1st July 2016

On his first return to international competition for three years, triple jumper Nathan Douglas (coach: Aston Moore) has today been announced as captain of the British Athletics team for the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 6-10 July.

Discus thrower Jade Lally (Andrew Neal) will lead out a 97-strong team at the Olympic Stadium on 6 July, having been bestowed with the honour of Flag Bearer for the British Athletics team at the Opening Ceremony.

33-year-old Douglas, who claimed his fourth British Championship triple jump title this past weekend, said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be named Captain for the British Athletics team, especially for one of the biggest teams we have ever put together.  Many are aware of the difficulties I have faced in the past – to be back, make the European team and be named Captain is a very special moment.”

Olympic qualifier Lally, who also won her fifth British title this weekend and secured her spot on the plane to Rio, said: “There’s a fair amount of responsibility to not physically mess this up, but the risk is not as high as me giving a speech!  So this is a great role for me.  I’m even prouder of the fact that a thrower has been asked to take on such an honour.  I shall carry the British flag with even more pride.”

“This is a big championships in a big year, so we needed a big personality who was capable of inspiring and uniting the team,” said British Athletics Performance Director Neil Black.  “Whilst it is Olympic year, we are taking the European Championships massively seriously and that has been reflected in the size and quality of the team selected.  Nathan is one of the most determined and resolute athletes we have, it is this steel and unwavering focus that I want him to bring to the captaincy and help us achieve great success in Amsterdam.

“Jade has started the season off in great form and has already secured automatic qualification for the Rio Olympics this summer. This is the biggest and best team we have ever sent to a European Championships and I am delighted Jade has agreed to lead them out at the Opening Ceremony.”

Eleven athletes will be making their senior international team debut for British Athletics at the European Championships in Amsterdam:

Men:

Nethaneel Mithchell-Blake (Dennis Shaver)

Jamie Webb (Adrian Webb)

Elliot Giles (Matthew Yates)

Jake Wightman (Geoff Wightman)

Ojie Edoburun (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo)

Tsegai Tewedle (John MacKay)

Matt Bond (Norman Poole)

Women:

Sarah McDonald (Bud Baldaro)

Melissa Courtney (Mark Pauley)

Jessica Andrews

 Shannon Hylton (John Blackie)

British Athletics team for the 2016 European Athletics Championships:

MEN:

100m:

James Ellington (Linford Christie)

Adam Gemili (Steve Fudge)

Richard Kilty (Benke Blomkvist)

200m:

Danny Talbot (Benke Blomkvist)

Nethaneel Mithchell-Blake (Dennis Shaver)

Zharnel Hughes (Glenn Mills)

400m:

Martyn Rooney (Rana Reider)

Jarryd Dunn (Keith Holt)

800m:

Michael Rimmer (Jon Bigg)

Jamie Webb (Adrian Webb)

Elliot Giles (Matthew Yates)

1500m:

Jake Wightman (Geoff Wightman)

Lee Emanuel (Joe Franklin)

Tom Lancashire (Steve Vernon)

5000m:

Jonathan Davies (Rob McKim)

Jonathan Taylor (Gordon Surtees)

10,000m:

Andy Vernon (Nic Bideau)

Dewi Griffiths (Kevin Evans)

3000m steeplechase:

Rob Mullett (David Leach)

110mH:

Andy Pozzi (Malcolm Arnold)

Lawrence Clarke (Samba-Koundy Giscard)

William Sharman (Jerzy Maciukiewicz)

400mH:

Jack Green (June Plews)

Rhys Williams (Adrian Thomas)

Tom Burton (Nick Dakin)

High Jump:

Chris Baker (Sharon Heveran)

Robbie Grabarz (Fuzz Caan)

Pole Vault:

Luke Cutts (Trevor Fox)

Long Jump:

Greg Rutherford (Dan Pfaff)

Dan Bramble (Frank Attoh)

Triple Jump:

Nathan Douglas (Aston Moore)

Julian Reid (Aston Moore)

Hammer:

Nick Miller (Tore Gustafsson)

Chris Bennett (Mick Jones)

Mark Dry (Tore Gustafsson)

Decathlon:

Ashley Bryant (Aston Moore)

4x100m Relay:

James Ellington (Linford Christie)

Adam Gemili (Steve Fudge)

Richard Kilty (Benke Blomkvist)

Danny Talbot (Benke Blomkvist)

Nethaneel Mithchell-Blake (Dennis Shaver)

Zharnel Hughes (Glenn Mills)

Chijindu Ujah (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo)

James Dasaolu (Steve Fudge)

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Benke Blomkvist)

Ojie Edoburun (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo)

4x400m Relay:

Jarryd Dunn (Keith Holt)

Jack Green (June Plews)

Rabah Yousif (Carol Williams)

Matthew Hudson-Smith (Tony Hadley)

Delano Williams (Neil Harrison)

Nigel Levine (Linford Christie)

Half-Marathon Cup:

Callum Hawkins (Robert Hawkins)

Tsegai Tewedle (John MacKay)

Derek Hawkins (Robert Hawkins)

Jonathan Hay (Mick Woods)

Matt Bond (Norman Poole)

Lee Merrien (Gavin Smith)

WOMEN:

100m:

Asha Philip (Steve Fudge)

Desiree Henry (Rana Reider)

200m:

Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie)

Jodie Williams (Ryan Freckleton)

400m:

Anyika Onuora (Rana Reider)

Christine Ohuruogu (Lloyd Cowan)

800m:

Adelle Tracey (Craig Winrow)

Alison Leonard (Bud Baldaro)

Jenny Meadows (Trevor Painter)

1500m:

Sarah McDonald (Bud Baldaro)

Melissa Courtney (Mark Pauley)

5000m:

Steph Twell (Mick Woods)

Laura Whittle

Eilish McColgan (Liz McColgan-Nuttall)

10,000m:

Kate Avery (Tony Simmons)

Jessica Andrews

Jo Pavey (Gavin Pavey)

3000m steeplechase:

Lennie Waite (Steve Sisson)

Rosie Clarke (David Harmer)

100mH:

Tiffany Porter (Rana Reider)

Serita Solomon (Michelle Bovell)

Lucy Hatton (Toni Minichiello)

High Jump:

Isobel Pooley (Fuzz Caan)

Long Jump:

Shara Proctor (Rana Reider)

Lorraine Ugen (Shawn Jackson)

Jazmin Sawyers (Alan Lerwill)

Triple Jump:

Laura Samuel (Aston Moore)

Shot:

Rachel Wallader

Discus:

Jade Lally (Andrew Neal)

Hammer:

Sophie Hitchon (Tore Gustafsson)

Javelin:

Goldie Sayers (Mark Roberson)

Heptathlon:

Morgan Lake (Eldon Lake)

4x100m Relay:

Asha Philip (Steve Fudge)

Desiree Henry (Rana Reider)

Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie)

Daryll Neita (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo)

Bianca Williams (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo)

Louise Bloor (Toni Minichiello)

Shannon Hylton (John Blackie)

4x400m Relay:

Anyika Onuora (Rana Reider)

Seren Bundy-Davies (Stephen Ball)

Emily Diamond (Jared Deacon)

Eilidh Doyle (Malcolm Arnold)

Perri Shakes-Drayton (Chris Zah)

Margaret Adeoye (Linford Christie)

Kelly Massey (Stephen Ball)

Half-Marathon Cup:

Alyson Dixon (self-coached)

Tina Muir (Steve Picucci)

Charlotte Purdue (Nic Bideau)

Gemma Steel (Rob Denmark)

Lily Partridge (Alan Storey)

Jessica Coulson (Mick Woods)