20 May 2010

With the European Youth Olympic Trials set to kick off in Moscow tomorrow (Friday 21 May) Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland team leader Jo Jennings is hoping some of her major championship experience will help rub off on the young athletes in her charge.

Former high jumper Jennings who attended two Olympic Games and also took Commonwealth silver during her competitive career currently works as UKA’s Development Manager, working with young athletes and their coaches receiving support at part of the UKA Futures Programme.

Her role as team leader in Moscow, the first of its kind in the European Youth Olympic competition, means Jennings is aiming to encourage her team to ‘absorb every moment of the trip ahead’

“The opportunity to travel and compete overseas cannot be undervalued,” said Jennings ahead of the weekend.

“I was really fortunate to represent Great Britain as a teenager in Seoul in 1988, but that sort of opportunity can be quite rare.

“The inaugural event of continental trials to enable athletes to qualify through to the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August (14 – 26), means we can give this experience to more young athletes resulting in tremendous motivation to strive for a senior Olympic vest.

“Those that make it to Singapore will experience  a full, multi-sport programme very much in the vein of a full Olympic Games so it is an excellent opportunity and experience for the young athletes who qualify.”

Amongst the high quality team headed out to Russia are:

Victoria Ohuruogu (coach: Lloyd Cowan) younger sister of 2008 Olympic 400m gold medallist Christine. Annie Tagoe (coach: Connie Henry, Clarence Calendar), who will contest the 100m, pole vaulter Katie Byres (coach: Julien Raffalli- Ebezant) who had a great start to 2010 breaking the British All-Time U17 record once indoors and twice outdoors; and promising Javelin thrower Freya Jones (coach: Bill Bushnell).

For full team follow this link http://www.uka.org.uk/media/news/may-2010/05-05-10-eyot/

Results will be available after the weekend on www.uka.org.uk