changes for GB&NI

There are several changes to the Aviva Great Britain & Northern Ireland Team for this weekend’s European Team Championships in Leira, Portugal.

4x400m runner Nicola Sanders (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow) has withdrawn after damaging her ankle in training. The ligament injury will rule her out of training for 10-14 days.

Sanders is undergoing an intensive rehabilitation programme overseen by the UKA Medical Team. There is no direct replacement, her place in the relay team will be covered by existing selections in the GB & NI team.

4x100m runner James Dasaolu has withdrawn due to a hamstring injury on his left leg picked up at the IAAF Golden League Meeting in Berlin.

He too is subject to an intensive rehabilitation programme overseen by the UKA medical team. Dasaolu will be replaced by Craig Pickering (Marshall Milton Keynes), who won the men’s 100m in the event’s previous guise as the European Cup in 2007.

Montell Douglas has withdrawn from the women’s 4x100m team due to a low grade right knee injury, which is being managed by the UKA Medical Team. No replacement has been drafted in.

Gemma Bennett has pulled out of the women’s 100m hurdles due to a right Achilles injury. The UKA medical team are initiating the early rehabilitation programme, but Bennett is likely to be out of action for 4-5 weeks.

Bennett’s place in the 100m hurdles will be covered by Phyllis Agbo, the heptathlete who is also competing in the women’s long jump.