14 July 2008

The British Olympic Association (BOA) today selected the first draft of athletics (track and field) members of Team GB for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

The final names will be added on Saturday 19 July. Included in the team are 2004 Olympic medallists Marlon Devonish and Kelly Sotherton, who won 4x100m gold and heptathlon bronze respectively in Athens.

Also in the initial selection are World 400m gold and silver medallists Christine Ohuruogu and Nicola Sanders, World Indoor triple jump champion Phillips Idowu and World Indoor 60m silver medallist Jeanette Kwayke. 

Commenting on their selection:

100m sprinter Simeon Williamson said:

"It means the world to me to be selected for Team GB and run for my country at the Olympic Games. I was delighted to run a huge personal best against such a high quality field when it mattered most at the Olympic Trials on Saturday. Now I can’t wait for Beijing."

Triple Jumper Phillips Idowu said:

"I’ve been hoping and dreaming of Olympic gold all year and now I have been officially selected I’m one step closer to achieving it in Beijing."

Heptathlete Kelly Sotherton said:

"I’m happy to be officially named in Team GB for Beijing, more importantly it will be my second Olympic Games. I’m hoping to improve on my bronze medal in Athens, which was a surprise really in 2004."

Simon Clegg, Team GB 2008 Chef de Mission, said:

“Today the British Olympic Association selected a further 48 names from athletics to join the 5 endurance athletes already selected to Team GB in May. On Saturday, we will select the remaining track and field members and we will then have a complete Team GB bound for the Olympic Games in China, comprising over 300 athletes.

I am delighted to welcome these 48 athletics members to the team that will be preparing at the BOA’s preparation Camp in Macau and then competing at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.”

Dave Collins, Team GB’s Athletics’ Team Leader, said:

“I would like to congratulate all those athletes who have been selected to represent Team GB at these Olympic Games. It is a position that thousands aspire to, but only a talented and committed few achieve. I would now urge those athletes to seize this opportunity, think carefully about their individual goals and do everything within their power to meet them.

“There are few sporting challenges tougher than those that will meet this athletics team at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. There will be fierce competition from the rest of the world and in a testing climate as well.

“However, it is not a challenge we will shy from. We have selected a strong team of athletes capable of achieving something truly significant at these Games and beyond. Our stretch target of five medals and eleven further 4^th to 8^th places remains an attainable goal.

“I am sure that our athletes will bring the same professional approach and zeal for competition that has been increasingly apparent at major championships in recent years. We will all work hard to give them an equally professional level of support.”

The athletes selected are:

MEN

100m

Simeon Williamson (Highgate Harriers)

200m

Marlon Devonish (Coventry Godiva); Christian Malcolm (Cardiff AAC); Alex Nelson (Sale Harriers Manchester);

400m

Martyn Rooney (Croydon Harriers); Andrew Steele (Trafford AC)*

800m

Michael Rimmer (Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton Harriers)

1500m

Andy Baddeley (Harrow AC); Tom Lancashire (Bolton Harriers)

5000m

Mo Farah (Newham & Essex)

110m hurdles

Andrew Turner (Sale Harriers Manchester)

High Jump

Germaine Mason (unattached); Tom Parsons (Birchfield Harriers)

Pole Vault

Steve Lewis (Newham & Essex)

Long Jump

Greg Rutherford (Marshall Milton Keynes); Chris Tomlinson (Newham & Essex)

Triple Jump

Larry Achike (Shaftesbury Barnet); Nathan Douglas (Oxford City); Phillips Idowu (Belgrave Harriers);

Decathlon

Daniel Awde (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies)

4x100m

Harry Aikines-Aryeety (Belgrave Harriers); Tyrone Edgar (Newham & Essex); Craig Pickering (Marshall Milton Keynes); Simeon Williamson (Highgate Harriers)

4x400m

Michael Bingham (unattached); Richard Buck (City of York)*; Martyn Rooney (Croydon Harriers); Andrew Steele (Trafford AC)*; Rob Tobin (Basingstoke & Mid Hants)

WOMEN

100m

Jeanette Kwayke (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies)

200m

Emily Freeman (Wakefield Harriers)

400m

Lee McConnell (Shaftesbury Barnet); Christine Ohuruogu (Newham & Essex); Nicola Sanders (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow)

800m

Marilyn Okoro (Shaftesbury Barnet)

1500m

Lisa Dobriskey (Ashford AC)

5000m

Jo Pavey (Exeter Harriers)

10,000m

Jo Pavey (Exeter Harriers)

Kate Reed (Bristol & West)

3000m steeple chase

Helen Clitheroe (Preston Harriers); Barbara Parker (City of Norwich AC)

400m hurdles

Tasha Danvers (Shaftesbury Barnet)

Pole Vault

Kate Dennison (Sale Harriers Manchester)

Long Jump

Jade Johnson (Herne Hill)

Discus

Philippa Roles (Swansea Harriers)

Javelin

Goldie Sayers (Belgrave Harriers)

Heptathlon

Kelly Sotherton (Birchfield Harriers); Julie Hollman (Birchfield Harriers)

4x100m

Emma Ania (Shaftesbury Barnet); Montell Douglas (Blackheath & Bromley); Jeanette Kwayke (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies); Anyika Onuora (Liverpool Harriers); Laura Turner (Harrow AC)

4x400m

Lee McConnell (Shaftesbury Barnet); Christine Ohuruogu (Newham & Essex); Nicola Sanders (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow)

* Subject to confirmation of medical fitness by 10:00 on 19th July

Notes to Editors

Already announced on 19 May:

Marathon

Dan Robinson (Stroud & District)

20k walk

Johanna Jackson (Redcar)

Marathon

Paula Radcliffe (Bedford & County); Mara Yamauchi (Harrow AC); Liz Yelling (Bedford & County)

Team GB is expected to consist of approximately 300 athletes and a further 200 officials. Click here to view all currently selected Team GB athletes.

Team GB could be competing in up to 20 sports.

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will take place from 8^th to 24^th August 2008.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) is the National Olympic Committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Its role is to prepare our nation’s finest athletes for and lead them at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. The BOA delivers extensive elite level support services to Britain’s Olympic athletes and their National Governing Bodies throughout each Olympic cycle and in the UK is responsible for the development and protection of the Olympic Movement.

For more information please contact Miriam Wilkens in the BOA Communications Department on 07768775762 or 020 8871 2677 ext 227.

All interview requests for the athletes should go through Chris Broadbent at UK Athletics on 07701 099763.