the European Championships and Olympic Games scheduled so close together you have to take a sensible approach to selection and look at what is best for each athlete as an individual. With a firm focus towards Rio, we have liaised with athletes selected for the Olympics, and their coaches, before making a decision onSelection.
We believe for some athletes, such as Greg Rutherford, Dina Asher-Smith and Adam Gemili, competing in Amsterdam will benefit their performance in Rio, whilst for others, like Mo, KJT and Laura Muir for example, this competition was never part of the season plan.”
In the half-marathon Dewi Griffiths (handicap -6.1) is replaced by Matt Bond (handicap -4.8), after moving to the 10,000m individual event and Lee Merrien (handicap -4.9) replaces Scott Overall (handicap -4.8) who has withdrawn from the team with injury.
British Athletics team for the 2016 European Athletics Championships:
MEN:
100m:
James Ellington
Adam Gemili
Richard Kilty
200m:
Danny Talbot
Nethaneel Mithchell-Blake
Zharnel Hughes
400m:
Martyn Rooney
Jarryd Dunn
800m:
Michael Rimmer (handicap -6.4)
Jamie Webb (handicap -6.3)
Elliot Giles (handicap -6.2)
1500m:
Jake Wightman (handicap -6.5)
Lee Emanuel (handicap -6.2)
Tom Lancashire (handicap -6.0)
5000m:
Jonathan Davies (Handicap -5.9)
Jonathan Taylor (handicap -5.8)
10,000m:
Andy Vernon (handicap -5.9)
Dewi Griffiths (handicap -6.1)
3000m steeplechase:
Rob Mullett (handicap -4.9)
110mH:
Andy Pozzi
Lawrence Clarke
William Sharman
400mH:
Jack Green
Rhys Williams
Tom Burton
High Jump:
Chris Baker
Robbie Grabarz
Pole Vault:
Luke Cutts
Long Jump:
Greg Rutherford
Dan Bramble
Triple Jump:
Nathan Douglas
Julian Reid
Hammer:
Nick Miller
Chris Bennett
Mark Dry
Decathlon:
Ashley Bryant
4x100m Relay:
James Ellington
Adam Gemili
Richard Kilty
Danny Talbot
Nethaneel Mithchell-Blake
Zharnel Hughes
Chijindu Ujah
James Dasaolu
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey
Ojie Edoburun
4x400m Relay:
Jarryd Dunn
Jack Green
Rabah Yousif
Delano Williams
Matthew Hudson-Smith
Nigel Levine
Half-Marathon Cup:
Callum Hawkins (handicap -6.2)
Tsegai Tewedle (handicap -3.5)
Derek Hawkins (handicap -5.3)
Jonathan Hay (handicap -5.3)
Matt Bond (handicap -4.8)
Lee Merrien (handicap -4.9)
WOMEN:
100m:
Asha Philip
Desiree Henry
200m:
Dina Asher-Smith
Jodie Williams
400m:
Anyika Onuora
Christine Ohuruogu
800m:
Adelle Tracey (handicap -1.7)
Alison Leonard (handicap -1.8)
Jenny Meadows (handicap -2.2)
1500m:
Sarah McDonald (handicap -1.6)
Melissa Courtney (handicap -1.4)
5000m:
Steph Twell (handicap -1.9)
Laura Whittle (handicap -1.7)
Eilish McColgan (handicap -2.2)
10,000m:
Kate Avery (handicap -1.8)
Jessica Andrews (handicap -0.9)
Jo Pavey (handicap -1.6)
3000m steeplechase:
Lennie Waite (handicap 0.8)
Rosie Clarke (handicap 0.3)
100mH:
Tiffany Porter
Serita Solomon
Lucy Hatton
High Jump:
Isobel Pooley
Long Jump:
Shara Proctor
Lorraine Ugen
Jazmin Sawyers
Triple Jump:
Laura Samuel
Shot:
Rachel Wallader
Discus:
Jade Lally
Hammer:
Sophie Hitchon
Javelin:
Goldie Sayers
Heptathlon:
Morgan Lake
4x100m Relay:
Asha Philip
Desiree Henry
Dina Asher-Smith
Daryll Neita
Bianca Williams
Louise Bloor
Shannon Hylton
4x400m Relay:
Anyika Onuora
Seren Bundy-Davies
Emily Diamond
Eilidh Doyle
Perri Shakes-Drayton
Margaret Adeoye
Kelly Massey
Half-Marathon Cup:
Alyson Dixon (handicap -1.2)
Tina Muir (handicap 0.1)
Charlotte Purdue (handicap -0.6)
Gemma Steel (handicap -1.5)
Lily Partridge (handicap -1.1)
Jessica Coulson (handicap 0.7)