13 January 2014

World 110m hurdles finalist William Sharman (coach: Jerzy Maciukiewicz) will captain a 30-strong GB & NI team for the Sainsbury’s Glasgow International Match on Saturday 25 January 2014.

The 29 year old continued his impressive record of making finals at the IAAF World Championships by finishing fifth in Moscow, and is excited to have been given the opportunity to lead out his country at the Emirates Arena in the first major sporting event in Glasgow before the Commonwealth Games.

“It’s a real privilege to have been asked by Neil Black to captain the team at the Sainsbury’s Glasgow International Match at the end of the month. Not many athletes get the opportunity to lead a team at a major event, so I’m really looking forward to making my mark on and off the track in Glasgow.

“I had another consistent year last season with another world final in one of the most competitive events in the sport. The aim now is to build on that performance and challenge for medals both indoors and outdoors in 2014,” added Sharman, who will mark his first race indoors for five years. 

Sharman will be joined in the team by Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo) and Olympic high jump bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz (Fuzz Ahmed), as the team goes head-to-head with athletes from Scotland, USA and the Commonwealth Select.

In a year that saw James Dasaolu (Steve Fudge) clock the second fastest ever time by a British athlete, the IAAF World Championships 100m finalist will be looking to build on a 2013, which also saw him win European Indoor silver when he lines up in the 60m. Fellow Moscow teammate Tiffany Porter (Rana Reider), who won world 100m hurdles bronze, will also have her sights set on a strong start at the Sainsbury’s Glasgow International Match in the 60m hurdles.

Holly Bleasdale (Scott Simpson) will mark her return to action in the pole vault after injuries, which saw her miss the entire 2013 outdoor season, while Shara Proctor (Reider) will make her bow at the 5,000 seat state-of-the-art arena in the long jump. 

Olympic 800m finalist Andrew Osagie (Craig Winrow) will return to the Emirates Arena to compete in the 600m, an event in which he finish third behind Dai Greene and USA’s Duane Solomon last year.

GB & NI will be looking to continue their impressive record in the 4x400m, with last year’s European Indoor champions Nigel Levine (Linford Christie), Richard Strachan (Lloyd Cowan) and Richard Buck (Nick Dakin) in the team along with Luke Lennon-Ford (Christie) and Conrad Williams (Christie). In the women’s equivalent world 4x400m bronze medallist Margaret Adeoye will be joined by Meghan Beesley (Dakin), Victoria Ohuruogu (Cowan), Laura Wake (Dakin) and Jodie Williams (Christine Bowmaker).  

For the first time in the competition’s 23 year history, para-athletes will contribute to the overall team score, and GB & NI hopes will be on world bronze medallists Sophie Kamlish (Rob Ellchuk) and Erin McBride (Robert Roberts). There will also be a first senior GB & NI appearance in for Michael Poulton as he lines up in the T44 60m against USA’s Paralympic and world 100m silver medallist Richard Browne.  

British Athletics’ Performance Director Neil Black said: “We’ve got a really strong team to open up the indoor season at the Sainsbury’s Glasgow International Match. It’s a great opportunity not only for senior athletes, but for our less experienced team members to go up against some of the best in the world.

“2014 is another busy year with the World Indoors, European Championships, Commonwealth Games and IPC European Championships all on the horizon. Glasgow will give an indication of where everyone is in performance terms at the start of the season, and I’m really looking forward to it.

“William (Sharman) is a very strong, respected figure within the GB & NI team, which is one of the reasons why he has been chosen to lead the team out. He has shown time and time again consistency in his performances and I’m sure this meet will be no different.”

Following advice from team doctors, Jonnie Peacock (Fudge) has had to withdraw from the Sainsbury’s Glasgow International Match to rest a minor injury picked up in winter training. The 20 year old will now focus on returning to action for the outdoor season.

Peacock said: “I’m gutted not to be able to race indoors this year, I’ve always wanted to be part of events such as the Sainsbury’s Glasgow International Match, so it’s unfortunate that a slight injury has resulted in me having to withdraw. I spoke with my coach and we agreed that the sensible decision is to rest and concentrate my training on the outdoor season.”  

GB & NI team to face Scotland, USA and Commonwealth Select at Sainsbury’s Glasgow International Match on Saturday 25 January:

MEN:

60m: James Dasaolu (Steve Fudge)

150m: James Ellington (Rana Reider)

400m: Nigel Levine (Linford Christie)

600m: Andrew Osagie (Craig Winrow)

1500m: Charlie Grice (Jon Bigg)

3000m: Andy Vernon (Nic Bideau)

60m hurdles: Will Sharman (Jerzy Maciukiewicz) (Captain)

High jump: Robbie Grabarz (Fuzz Ahmed)

Long jump: Greg Rutherford (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo)

4x400m: Nigel Levine, Richard Strachan (Lloyd Cowan), Richard Buck (Nick Dakin), Luke Lennon-Ford (Christie), Conrad Williams (Christie)

T44 60m: Michael Poulton

WOMEN:

60m: Asha Philip (Christine Bowmaker)

150m: Jodie Williams (Bowmaker)

400m: Margaret Adeoye (Linford Christie)

800m: TBC

1500m: Jemma Simpson (Mark Rowland)

60m hurdles: Tiffany Porter (Reider)

Long jump: Shara Proctor (Reider)  

Pole vault: Holly Bleasdale (Scott Simpson)

4x400m: Margaret Adeoye, Meghan Beesley (Dakin), Victoria Ohuruogu (Cowan), Laura Wake (Dakin), Jodie Williams (Bowmaker)  

T12 60m: Erin McBride (Robert Roberts) 

T44 long jump: Sophie Kamlish (Rob Ellchuk)

Tickets for the Glasgow British Athletics International Match are on sale at britishathletics.org.uk