Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (club: Sutton & District; coach: Benke Blomkvist) has been named as captain of the British team for this week’s European Team Championships Super League 2019 in Bydgoszcz, Poland from August 9-11.

Aikines-Aryeetey made his senior international debut for Great Britain & Northern Ireland at what was then known as the European Cup in Malaga in 2006 and, 13 years later, will captain the team in the latest edition of the event after being chosen by Team Leader Neil Black.

A reigning European champion as part of the British men’s 4x100m team, Aikines-Aryeetey has proven international pedigree having won World Championship relay bronze in 2009 and double world youth gold in 2005 and the world junior title the year he made his senior debut in 2006.

Aikines-Aryeetey has enjoyed a fine year so far, clocking his quickest legal 100m time since 2016 with a 10.11 while representing Great Britain & Northern Ireland at the Berlin Fliegt in June, and will compete over the distance in Bydgoszcz.

Aikines-Aryeetey said: “Representing your country is probably the most important thing in our sport and, for me, it is an absolute honour to captain the team. I am a little bit shocked in a sense but at the same time I am one of the older athletes now but even though I am 30, I feel younger than ever. I am ready to help the team and pass on anything I believe will be valuable for the week ahead. The European Team Champs has always been a special event for me, obviously being my first senior GB cap at the age of 17 back in 2006. I am very honoured that Neil would choose me in that regard and feel that I can pass on a wealth of knowledge. I have had my ups and downs and I am ready to push on with the week and captain the side to victory. I am excited for the challenges that come with it.”

Team Leader Black said: “It gives me great pleasure to name Harry as captain for the British team for the European Team Championships this week. Harry is an absolute delight to have on any British team and will be a great captain for a squad of athletes, which includes those with a wealth of international experience like himself and those very much starting their own journey. He has enjoyed a fine past 12 months and will be a popular choice. I wish him the best in the role and look forward to seeing him lead from the front on and off the track. I couldn’t think of a better role model for those competing this week.”

Elsewhere, Alisha Rees (Edinburgh; Leon Baptiste) has been called into the team for the women’s 4x100m relay in place of Ashleigh Nelson (City of Stoke; Michael Afilaka). Beth Dobbin (Edinburgh; Baptiste) has also unfortunately had to withdraw from the women’s 4x400m relay.

The British team selected for the European Team Championships Bydgoszcz 2019:

MEN:

100m

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Sutton & District; Benke Blomkvist)

200m

Richard Kilty (Middlesbrough; Benke Blomkvist)

400m

Dwayne Cowan (Hercules Wimbledon; Lloyd Cowan)

800m

Jamie Webb (Liverpool Harriers; Adrian Webb)

1500m

Charlie Da’Vall Grice (Brighton Phoenix; Jon Bigg)

3000m

James West (Tonbridge; Ben Thomas)

5000m

Nick Goolab (Belgrave; Craig Winrow)

3000m Steeplechase

Zak Seddon (Bracknell; Jeff Seddon)

110m Hurdles

Cameron Fillery (Woodford Green Essex Ladies; Michael Baker)

400m Hurdles

Chris McAlister (Thames Valley; Marina Armstrong)

High Jump

Chris Baker (Sale Harriers Manchester; Graham Ravenscroft)

Pole Vault

Charlie Myers (Middlesbrough; Chris Boundy)

Long Jump

Jacob Fincham-Dukes (Leeds City; Zivile Pukstiene)

Triple Jump

Ben Williams (Sale Harriers Manchester; Aston Moore)

Shot Put

Scott Lincoln (City of York; Paul Wilson)

Discus

Gregory Thompson (Shaftesbury Barnet; Neville Thompson)

Hammer

Nick Miller (Border; Tore Gustafsson)

Javelin

Tom Hewson (Andover; Mark Bradford)

4x100m Relay

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Sutton & District; Benke Blomkvist)

Dominic Ashwell (Shaftesbury Barnet; Marvin Rowe)

Shemar Boldizsar (Harlow; Vincent Lawrence)

Oliver Bromby (Southampton)

Richard Kilty (Middlesbrough; Benke Blomkvist)

4x400m Relay

Niclas Baker (Crawley; Piotr Spas)

Ethan Brown (Blackheath & Bromley; Lloyd Cowan)

Alex Knibbs (Amber Valley & Erewash; Nick Dakin)

Martyn Rooney (Croydon)

Lee Thompson (Sheffield & Dearne; John Henson)

Rabah Yousif (Newham & Essex Beagles; Carol Williams)

WOMEN:

100m

Daryll Neita (Cambridge Harriers; Jonas Dodoo)

200m

Jodie Williams (Herts Phoenix; Stuart McMillan)

400m

Amy Allcock (Aldershot Farnham & District; Glyn Hawkes)

800m

Shelayna Oskan-Clarke (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow; Jon Bigg)

1500m

Jessica Judd (Blackburn; Mick Judd)

3000m

Emily Hosker-Thornhill (Aldershot Farnham & District; Mick Woods)

5000m

Sarah Inglis (Lothian; Mark Bomba)

3000m Steeplechase

Rosie Clarke (Epsom & Ewell; David Harmer)

100m Hurdles

Cindy Ofili (Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

400m Hurdles

Meghan Beesley (Birchfield Harriers; Michael Baker)

High Jump

Emma Nuttall (Edinburgh; Fuzz Caan)

Pole Vault

Sophie Cook (Birchfield Harriers; Scott Simpson)

Long Jump

Abigail Irozuru (Sale Harriers Manchester; Tom Cullen)

Triple Jump

Naomi Ogbeta (Trafford; Tom Cullen)

Shot Put

Sophie McKinna (Great Yarmouth; Mike Winch)

Discus

Kirsty Law (Sale Harriers Manchester; Zane Duquemin)

Hammer

Sophie Hitchon (Blackburn; Tore Gustafsson)

Javelin

Bekah Walton (Blackheath & Bromley; David Turner)

4x100m Relay

Kristal Awuah (Herne Hill; Matthew Thomas)

Rachel Miller (Thames Valley; Linford Christie)

Daryll Neita (Cambridge Harriers; Jonas Dodoo)

Alisha Rees (Edinburgh; Leon Baptiste)

Bianca Williams (Enfield & Haringey; Lloyd Cowan)

4x400m Relay

Zoey Clark (Thames Valley; Eddie McKenna)

Emily Diamond (Bristol & West; Benke Blomkvist)

Yasmin Liverpool (Coventry; Stewart Marshall)

Jessica Turner (Amber Valley & Erewash; Nick Dakin)

Jodie Williams (Herts Phoenix; Stuart McMillan)