27th June 2016

British Athletics has today named its biggest ever team of 97 for the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 6-10 July.  Headlined strongly with an array of reigning European Champions, including 42-year-old Jo Pavey (coach: Gavin Pavey), the team shows a blend of newly crowned British champions already heading to the Olympic Games in Rio, plus those looking to show form and fitness ahead of the final selections next month.

Current European champions Greg Rutherford (Dan Pfaff), Martyn Rooney (Rana Reider), Tiffany Porter (Reider) will join Pavey, as they look to defend the titles won two years ago and head to Rio as the best in Europe.  Adam Gemili (Steve Fudge), the reigning 200m champion, switches to the 100m event in 2016 and James Dasaolu (Fudge), reigning 100m champion, will only compete in the 4x100m relay.

Other European medallists from Zürich in 2014 who will be looking to stand on the podium again include Jodie Williams (Ryan Freckleton), Andy Vernon (Nic Bideau) and William Sharman (Jerzy Maciukiewicz).  Plus Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Benke Blomkvist), Matthew Hudson-Smith (Tony Hadley) and Eilidh Doyle (Malcolm Arnold), who do not compete individually this year, but are selected for the 4x100m and the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays respectively.

British Athletics has named four very strong relay teams, with the men’s and women’s 4x100m and the men’s 4x400m teams looking to repeat the success of two years ago and defend their European titles, whilst the women’s 4x400m will want to improve on the Bronze medal from 2014.

Performance Director for British Athletics, Neil Black said: “We have picked our biggest and best team ever for the European Championships, and given everyone the best possible chance to put themselves in the frame for the Olympics in Rio.

"We expect every athlete to make their individual final, with many challenging for places on the podium. This is the biggest competition in Europe, with athletes desperate to compete and our strong team selection demonstrates the value we put on the competition, we aim to achieve great success.

"With the European Championships and Olympic Games scheduled so close together you have to take a sensible approach to selection and look at what is best for each athlete as an individual.  Whilst focussed towards Rio, we have liaised with athletes selected for the Olympics, and their coaches, before making a decision on selection.

"We believe for some athletes, such as Greg Rutherford, Dina Asher-Smith and Adam Gemili, competing in Amsterdam will massively benefit their performance in Rio, whilst for others, like Mo, KJT and Laura Muir for example, this competition was never part of the season plan.”

In the half-marathon Dewi Griffiths (Kevin Evans) is replaced by Matt Bond (Norman Poole), after moving to the 10,000m individual event and Lee Merrien (Gavin Smith) replaces Scott Overall (Alan Storey) who has withdrawn from the team with injury.

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)

Delano Williams (Neil Harrison)

Matthew Hudson-Smith (Tony Hadley)

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)

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)