18th April 2017

WORLD CLASS WOMEN'S LONG JUMP SET TO BE ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF BRITISH ATHLETICS TEAM TRIALS

18 April 2017

Four of Britain’s medal winning long jumpers are expected to star at the Alexander Stadium, as they aim to qualify for the World Championships

Four British major medallists are expected to battle for honours in an electrifying women’s long jump competition at this year’s British Athletics Team Trials in Birmingham from 1-2 July.

The event will be the British trials for the IAAF World Championships in London in August and will also decide who is crowned British champion.

Shara Proctor (Coach: Rana Reider), who claimed silver at the 2015 world championships will be amongst the favourites, but is expected to face tough competition from European indoor silver medallist Lorraine Ugen (Shawn Jackson), European silver medallist Jazmin Sawyers (Kelly Sotherton) and 2014 world indoor long jump silver medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

Proctor will be hoping to be in the mix for the world title at this year’s IAAF World Championships, following on from her silver in Beijing in 2015. She believes the level of competition at the British Athletics Team Trials will be very high, with spots on the British team for London 2017 up for grabs.

Proctor said: “I can’t wait for the British Athletics Team Trials and I have to perform well there to make sure I qualify to represent Great Britain at this year’s world championships.

“I know I’ll be up against a very strong field of jumpers in Birmingham which will hopefully push me to further distances. It will be a great competition and would be brilliant to see as many fans as possible cheering on the British athletes on 1-2 July.”

The British outdoor long jump record holder is expected to face some of the nation’s top talent this summer, including an in-form Lorraine Ugen who recently added a silver medal at the European Indoor Championships in Belgrade, to her 2016 world indoor bronze medal.

Ugen said: “I love competing at the British Athletics Team Trials, and this year will be even more special with so much at stake. We all want to compete at the IAAF World Championships and the fact that it’s in London makes it an even bigger deal for the British athletes.

“I had a great start to the year indoors and I’m really focussed on continuing that form outdoors and making sure I’m ready for a tough competition in Birmingham.”

Another of Britain’s world-class long jumpers who is expected to compete in Birmingham, is European and Commonwealth silver medallist Jazmin Sawyers, who is hoping for another strong year.

Sawyers said: “2017 is a fantastic opportunity for British athletes to compete at the best athletics event in the world, right on our doorstep.

“It’s set to be an incredible summer of athletics and I can’t wait to get on the runway in Birmingham to fight for my place in the British team.”

The British Athletics Team Trials is the curtain raiser for the major athletics outdoor meetings in the UK and will see the best athletes in Britain gather for the biggest domestic competition of the year.

In order to give athletes the best possible preparation for the IAAF World Championships, British Athletics has taken the decision to move the events previously held on the Friday evening into Saturday’s programme, meaning the event will now take place on 1-2 July.

The timetable has been altered to accommodate the change and will be released in due course, there will now only be two rounds of the men’s 400m. Qualifying standards for the British Athletics Team Trials can be found here: http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/british-athletics-series/british-athletics-team-trials-2017/athlete-information