Martyn Rooney believes the Great Britain & Northern Ireland team are in good shape ahead of the forthcoming inaugural IAAF World Relay Championships.

The crème de la crème of the world’s finest relay talent will be on show at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas on 24 – 25 May.

The 2010 European 4x400m silver medallist, who is one of 24 athletes selected for GB & NI, insists the men’s 4x400m are capable of making the podium.

“The atmosphere will be intense but we are ready," he said. "In my event the Americans are strong and the Bahamians are doing well but we are in the mix."

Rooney’s training partners Richard Kilty, James Ellington, Dwain Chambers and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey make up the bulk of the men’s 4x100m squad and the two-time Olympian is confident of a good performance from the sprinters.

"They are running very well and pushing each other all the time," he said. "Having the core of the relay training together they should have a connection and an understanding.”

GB & NI will be participating in the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m. In the 4x400m relay squads are World Indoor Championship relay medallists Eilidh Child, Shana Cox, Margaret Adeoye, Jamie Bowie, Nigel Levine and Conrad Williams, so there is no questioning the experience of the squads.

Add to that World Indoor 60m champion Richard Kilty and 2013 world 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu and the squads will certainly have their eyes on medals, such as the bronzes that the women’s 4x100m team picked up in Moscow last summer.

British Athletics Performance Director Neil Black said: “These championships provide a vital opportunity to prepare teams capable of winning medals at this year’s European Championships and future senior major championships.

“The team selected is a blend of experience and youth and one that I am sure will rise to the occasion of this unique format.

“These championships also provide a good opportunity for our relay squads to qualify for the 2015 World Championships.”

Great Britain & Northern Ireland Team

Men’s 4x100m:

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Rana Reider)
Dwain Chambers (Rana Reider)
James Ellington (Rana Reider)
Richard Kilty (Rana Reider)
Andrew Robertson (Dan Cossins)
Danny Talbot (Dan Cossins)

Women’s 4x100m:

Desiree Henry (Rana Reider)
Hayley Jones (Donald Moss)
Anyika Onuora (Rana Reider)
Asha Philip (Christine Bowmaker)
Bianca Williams (Lloyd Cowan)
Jodie Williams (Christine Bowmaker)

Men’s 4x400m:

Dan Awde (Chris Zah)
Michael Bingham (George Williams)
Jamie Bowie (Piotr Haczek)
Nigel Levine (Linford Christie)
Martyn Rooney (Rana Reider)
Conrad Williams (Linford Christie)

Women’s 4x400m:

Margaret Adeoye (Linford Christie)
Eilidh Child (Malcolm Arnold)
Shana Cox (George Williams)
Emily Diamond (Dan Cossins)
Christine Ohuruogu (Lloyd Cowan)
Victoria Ohuruogu (Lloyd Cowan)

The top eight teams in both the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m will automatically qualify for the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing.