Ashleigh Nelson (coach: Leon Baptiste, club: City of Stoke) will captain the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team at the European Championships in Munich, Germany.
The 2014 European 100m bronze medallist, who was also part of the 4x100m relay gold medal winning squad at those Championships in Zurich, will lead the team at the 2022 edition in Munich.
Nelson burst onto the scene at the World Youth Championships in 2007, winning bronze in the 100m, and added World Junior silver the following year. After injury battles, her medals in Zurich eight years ago were a major highlight in her career.
The City of Stoke athlete has continued to be an important member of the women’s 4x100m relay squad over the last decade, winning bronze in Moscow in 2013, and part of the silver medal-winning team at the 2019 Worlds in Doha.
The 31-year-old said on receiving the captaincy, “It’s been 24 hours of surprises, but it is an absolute honour. I’ve been on this senior GB & NI team since Beijing 2008, and this is the first time I have been captain. Getting to stand in front of the whole team and tell them a little bit about yourself, but most of all to try and inspire them, is a huge honour.
“I’ve got a story of success, but also of struggle. I hope that is something everyone can relate to. We all train really hard, we all have our ups and our downs, and I hope I can inspire them to go out there and do battle.
“I’ve been taught by the best; your Jeannette Kwakye’s, your Christine Ohuruogu’s. I always remember saying to Christine, ‘I really feel nervous, how do I not feel nervous?’ And this is after she’d won her Olympic gold, and she just turned around to me and said ‘you’re not going to be the only one out there who is nervous. I still get nervous.’ And all of a sudden, I thought if she can feel nervous as Olympic champion, then it’s ok that I do too. Nerves mean it is important to you. I hope I can translate that sort of message across to the new members of the team, but also remind the older team members that they should go out there and ‘show them who is boss’ as my nan and Grandad would say.”
Olympic Head Coach, Christian Malcolm said, “Ashleigh has been an important member of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team over a number of years. 15 years after her first success for GB&NI in Ostrava, she continues to be an incredible team player, is very hard working, and has overcome injury struggles over the years, and she continues to excel at the highest level.
“Ashleigh will lead our biggest ever team at a European Championships, so this is a fantastic honour for her. She brings so much experience to the team, and I have no doubt she will be a brilliant captain for this team for these Championships.”
UK Athletics can confirm Asha Philip will miss the women’s 100m at the World Athletics Championships following a positive covid test result. Following European Athletics’ Covid-19 procedures, and in line with the GB&NI medical team, Asha has been withdrawn from the event on Monday 15 August. Therefore, Ashleigh Nelson, who was already selected as part of the 4x100m relay squad, will come in for Philip in the individual 100m.
Malcolm added, “We are obviously very sad for Asha that she is unable to compete on Monday. We have carried out all the necessary covid procedures pre travel but due to the timing of the positive test, and following European Athletics’ covid guidelines, she will have to remain in self-isolation on the day of her event. We will monitor the situation to see if she will be able to race as part of the 4x100m relay team later this week.”
There has been one further withdrawal from the team which is Tom Bosworth who will no longer compete in the 20km Race Walk next Saturday.
Day one of the athletics programme sees a number of Great Britain and Northern Ireland athletes in action including Commonwealth Games champion Eilish McColgan, the marathon athletes, and a number of track and field athletes kick starting their campaigns.
The women’s and men’s marathons will be the first medal events for athletics during Munich 2022 with four women and five men competing; the races go off at 9:30 and 10:30am (BST) respectively.
Although there are a number of athletes who have received byes through to their semi-finals such as Dina Asher-Smith, Matthew Hudson-Smith and Zharnel Hughes to name a few, there will be lots of GB & NI athletes in heats action, including the shot putters who will be looking to earn a place in the evening’s finals.
Access to live results will be available through https://munich22results.european-athletics.com. Make sure you have created a free account on European Athletics website here: https://www.european-athletics.com/why-register
Coverage will be on BBC throughout the Championships.
The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the European Athletics Championships:
Senior Women:
100m
Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath and Bromley)
Imani-Lara Lansiquot (Stuart McMillan, Sutton & District)
Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)
Ashleigh Nelson (Leon Baptiste, City of Stoke)
200m
Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath and Bromley)
Beth Dobbin (Leon Baptiste, Edinburgh)
Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)
Jodie Williams (Stuart McMillan, Herts Phoenix)
400m
Victoria Ohuruogu (Christine Ohuruogu, Newham & Essex Beagles)
Laviai Nielsen (Enfield & Haringey)
Nicole Yeargin (Boogie Johnson, Pitreavie)
800m
Alex Bell (Andrew Henderson, Pudsey and Bramley)
Keely Hodgkinson (Trevor Painter, Leigh)
Jemma Reekie (Andy Young, Kilbarchan)
1500m
Ellie Baker (Jon Bigg, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Melissa Courtney-Bryant (Rob Denmark, Poole)
Laura Muir (Andy Young, Dundee Hawkhill)
Katie Snowden (Herne Hill)
5000m
Amy-Eloise Markovc (Chris Fox, Wakefield)
Eilish McColgan (Liz Nuttall, Dundee Hawkhill)
Calli Thackery (Vince Wilson, Hallamshire Harriers)
10,000m
Samantha Harrison (Vince Wilson, Charnwood)
Jessica Judd (Mick Judd, Blackburn)
Eilish McColgan (Liz Nuttall, Dundee Hawkhill)
3000m Steeplechase
Lizzie Bird (Pat McCurry, Shafetsbury Barnet)
Aimee Pratt (Vicente Modahl, Sale Harriers Manchester)
Elise Thorner (Joe Franklin, Wells City)
100m Hurdles
Jessica Hunter (Scott Grace, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Cindy Sember (Chris Johnson, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)
400m Hurdles
Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)
Hayley McLean (Chris Zah, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Lina Nielsen (Shaftesbury Barnet)
High Jump
Morgan Lake (Robbie Grabarz, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)
Laura Zialor (Jade Surman, Marshall Milton Keynes)
Long Jump
Abigail Irozuru (Aston Moore, Sale Harries Manchester)
Jazmin Sawyers (Lance Brauman, City of Stoke)
Jahisha Thomas (Clive Roberts, Blackheath and Bromley)
Triple Jump
Naomi Metzger (Aston Moore, Trafford)
Pole Vault
Molly Caudery (Scott Simpson, Thames Valley)
Sophie Cook (Scott Simpson, Halesowen)
Shot Put
Sophie McKinna (Paul Wilson, Great Yarmouth)
Divine Oladipo (Ashley Kovacs, Blackheath and Bromley)
Amelia Strickler (Zane Duquemin, Thames Valley)
Discus
Jade Lally (Zane Duquemin, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Kirsty Law (Zane Duquemin, Sale Harriers Manchester)
Hammer
Jessica Mayho (John Pearson, Birchfield Harriers)
Charlotte Payne (Paul Dickenson, Reading)
Anna Purchase (Mo Saatara, Notts)
Javelin
Bekah Walton (David Turner, Blackheath and Bromley)
Heptathlon
Holly Mills (Laura Turner-Alleyne, Andover)
Jade O’Dowda (John Lane, Newham and Essex Beagles)
4x100m Relay
Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath and Bromley)
Beth Dobbin (Leon Baptiste, Edinburgh)
Imani-Lara Lansiquot (Stuart McMillan, Sutton & District)
Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)
Ashleigh Nelson (Leon Baptiste, City of Stoke)
Asha Philip (Amy Deem, Newham and Essex Beagles)
Bianca Williams (Enfield and Haringey)
4x400m Relay
Zoey Clark (Ryan Oswald, Thames Valley)
Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)
Laviai Nielsen (Enfield & Haringey)
Lina Nielsen (Shaftesbury Barnet)
Victoria Ohuruogu (Christine Ohuruogu, Newham & Essex Beagles)
Ama Pipi (Marco Airale, Enfield and Haringey)
Hannah Williams (Steve Fudge, Herts Phoenix)
Jodie Williams (Stuart McMillan, Herts Phoenix)
Nicole Yeargin (Boogie Johnson, Pitreavie)
Marathon
Becky Briggs (Geoff Watkin, City of Hull)
Rosie Edwards (Robert Hawkins, Rotherham)
Naomi Mitchell (Nick Anderson, Reading)
Alice Wright (Ben Rosario, Worcester)
20km Race Walk
Heather Lewis (Chris Jones, Pembroke)
35km Race Walk
Bethan Davies (Andi Drake, Cardiff)
Senior men:
100m
Jeremiah Azu (Helen James, Cardiff)
Ojie Edoburun (Stuart McMillan, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Reece Prescod (Marvin Rowe, Enfield & Haringey)
200m
Charlie Dobson (Benke Blomkvist, Colchester)
Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Ryan Freckleton, Newham and Essex Beagles)
400m
Joe Brier (Matt Elias, Swansea)
Alex Haydock-Wilson (Benke Blomkvist, Windsor Eton Slough Hounslow)
Matthew Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield)
800m
Ben Pattison (Dave Ragan, Basingstoke & Mid Hants)
Daniel Rowden (Matt Yates, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)
Jake Wightman (Geoff Wightman, Edinburgh)
1500m
Neil Gourley (Ben Thomas, Giffnock North)
Jake Heyward (Mark Rowland, Cardiff)
Matthew Stonier (Chris & Sonia McGeorge, Invicta East Kent)
5000m
Sam Atkin (Mike Collins, Lincoln Wellington)
Andrew Butchart (Gary Lough, Central)
Patrick Dever (Alistair Cragg, Preston)
10,000m
Sam Atkin (Mike Collins, Lincoln Wellington)
Emile Cairess (Alan Storey, Leeds)
Marc Scott (Jerry Schumacher, Richmond and Zetland)
3000m Steeplechase
Jamaine Coleman (Joan Hunter, Preston)
Phil Norman (Tomaz Plibersek, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)
Zak Seddon (Jeff Seddon, Bracknell)
110m Hurdles
David King (Tim O’Neil, City of Plymouth)
Miguel Perera (Laura Turner-Alleyne, Harrow)
Andrew Pozzi (Stratford-upon-Avon)
400m Hurdles
Seamus Derbyshire (Nick Dakin, City of Stoke)
Joshua Faulds (Alex Currie, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Jacob Paul (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)
Long Jump
Reynold Banigo (Matt Barton, Sale Harriers Manchester)
Jacob Fincham-Dukes (Zivile Pukstiene, Leeds City)
Jack Roach (Lukasz Zawila, Harrow)
Triple Jump
Ben Williams (Aston Moore, City of Stoke)
High Jump
Joel Clarke-Khan (Robbie Grabarz, Thames Valley)
David Smith (Ken Allan / Aston Moore, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Pole Vault
Harry Coppell (Scott Simpson, Wigan & District)
Shot Put
Scott Lincoln (Paul Wilson, City of York)
Discus
Lawrence Okoye (Zane Duquemin, Croydon)
Nicholas Percy (Zane Duquemin, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Hammer
Nick Miller (Tore Gustafsson, Border)
4x100m Relay
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Benke Blomkvist, Sutton & District)
Jeremiah Azu (Helen James, Cardiff)
Jona Efoloko (Clarence Callender, Sale Harriers Manchester)
Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Ryan Freckleton, Newham and Essex Beagles)
Reece Prescod (Marvin Rowe, Enfield & Haringey)
Tommy Ramdhan (Michael Afilaka, Bexley)
4x400m Relay
Joe Brier (Matt Elias, Swansea)
Lewis Davey (Newham and Essex Beagles)
Charlie Dobson (Benke Blomkvist, Colchester)
Alex Haydock-Wilson (Benke Blomkvist, Windsor Eton Slough Hounslow)
Ben Higgins (Stewart Marshall, Sheffield and Dearne)
Matthew Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield)
Kevin Metzger (Stephen Ball, Trafford)
Rio Mitcham (Leon Baptiste, Birchfield)
Marathon
Mohamud Aadan (Paul Oppe, Thames Valley)
Luke Caldwell (Dorking & Mole Valley)
Andrew Davies (Stockport)
Andrew Heyes (Mara Yamauchi, Hallamshire)
Philip Sesemann (Andrew Henderson, Leeds City)
20km Race Walk
Callum Wilkinson (Rob Heffernan, Enfield and Haringey)
Team Staff
Team Leader: Paula Dunn
Olympic Head Coach: Christian Malcolm
Team Coaches:
Sprints & relay coaches: Darren Campbell, Benke Blomkvist, Leon Baptiste and Martyn Rooney
Endurance coaches: Steve Vernon, Jon Bigg, Luke Gunn, Sarah Benson, Mara Yamauchi and Chris Jones
Field & combined events coaches: Aston Moore, Laura Alleyne-Turner, Ryan Spencer Jones, John Pearson, Richard Humby and Robbie Grabarz
Medical:
Doctors: Jill Neale and Duncan Robertson
Therapists: George Polglass, Jon Alty, Keith Berry, Emma Deakin, James Hedger, Gemma Jefferson, Satveer Kang, Adam Rattenberry, Alison Rose and Laura Street
Sport science: Nils Bogaard and Milly Pamment – biomechanics; Andy Shaw – Physiologist
Team Managers: Lorna Dwyer, Amanda Evans, Cerys Miller and Laura Burke
