Georgia Hunter Bell (coach:Trevor Painter, club:Belgrave Harriers) will lead the 26 squad as captain for the Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the 2026 World Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland.
The Olympic, World and European medallist will take to the start line in the women’s 1500m on Saturday, looking to chase a spot on the podium. This time last year, she claimed the bronze medal in Nanjing, which has since been upgraded to a silver after a disqualification.
As per tradition, as captain, she gave a speech to the squad before the competition begins, where she touched more on her journey back into the sport and reminded the squad how special it is to represent the nation.
Speaking about being appointed team captain, she said;
“It feels special, especially because World Indoors was the first team I ever made for GB and NI two years ago. It’s an honour as there are so many amazing athletes in the group that I take inspiration from.
“I wanted to impart that these opportunities are special. I know what it’s like to walk away from athletics and wish that I was competing, so a reminder to just enjoy it all and seize the opportunity. As you never know what is going to happen in the future. That is what I wanted the team to take away today and just go for it.”
The squad of 26 blends seasoned championship performers with an exciting group of debutants set to take to the arena across the weekend.
No event captures this mix better than the men’s 60m, led by: Jeremiah Azu (Cardiff, Helen James), returning as last year’s champion, and Jody Smith (Thames Valley, Alex Currie), making his senior debut. All rounds of the men’s 60m — heats, semi‑finals and final — take place on Friday, with the final delivering the first medals of the Championships.
Also beginning their campaigns on Friday morning are the women’s 400m opening rounds, featuring newly crowned UK Athletics Indoor Champion Yemi Mary John (Woodford Green Essex Ladies, Alan James) and silver medallist Louisa Stoney (Belgrave Harriers, Marvin Rowe).
Rounding off Friday morning are the 800m world record‑breaker Keely Hodgkinson (Leigh, Trevor Painter), arriving in top form, and Issy Boffey (Enfield & Haringey, Luke Gunn), who has enjoyed a breakthrough season and now sits eighth on the UK all‑time list. In the men’s 800m, 2023 World bronze medallist Ben Pattison (Basingstoke & Mid Hants, Dave Ragan) leads the British charge.
Both the men’s and women’s 1500m rounds begin on Friday evening. Team Captain and 2025 World Indoor medallist Georgia Hunter Bell (Belgrave Harriers, Trevor Painter) heads the British challenge, holding the fastest UK time of the year. She is joined by Jemma Reekie (Kilbarchan, Jon Bigg), who won a silver medal back in 2024 in Glasgow in the 800m. In the men’s event, Jack Higgins (Tonbridge AC, Mark Hookway) and senior international debutant James McMurray (St Albans, Deborah Steer) line up for GB & NI.
Saturday morning opens with 60m British record holder Dina Asher‑Smith (Blackheath & Bromley, Michael J Ford) and Tokyo World silver medallist Amy Hunt (Marco Airale) in the women’s 60m. Shortly after, the ever‑popular relays take centre stage, with the women’s 4x400m squad.
World and Olympic medallist Josh Kerr (Edinburgh, Danny Mackey) returns to the track for the men’s 3000m, a title he won back on home turf in Glasgow in 2024. In the women’s 3000m, 2026 British Indoor Champion Hannah Nuttall (Charnwood, Helen Clitheroe) lines up alongside the experienced Katie Snowden (Herne Hill). Georgina Forde‑Wells (Woodford Green AC, Lukasz Zawila) closes an exciting Saturday as she steps up for the triple jump.
Sunday’s programme begins with Abigail Pawlett (Trafford, Ashley Bryant) and Ellen Barber (Wells City Harriers, John Lane) who will be making her international debut in the women’s pentathlon, starting with the 60m hurdles. Shortly afterwards, Molly Palmer (Thames Valley, Lukasz Zawila), fresh from setting a new personal best, competes in the women’s long jump, earning her first senior international vest.
Rounding off the morning session are Emma Nwofor (Thames Valley Harriers, Joel Brown) in the women’s 60m hurdles and Yorkshire’s finest, Scott Lincoln (City of York, Dale Stevenson) in the shot put.
Finally, 2024 World Indoor Champion Molly Caudery (Thames Valley, Stuart Caudery) returns to the global stage on Sunday evening in the pole vault.
To watch the full weekend of action, head to BBC iPlayer and BBC 2 and follow British Athletics across all social channels.
The Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland (20-22 March):
Men
60m
Jeremiah Azu (Cardiff, Helen James)
Jody Smith (Thames Valley, Alex Currie)*
800m
Ben Pattison (Basingstoke & Mid Hants, Dave Ragan)
1500m
Jack Higgins (Tonbridge AC, Mark Hookway)
James McMurray (St Albans, Deborah Steer) *
3000m
Josh Kerr (Edinburgh, Danny Mackey)
Shot Put
Scott Lincoln (Dale Stevenson, City of York)
Women
60m
Dina Asher-Smith (Blackheath & Bromley, Michael J Ford)
Amy Hunt (Marco Airale)
60m Hurdles
Emma Nwofor (Thames Balley Harriers, Joel Brown) *
400m
Yemi Mary John (Woodford Green Essex Ladies, Alan James)
Louisa Stoney (Belgrave Harriers, Marvin Rowe) *
800m
Issy Boffey (Enfield & Haringey, Luke Gunn)
Keely Hodgkinson (Leigh, Trevor Painter)
1500m
Georgia Hunter Bell (Belgrave Harriers, Trevor Painter)
Jemma Reekie (Kilbarchan, Jon Bigg)
3000m
Hannah Nuttall (Charnwood, Helen Clitheroe)
Katie Snowden (Herne Hill)
Pentathlon
Abigail Pawlett (Trafford, Ashley Bryant)
Ellen Barber (Wells City Harriers, John Lane) *
Pole Vault
Molly Caudery (Thames Valley, Scott Simpson)
Long Jump
Molly Palmer (Thames Valley, Lukasz Zawila) *
Triple Jump
Georgina Forde-Wells (Woodford Green AC, Lukasz Zawila)
4x400m Relay
Poppy Malik (Harrow, Nick Dakin)
Lousia Stoney (Belgrave Harriers, Marvin Rowe)*
Tess McHugh (Sale Harriers Manchester, Stephen Ball)*
Jazmine Moss (Gateshead Harriers AC, Richard Kilty)*
The relay will also include athletes who have been selected in their individual events
*Making there senior international debut
