UK Athletics has announced the Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland (GB & NI) team for the World Athletics Championships, Tokyo, Japan (13-21 September)
The performance aims when selecting the team were to maximise medal success and achieve a top eight placing. For the relay events, the goal is to achieve medal success.
Budapest 2023 World Champions, Josh Kerr (coach: Danny Mackey, club: Edinburgh) and Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Aston Moore, Liverpool) receive wild card selections for Tokyo from World Athletics.
Georgia Hunter-Bell (Trevor Painter, Belgrave Harriers) has selected to compete in the 800m alongside training partner and Olympic gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson (Trevor Painter, Leigh) who has made an impressive return from early season injury in recent weeks. They are joined by 2024 World Athletics Indoor medallist Jemma Reekie (Jon Bigg, Kilbarchan).
Alongside Josh will be 2025 World Indoor medallist Neil Gourley (Stephen Haas, Giffnock North) and 2022 World Champion Jake Wightman (John Hartigan, Edinburgh), plus Elliot Giles (Jon Bigg, Birchfield Harriers) in the men’s 1500m race.
George Mills (Thomas Dreißigacker, Brighton Phoenix) who set a new British Record of 12:46.59 in the 5000m at the Oslo Diamond League earlier this summer, will compete in the men’s 5000m.
Amber Anning (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove), the 2025 World Indoor Champion in the 400m, makes the squad alongside recent Under 23 European silver medallist Yemi Mary John (Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies) and the experienced Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham and Essex Beagles).
A strong trio in the women’s sprints, Dina Asher-Smith (Blackheath & Bromley), Amy Hunt (Marco Airale, Charnwood) and Daryll Neita (Lance Brauman, Cambridge Harriers) will compete across both the 100m and 200m.
In the men’s sprints, Budapest World medallist Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet) will double up and compete in both 100m and 200m. The British record holder will be joined in the 100m with 2025 World and European Indoor Champion Jeremiah Azu (Helen James, Cardiff) and an in-form Romell Glave (Michael Afilaka, Croydon). Toby Harries (David Sadkin, Brighton Pheonix), a Paris relay bronze medallist in the 4x400m, will go in the 200m alongside Hughes.
Paris silver medallist Matt Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield Harriers) leads the way in the men’s 400m. Paris Olympic relay teammates Charlie Dobson (Leon Baptiste, Colchester) and Samuel Reardon (Nigel Stickings, Blackheath & Bromley), both of whom have run new personal best times this year, join him in the 400m.
The UK Championship men’s 800m UK Champion Max Burgin (Ian Burgin, Halifax Harriers) will be joined by 2023 World medallist Ben Pattison (Dave Ragan, Basingstoke & Mild Hants) and Tiarnan Crorken (Andrew Henderson, Preston), who received his first senior GB & NI call up earlier this summer at the European Team Championships.
2025 UK Champion, Tyri Donovan (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow), will make his senior international debut in the men’s 400m hurdles, alongside Guernsey’s Alistair Chalmers (Matt Elias, Guernsey) and Seamus Derbyshire (Alex O’Gorman, City of Stoke).
Calli Hauger-Thackery (Nick Hauger, Hallamshire) has stepped down from her marathon place to focus on the 10,000m, whilst newly crowned Under 20 European Champion in the 3000m and the 5000m, Innes FitzGerald (Gavin Pavey, Exeter) has been selected for the 5000m.
In the field events, 2024 World Indoor Champion Molly Caudery (Scott Simpson, Thames Valley) will be going in the pole vault and after an incredible comeback from a year long injury, Jazmin Sawyers (Aston Moore, City of Stoke) will compete in the women’s long jump.
Two men go in the men’s discus, Lawrence Okoye (Zane Duquemin, Croydon), who threw a British Record of 70.76m this year and Nick Percy (Zane Duquermin, Harrow), who set a lifetime best at the start of this summer season.
With a number of athletes achieving the UKA consideration standard, the final team will be confirmed on Monday, 1st September, following the confirmation of the final world athletics rankings late on Saturday 30th August.
Paula Dunn, Performance Director of UK Athletics said:
“We are proud to announce such a strong Novuna GB & NI team for Tokyo. This squad combines proven global medallists with exciting emerging athletes, and we are confident they can build on our recent successes at the highest level.
“Our clear ambition is to convert world-class performances into medals, while also developing depth across events for the future. Tokyo will provide the perfect stage to demonstrate the strength of British athletics, and I know the athletes will rise to the occasion.”
The Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on 13-21 September 2025:
Women
100m
Dina Asher-Smith (Blackheath & Bromley)
Amy Hunt (Marco Airale, Charnwood)
Daryll Neita (Lance Brauman, Cambridge Harriers)
200m
Dina Asher-Smith (Blackheath & Bromley)
Amy Hunt (Marco Airale, Charnwood)
Daryll Neita (Lance Brauman, Cambridge Harriers)
400m
Amber Anning (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove)
Yemi Mary John (Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)
Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham and Essex Beagles)
800m
Georgia Hunter-Bell (Trevor Painter, Belgrave Harriers)
Keely Hodgkinson (Trevor Painter, Leigh)
Jemma Reekie (Jon Bigg, Kilbarchan)
1500m
Laura Muir (Laura Weightman, Dundee Hawkhill)
Revee Walcott-Nolan (Thomas Dreissigacker, Luton)
Erin Wallace (Trevor Painter, Giffnock North)
5000m
Melissa Country-Bryant (Rob Denmark, Poole)
Innes FitzGerald (Gavin Pavey, Exeter)
Hannah Nuttall (Helen Clitheroe, Wells City)
10,000m
Calli Hauger-Thackery (Nick Hauger, Hallamshire)*
Megan Keith (Ross Cairns, Inverness)*
400m Hurdles
Lina Nielsen (Tony Lester, Shaftesbury Barnet)
Emily Newnham (Nick Dakin, Shaftesbury Barnet)
3000m Steeplechase
Elise Thorner (Helen Clitheroe, Wells City)
Sarah Tait (Linda Smith, Lasswade)*
100m Hurdles
Marcia Sey (Lorna Boothe, Blackheath & Bromley)*
High Jump
Morgan Lake (Yannick Tregaro, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)*
Long Jump
Jazmin Sawyers (Aston Moore, City of Stoke)
Pole Vault
Molly Caudery (Scott Simpson, Thames Valley)
Hammer
Anna Purchase (Mohamed Ali Saatara, Notts AC)*
Heptathlon
Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Aston Moore, Liverpool)
Jade O’Dowda (John Lane, Newham and Essex Beagles) *
Abigail Pawlett (Ashley Bryant, Trafford) *
Women’s 4×100
Dina Asher-Smith (Blackheath & Bromley)
Success Eduan (Anita Richardson, Sale Harriers Manchester)
Joy Eze (Michael Donnelly, Gateshead)
Desiree Henry (Linford Christie, Enfield & Haringey)
Amy Hunt (Marco Airale, Charnwood)
Daryll Neita (Lance Brauman, Cambridge Harriers)
Women’s 4×400
Amber Anning (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove)
Hannah Brier (Rhys Williams, Swansea)
Poppy Malik (Grant Barker, Harrow)
Yemi Mary John (Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)
Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham and Essex Beagles)
Nicole Yeargin (Gregory Sholars, Pitreavie)
Men
100m
Jeremiah Azu (Helen James, Cardiff)
Romell Glave (Michael Afilaka, Croydon)
Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)
200m
Toby Harries (David Sadkin, Brighton Pheonix)*
Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)
400m
Charlie Dobson (Leon Baptiste, Colchester)
Matt Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield Harriers)
Samuel Reardon (Nigel Stickings, Blackheath & Bromley)
800m
Max Burgin (Ian Burgin, Halifax Harriers)
Tiarnan Crorken (Andrew Henderson, Preston)
Ben Pattison (Dave Ragan, Basingstoke & Mild Hants)
1500m
Elliot Giles (Jon Bigg, Birchfield Harriers)
Neil Gourley (Stephen Haas, Giffnock North)
Josh Kerr (Danny Mackey, Edinburgh)
Jake Wightman (John Hartigan, Edinburgh)
5000m
George Mills (Thomas Dreissigacker, Brighton Phoenix)
3000m Steeplechase
Zak Seddon (Bracknell AC)*
35k Race Walk
Cameron Corbishley (Andi Drake, Medway & Maidstone) *
400m Hurdles
Alastair Chalmers (Matt Elias, Guernsey)
Seamus Derbyshire (Alex O’Gorman, City of Stoke)
Tyri Donovan (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)
110m Hurdles
Tade Ojora (Joanna Hayes, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) *
Marathon
Emile Cairess (Renato Canova, Leeds City)
Discus
Lawrence Okoye (Zane Duquemin, Croydon)
Nick Percy (Zane Duquermin, Harrow)
Hammer
Jake Norris (Nick Ridgeon, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) *
Shot Put
Scott Lincoln (Dale Stevenson, City of York) *
Men’s 4×400
Charlie Dobson (Leon Baptiste, Colchester)
Lewis Davey (Trevor Painter, Newham and Essex Beagles)
Toby Harries (David Sadkin, Brighton Pheonix)
Matt Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield Harriers)
Samuel Reardon (Nigel Stickings, Blackheath & Bromley)
Lee Thompson (John Henson, Sheffield & Dearne)
Men’s 4×100
Eugene Amo-Dadzie (Steve Fudge, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)
Jeremiah Azu (Helen James, Cardiff)
Jona Efoloko (Ryan Freckleton, Sale Harriers Manchester)
Romell Glave (Michael Afilaka, Croydon)
Louie Hinchliffe (Richard Kilty, Sheffield & Dearne)
Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)
*Selected subject to confirmation of a qualifying world ranking position on midnight Saturday 30th August
The mixed relay event will comprise a combination of the athletes named in the squad.
