British Athletics has today announced a maximum number of 11 athletes for the European Throwing Cup to be held in Leiria, Portugal from 21-22 March.
Hammer thrower Taylor Campbell (coach; John Pearson; club: Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) and shot putter Amelia Strickler (Zane Duquemin; Thames Valley) lead an in-form British team having both produced personal best performances over the past month.
Campbell added 35cm to his personal best in his first competition of the year at the weekend in Loughborough, winning the Winter Long Throws Opportunity with a European Championship qualification standard of 74.98m, while Strickler threw out to a career long 17.97m at the SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow two weeks ago.
Also victorious in Loughborough at the weekend and earning selection are Nicholas Percy (Vesteinn Hafsteinsson; Shaftesbury Barnet) and Kirsty Law (Duquemin; Sale Harriers Manchester). Law produced her best ever season opener of 56.38m on the way to victory in the discus while Percy won the event for the first time.
Scott Lincoln (Paul Wilson; City of York), who like Strickler claimed British indoor gold in the shot put in Glasgow two weeks ago, will get the chance to continue his good run of form in the shot put while Craig Murch (Lorraine Shaw; Birchfield Harriers) joins Campbell in the men’s hammer with Jess Mayho (Jorge Rodrigues; Birchfield Harriers) completing the senior team in the women’s hammer, both having made their senior international debuts at last year’s European Throwing Cup.
Bethany Moule (John Davies; Neath), Serena Vincent (Bronwin Carter; City of Portsmouth) and Ben Hawkes (Adrian Palmer; Worthing) are selected to compete as under-23s in the javelin, shot put and hammer respectively – all three in personal best form this year as well.
Charlotte Payne (Paul Dickenson; Reading), who threw a World Athletics Junior Championship standard of 60.73m in Loughborough at the weekend. completes the team with a place in the women’s under-23 hammer.
Peter Stanley, Head of Field & Combined Events at British Athletics, said: “The European Throwing Cup is an important event on the international calendar for our athletes and it is fantastic – and demonstrates the strength we currently have – that we have been able to select the maximum number of 11 athletes this year.
“The Winter Long Throws Opportunity at the weekend was once again a great event for many to open their season as shown by the number of personal bests and, along with other performances this year, we are looking forward to seeing our athletes make the most of the opportunity Leiria presents.”
The British team selected for the European Throwing Cup Leiria 2020:
Senior Men:
Taylor Campbell (John Pearson; Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) – Hammer
Scott Lincoln (Paul Wilson; City of York) – Shot Put
Craig Murch (Lorraine Shaw; Birchfield Harriers) – Hammer
Nicholas Percy (Vesteinn Hafsteinsson; Shaftesbury Barnet) – Discus
Senior Women:
Kirsty Law (Zane Duquemin; Sale Harriers Manchester) – Discus
Jess Mayho (Jorge Rodrigues; Birchfield Harriers) – Hammer
Amelia Strickler (Zane Duquemin; Thames Valley) – Shot Put
Under-23 Men:
Ben Hawkes (Adrian Palmer; Worthing) – Hammer
Under-23 Women:
Bethany Moule (John Davies; Neath) – Javelin
Charlotte Payne (Paul Dickenson; Reading) – Hammer
Serena Vincent (Bronwin Carter; City of Portsmouth) – Shot Put
