12 June 2013

British Athletics has today named four Olympic medallists in the team that will compete at the European Athletics Team Championships in Gateshead on 22-23 June 2013.

Gold medallists Mo Farah (coach: Alberto Salazar) and Greg Rutherford (Dan Pfaff), silver medallist Christine Ohuruogu (Lloyd Cowan) and bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz (Fayyaz Ahmed) will line up as part of the GB & NI team hoping to take international honours in front of a capacity home crowd at Gateshead International Stadium.

Also named in the team is the reigning World 400m hurdles champion Dai Greene (Malcolm Arnold), double European Indoor Champion Perri Shakes-Drayton (Chris Zah), European Indoor gold medallist Holly Bleasdale (Dan Pfaff, Scott Simpson) and reigning World 1500m silver medallist Hannah England (Bud Baldaro).

Farah has been selected for the 5000m as he continues his careful build up towards his World title defence in Moscow later this summer whilst Perri Shakes-Drayton will compete in the 400m. Eilidh Child (Malcolm Arnold) will compete in the 400m hurdles, whilst Christine Ohuruogu will lead the 4x400m relay team, a squad that includes her younger sister Victoria (Cowan).

British Athletics Head Coach Peter Eriksson said:

“In selecting the team we prioritised athletes who would give us best possible chance to win this prestigious competition whilst competing in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.

"I am delighted that our athletes have made this event a key part of their summer campaign and look forward to seeing how close we can get to repeating the victories of 2000 and 1989.

“It is also a pleasure to name Perri Shakes Drayton as Team Captain for the Championships. She was excellent at the European Indoors in March winning two gold medals against top class competition, and I know that she can lead by example both on and off the track this weekend.”

Shakes Drayton said:

"I’m so pleased to be selected as team captain and proud for myself and my coach. As an athlete you want to perform the best you possibly can on the track but it’s always pleasing if you can be seen as a leader and a good example for your team-mates.

"When I went to the World Juniors in 2006 I was team captain there and I was incredibly proud. I hope I can use my experience to help guide some of the new team members as we try to win the title in front of our home crowd!"

GB & NI team for the European Athletics Team Championships:

MEN:

100m: James Dasaolu (Steve Fudge); 200m: Danny Talbot (Daniel Cossins); 400m: Nigel Levine (Linford Christie); 800m: Andrew Osagie (Craig Winrow); 1500m: Charlie Grice (John Bigg); 3000m: David Bishop (James Thie); 5000m: Mo Farah (Salazar); 110mH: William Sharman (Jerzy Maciukiewicz); 400mH: Dai Greene (Arnold); 3000mSC: Rob Mullett (David Leach); High Jump: Robbie Grabarz (Ahmed); Long Jump: Greg Rutherford (Pfaff); Triple Jump: Nathan Douglas (Aston Moore); Pole Vault: Steve Lewis (Pfaff, Scott Simpson); Shot Put: Zane Duquemin (John Hillier); Discus Throw: Brett Morse (Andy Brittan); Hammer Throw: Mark Dry (Tore Gustafsson); Javelin: Lee Doran (David Parker); 4 x 100m: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Rana Reider), Dwain Chambers (Reider), James Dasaolu, James Ellington (Reider), Joel Fearon (Michael Khmel), Adam Gemili (Michael Afilaka), Richard Kilty (Linford Christie), Danny Talbot; 4 x 400m: Michael Bingham (George Williams), Richard Buck (Fudge), Nigel Levine, Martyn Rooney (Reider), Richard Strachan (Christie), Conrad Williams (Christie)

WOMEN:

100m: Asha Philip (Christine Bowmaker); 200m: Anyika Onuora (Reider); 400m: Perri Shakes Drayton (Zah); 800m: Jessica Judd (Rob Denmark); 1500m: Hannah England (Baldaro); 3000m: Laura Weightman (Steve Cram); 5000m: Emelia Gorecka (Mick Woods); 100mH: Tiffany Porter (Reider); 400mH: Eilidh Child (Arnold); 3000mSC: Eilish McColgan (Liz McColgan); High Jump: Isobel Pooley (Ahmed); Long Jump: Shara Proctor (Reider); Triple Jump: Yamile Aldama (Frank Attoh); Pole Vault: Holly Bleasdale (Pfaff, Simpson); Shot Put: Sophie McKinna (Geoff Capes); Discus Throw: Jade Lally (Andy Neal); Hammer Throw: Sophie Hitchon (Gustafsson); Javelin: Freya Jones (Don Babbit); 4 x 100m: Annabelle Lewis (Roger Walters), Anyika Onuora, Asha Philip, Tiffany Porter, Bianca Williams (Cowan); 4 x 400m: Meghan Beesley (Nick Dakin), Eilidh Child, Shana Cox (George Williams), Kirsten McAslan (Trevor Painter), Christine Ohuruogu (Cowan), Victoria Ohuruogu (Cowan)