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UK ATHLETICS AND BIRMINGHAM TO HOST EUROPEAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2026

written by Hugh

European Athletics have today announced that Birmingham will host the European Athletics Championships in 2026 following a successful bid process with UKA.

Working in partnership with Birmingham City Council and UK Sport, UKA had high hopes of hosting Europe’s most prestigious European athletics competition, seven years on from staging the hugely successful European Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow in 2019.

Whilst the UK has also proudly hosted multiple Major Championships over the last 15 years including the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the World Athletics and World Para Athletics Championships as well as the World Athletics Indoor Championships, it will be the first time the UK has ever hosted the European Athletics Championships.

The bid win follows on from an exciting summer for athletics in the UK with medal success for GB & NI at the World and European Athletics Championships and for the home nation teams at a hugely successful home Commonwealth Games hosted by Birmingham at the newly renovated Alexander Stadium – which will be the venue for the event in 2026.

UKA’s Chief Executive Jack Buckner said:

“We are delighted and honoured that we have been awarded the privilege of hosting the European Athletics Championships in 2026 in Birmingham. It is wonderful news for athletics and benefits the whole of the UK in demonstrating our ability to host major events across the whole country.

“UKA has held a long time wish to deliver this event and we thank European Athletics for its faith in entrusting us with its most important competition.

“Our vision for the Championships is about record breaking ticket sales and an amazing atmosphere for athletes to be inspired inside and outside the stadium. We have promised to deliver an amazing, innovative and game changing Championships, and we’re excited we can now put this plan into action!”

Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “We are honoured and privileged to be asked to be the first-ever UK hosts of the prestigious European Athletics Championships in 2026.

“Over many years we have demonstrated we are a city that can proudly host major events of this type and scale – and the people of Birmingham and indeed the entire nation have proven time and time again their huge appetite for sport, especially athletics.

“The Alexander Stadium is beyond all doubt the premier athletics facility in the country and we cannot wait to welcome the elite of European athletics for this event, which will also bring a range of benefits for local communities and our economy beyond the programme of track and field activities.”

Sally Munday, CEO of UK Sport, said:

“I’m delighted that the UK will be welcoming Europe’s best athletes to Birmingham in 2026. Hosting the European Athletics Championships will be a fantastic opportunity to build on the legacy of the Commonwealth Games earlier this year and I know the British public will get behind the athletes and create a brilliant atmosphere in the Alexander Stadium.

“We’ve seen throughout 2022 the significant economic and social benefits of hosting big sporting events in this country and hosting this mega-event will deliver huge benefits for the city of Birmingham, the West Midlands region and the whole of the United Kingdom. It’s also important to recognise that our continued ability to deliver the very best global sporting events is thanks to the ongoing support of The National Lottery.”

Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said:

“It is fantastic that Birmingham has been chosen to host the first European Athletics Championship on British soil. The city is perfectly placed to put on the event following record-breaking ticket sales for a brilliant Commonwealth Games earlier this year.

“I look forward to seeing Europe’s elite athletes descend on the West Midlands and the Government will continue to work closely with UK Sport, UK Athletics and Birmingham City Council to host another hugely successful event.”

UK Athletics and Birmingham are proud to have been announced as the Host City of European Athletics Championships 2026. Athletics fans from Birmingham and across the UK and beyond will travel to see these championships. For those interested in hearing first about tickets and wider opportunities to get involved in the championships, register on this link www.uka.org.uk/eac-2026-register-your-interest/

14th November 2022 0 comment

Athletics

2022/23 OLYMPIC WORLD CLASS PROGRAMME COHORT ANNOUNCED

written by Hugh

A group of 66 athletes have been nominated for membership to join the UK Athletics Olympic World Class Programme (WCP) for 2022/23.

The Olympic WCP is UK Sport’s National Lottery funded initiative supporting the delivery of success at named milestone targets, namely outdoor track World and European Championships, and the Olympic Games with Budapest 2023 and Paris 2024 the next major events on the athletics calendar.

The WCP is split into several levels reflecting the actual and potential performance levels of athletes: Podium, Podium Potential, Relay and Confirmation. Athletes are nominated for the WCP to further the aim of UK Athletics to win medals at the 2024 and/or 2028 Olympic Games. UKA are committed to the principle that winning will always be achieved with integrity and in line with UK Sport’s ambition of ‘Keep Winning and Win Well’.

Therefore, UKA must be confident that any athlete nominated for the WCP has the realistic potential and demonstrable performance capability and capacity to make the necessary progress to achieve a medal at least in one of the next two Olympic Games.

As per previous years, the nomination for WCP membership is subject to UK Sport ratification and a signed athlete agreement between the athlete and UKA.

Stephen Maguire, Technical Director at UK Athletics, commented, “We look forward to working with the athletes and their coaches, and seeing where the World Class Programme can support them appropriately, and where it can add value to enhance their potential as we look ahead to Budapest, Paris and beyond.

“Alongside the success of the Futures programme we are seeing a huge amount of young talent emerging through the system and the standards are continuing to rise as those athletes develop and push on.

“With this introduction of young talent on to the Programme, joining a number of experienced athletes who have or are establishing their ability on the international stage, we will be looking to build on the momentum and success of the 2022 season and take that into the World Athletics Championships in Budapest next year, the Olympic Games in Paris, and looking further ahead, into Los Angeles in 2028.

“We’d like to thank UK Sport and the National Lottery for their continued investment in the World Class Programme. Their support is essential to helping our athletes be the best prepared they can be for the biggest competitions.”

The UK Athletics Olympic World Class Programme Athletes for 2022/23:

Olympic Podium (15):

Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath and Bromley)

Alex Bell (Andrew Henderson, Pudsey & Bramley)

Holly Bradshaw (Scott Simpson, Blackburn)

Keely Hodgkinson (Trevor Painter, Leigh)

Matthew Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield)

Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Aston Moore, Liverpool)

Josh Kerr (Danny Mackey, Edinburgh)

Nick Miller (Tore Gustafsson, Border)

Laura Muir (Andy Young, Dundee Hawkhill)

Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)

Andrew Pozzi (Stratford-upon-Avon)

Jemma Reekie (Andy Young, Kilbarchan)

Jazmin Sawyers (Aston Moore, City of Stoke)

Cindy Sember (Chris Johnson, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

Jake Wightman (Geoff Wightman, Edinburgh)

Olympic Podium Potential (23):

Lizzie Bird (Pat McCurry, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Emily Borthwick (Alex Stewart, Wigan and District)

Taylor Campbell (John Pearson, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

Molly Caudery (Stuart Caudery, Thames Valley)

Harry Coppell (Kate Rooney, Wigan and District)

Oliver Dustin (Graeme Mason, Border)

Niamh Emerson (Ashley Bryant, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Tom Gale (Denis Doyle, Team Bath)

Elliot Giles (Jon Bigg, Birchfield)

Jake Heyward (Mark Rowland, Cardiff)

Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

Morgan Lake (Robbie Grabarz, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

Scott Lincoln (Paul Wilson, City of York)

Eilish McColgan (Liz Nuttall, Dundee Hawkhill)

Sophie McKinna (Paul Wilson, Great Yarmouth)

Naomi Metzger (Aston Moore, Trafford)

Lawrence Okoye (Zane Duquemin, Croydon)

Aimee Pratt (Vicente Modahl, Sale Harriers Manchester)

Charlotte Purdue (Nic Bideau, Aldershot Farnham and District)

Daniel Rowden (Jon Bigg, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

Marc Scott (Jerry Schumacher, Richmond and Zetland)

Katie Snowden (Stephen Haas, Herne Hill)

Callum Wilkinson (Rob Heffernan, Enfield and Haringey)

Olympic Relays (17):

Kristal Awuah (Gary Evans, Herne Hill)

Zoey Clark (Ryan Oswald, Thames Valley)

Emily Diamond (Jared Deacon, Bristol & West)

Beth Dobbin (Leon Baptiste, Edinburgh)

Jona Efoloko (Clarence Callender, Sale Harriers Manchester)

Adam Gemili (Marco Airale, Blackheath and Bromley)

Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Richard Kilty (Leon Baptiste, Gateshead)

Imani-Lara Lansiquot (Ryan Freckleton, Sutton & District)

Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Ryan Freckleton, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Ashleigh Nelson (Leon Baptiste, City of Stoke)

Laviai Nielsen (Philipp Unfried, Enfield and Haringey)

Victoria Ohuruogu (Christine Ohuruogu, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Asha Philip (Amy Deem, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Ama Pipi (Marco Airale, Enfield and Haringey)

Jodie Williams (Stuart McMillan, Herts Phoenix)

Nicole Yeargin (Boogie Johnson, Pitreavie)

Olympic Confirmation Level (11):

Jeremiah Azu (Marco Airale, Cardiff)

Ellie Baker (Jon Bigg, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Max Burgin (Ian Burgin, Halifax Harriers)

Piers Copeland (Bob Smith, Pontypridd)

Charlie Dobson (Benke Blomkvist, Colchester)

Alex Haydock-Wilson (Benke Blomkvist, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

Holly Mills (Laura Turner-Alleyne, Andover)

Jade O’Dowda (John Lane, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Ben Pattison (Dave Ragan, Basingstoke and Mid Hants)

Tommy Ramdhan (Michael Afilaka, Bexley)

Matthew Stonier (Chris and Sonia McGeorge, Invicta East Kent)

2nd November 2022 0 comment

Athletics

2022/23 PARALYMPIC WORLD CLASS PROGRAMME COHORT ANNOUNCED

written by Hugh

9 athletes have been nominated for membership to join the UK Athletics Paralympic World Class Programme (WCP) for 2022/23.

The Paralympic WCP is UK Sport’s National Lottery funded initiative supporting the delivery of success at named milestone targets, namely outdoor track World and European championships, and the Paralympic Games. The WCP is split into several levels reflecting the actual and potential performance levels of athletes: Podium, Podium Potential and Confirmation.

Athletes are nominated for the WCP to further the aim of UK Athletics to win medals at the 2024 and/or 2028 Paralympic Games. UKA are committed to the principle that winning will always be achieved with integrity and in line with UK Sport’s ambition of ‘Keep Winning and Win Well’.

Therefore, UK Athletics must be confident that any athlete nominated for the WCP has the realistic potential and demonstrable performance capability and capacity to make the necessary progress to achieve a medal at least in one of the next two Paralympic Games.

Seven reigning Paralympic champions including Daniel Pembroke (coach: David Turner, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow) and Sophie Hahn (Leon Baptiste, Charnwood) are included on Podium level funding once again.

Meanwhile, after a superb 2022 season which has seen him set personal bests across several events, and where he has also claimed Commonwealth silver in the T54 1500m, Daniel Sidbury (Christine Parsloe, Sutton & District) progresses from Confirmation level to Podium Potential.

Additionally, six athletes have been added at Confirmation – this level is designed to support athletes in their first 1-2 years of inclusion in high-performance programmes, to provide a period through which the potential of the athlete is explored and confirmed.

Five of these athletes have previously been supported on the Futures Academy Programme, so they are continuing their progression along the UK Athletics Paralympic Pathway.

John Bridge (Darrell Maynard, Cardiff), who won European T47 400m silver in 2021, joins at this level, as does Eden Rainbow-Cooper (Jenny Archer, Weir Archer Academy) who won Commonwealth silver in Birmingham and also finished third at the London Marathon recently.

Commonwealth T47 100m champion, Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker (Joe McDonnell and Nat Senior, Newham and Essex Beagles) is also added, as is Ethan Kirkby (Sonya Ellis, Newton Abbot) and Steven Stone (Gary Manson, Forth Valley Flyers), while T52 athlete Marcus Perrineau-Daley (Jenny Archer, Weir Archer Academy) joins the pathway for the first time.

As per previous years, the nomination for WCP membership is subject to UK Sport ratification and a signed athlete agreement between the athlete and UKA.

Tom Paulson, Head of Paralympic Performance at UK Athletics, commented, “The Paralympic Programme is in a strong position as we head towards Paris 2024 and LA 2028. It is also good to see athletes graduating along the Pathway from the Futures Academy on to the World Class Programme.

“It has been a different year for many athletes as they have not had a major Championships / Games this summer, however, they have remained focused and will be concentrating on the prospect of qualifying for the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris next July.

“We have an exciting and important period coming up for the sport, and I’m looking forward to working with the athletes and coaches to make sure they have the required support provided by the WCP to be in the best position to achieve success in Paris and / or Los Angeles.”

The British Athletics Paralympic WCP Athletes for 2022/23:

Paralympic Podium (18):

Kare Adenegan (Job King, Coventry)

Hollie Arnold (David Turner, Blackheath and Bromley)

Columba Blango (Chris Zah, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Olivia Breen (Aston Moore, City of Portsmouth)

Jonathan Broom-Edwards (Bethan Partridge, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Richard Chiassaro (Jenni Banks, Harlow)

Hannah Cockroft (Leeds)

Aled Davies (Ryan Spencer-Jones, Cardiff)

David Devine (Tony Clarke, Liverpool Harriers)

Sabrina Fortune (Ian Robinson, Deeside AAC)

Dan Greaves (Zane Duquemin, Charnwood)

Sophie Hahn (Leon Baptiste, Charnwood)

Sammi Kinghorn (Rodger Harkins, Red Star)

Maria Lyle (Jamie Bowie, Team East Lothian)

Owen Miller (Steven Doig, Fife)

Jonnie Peacock (Dan Pfaff, Charnwood)

Daniel Pembroke (David Turner, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

Thomas Young (Joe McDonnell, Charnwood)

Paralympic Podium Potential (12):

Lydia Church (Peterborough & Nene Valley)

Nathan Maguire (Steven Hoskins, Kirkby)

Anna Nicholson (Richard Kaufman, Gateshead)

Derek Rae (Steven Doig, Fife)

Zac Shaw (Leon Baptiste, Cleethorpes)

Daniel Sidbury (Christine Parsloe, Sutton & District)

Zak Skinner (Aston Moore, Loughborough Students)

Ali Smith (Benke Blomkvist, Guildford and Godalming)

JohnBoy Smith (Christine Parsloe, Sutton & District)

Hannah Taunton (Charlotte Fisher, Taunton)

Harrison Walsh (Nathan Stephens, Swansea)

David Weir (Jenny Archer, Weir Archer Academy)

Paralympic Confirmation (9):

Fabienne André (Jenny Archer, Weir Archer Academy)

John Bridge (Darrell Maynard, Cardiff)

Ethan Kirby (Sonya Ellis, Newton Abbot)

Luke Nuttall (Alison Wyeth, Charnwood)

Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker (Joe McDonnell and Nat Senior, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Marcus Perrineau-Daley (Jenny Archer, Weir Archer Academy)

Eden Rainbow-Cooper (Jenny Archer, Weir Archer Academy)

Steven Stone (Gary Manson, Forth Valley Flyers)

Melanie Woods (Rodger Harkins, Red Star)

20th October 2022 0 comment

Athletics

GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND SELECT 115 ATHLETES FOR THE 2022 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN MUNICH

written by Hugh

UK Athletics can confirm that 115 athletes have been selected to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the European Championships which will take place between 15-21 August in Munich, Germany.

As outlined in the policy, the objectives were to select a team that maximised medal success, provided opportunities for developing athletes that have potential to win medals, and provided opportunities to achieve a GB & NI vest at a major Championships.

In events where there is a reigning European champion from Berlin 2018, that athlete received a wildcard so an additional slot was available [women’s 100m, 200m, 1500m and men’s 100m, 400m] enabling four athletes to be selected by the panel.

Additionally, athletes who had not achieved a qualification standard but qualified by European ranking could be considered by the panel if they satisfied the relevant criteria outlined in the policy. These selections were made based on the top 26 list of qualified athletes as of Thursday 28 July. Should any GB & NI athletes be added to these lists then the selection panel will reconvene next week to consider any additional athletes.

Newly crowned world champion, Jake Wightman (Geoff Wightman) is selected to race in the men’s 800m alongside Ben Pattison (Dave Ragan, Basingstoke and Mid Hants) and Daniel Rowden (Matt Yates, Woodford Green Essex Ladies) in Munich.

In addition, individual Oregon 2022 world medallists Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath and Bromley), Keely Hodgkinson (Trevor Painter, Leigh), Matthew Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield) and Laura Muir (Andy Young, Dundee Hawkhill) will all line up for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team at the championships.

Asher-Smith will look to defend her European 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles in Munich following her 200m world bronze last week.

Meanwhile, Hodgkinson who won world silver in Eugene will race in her first senior European outdoor Championships after winning European medals in the U18 and U20 age groups.

Hudson-Smith and Muir, both world bronze medallists at Oregon 2022, return to the European stage as defending champions in the men’s 400m and women’s 1500m respectively.

Due to the congested nature of the summer season with three senior Championships back-to-back, some athletes who had qualified by entry standard did not wish to be considered for European selection including Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Josh Kerr, Tade Ojora, and Joshua Zeller.

Olympic Head Coach, Christian Malcolm said, “After a very successful World Athletics Championships for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team where we finished as the top European country in the placings table, we are really pleased to be taking such a strong team to Munich and giving a number of athletes a key development opportunity on the major stage.

“Several world medallists and finalists have been selected, while many others have stepped up this summer and are earning their first GB & NI vest on the European stage. This is one of the largest squads we have ever taken to a European Championships, and we are really looking forward to taking on the best on the continent next month.”

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)

Asha Philip (Amy Deem, Newham and Essex Beagles)

200m

Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath and Bromley)

Beth Dobbin (Leon Baptiste, Edinburgh)

Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)

Jodie Williams (Ryan Freckleton, 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

Emily Borthwick (Wigan and District)

Morgan Lake (Robbie Grabarz, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

Laura Zialor (Jade Surman, Marshall Milton Keynes)

Long Jump

Jazmin Sawyers (Lance Brauman, City of Stoke)

Jahisha Thomas (Clive Roberts, Blackheath and Bromley)

Lorraine Ugen (Dwight Philips, Thames Valley)

Triple Jump

Naomi Metzger (Aston Moore, Trafford)

Pole Vault

Holly Bradshaw (Scott Simpson, Blackburn Harriers)

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)

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 (Ryan Freckleton, 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

Alastair Chalmers (Matt Elias, Guernsey)

Seamus Derbyshire (Nick Dakin, City of Stoke)

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)

Adam Gemili (Blackheath and Bromley)

Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Ryan Freckleton, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Reece Prescod (Marvin Rowe, Enfield & Haringey)

4x400m Relay

Joe Brier (Matt Elias, Swansea)

Cameron Chalmers (Matt Elias, Guernsey)

Lewis Davey (Newham and Essex Beagles)

Charlie Dobson (Benke Blomkvist, Colchester)

Alex Haydock-Wilson (Benke Blomkvist, Windsor Eton Slough Hounslow)

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)

Ben Connor (Derby)

Andrew Davies (Stockport)

Andrew Heyes (Mara Yamauchi, Hallamshire)

Philip Sesemann (Andrew Henderson, Leeds City)

20km Race Walk

Tom Bosworth (Andi Drake, Tonbridge)

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, 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- biomech

Team Managers: Lorna Dwyer, Amanda Evans, Cerys Miller and Laura Burke

30th July 2022 0 comment

Athletics

UK ATHLETICS CONFIRMS TECHNICAL DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT

written by Hugh

UK Athletics can confirm Stephen Maguire has been appointed to the role of Technical Director and will be returning to the organisation from September.

The appointment will see Maguire assume leadership responsibility for oversight of the World Class Performance programme and be responsible for ensuring the new direction including increasing levels of support and engagement with athletes as UKA moves towards Paris and Los Angeles in 2024 and 2028 respectively.

He is re-joining UKA after a gap of almost two years where he headed up sprints and relays and will commence his new role in September.

Mark Munro, interim CEO for UKA said: “We are pleased to be able to make this announcement today confirming this key position that is vital for the support of athletes and personal coaches.

“The appointment of the Technical Director role is one we are delighted with and feel gives us the best person to lead the programme towards Paris and Los Angeles. We were mindful of ensuring we could make progress as soon as this summer’s championships concluded, and it is a significant boost for the World Class Programme that we can confirm his appointment now ahead of a September start.

“Stephen brings great experience and an excellent track record within high performance athletics. It is another piece in the jigsaw as we continue to prioritise more effective support to athletes and coaches on the World Class Performance programme.”

29th June 2022 0 comment

Athletics

UK ATHLETICS STATEMENT ON PERFORMANCE STRUCTURE

written by Hugh

Following a revision to the UK Athletics performance plans and structures, backed by the UKA Performance Management Group and UK Sport, UK Athletics can confirm that the role of Olympic Head Coach – currently held by Christian Malcolm – will be discontinued after this summer’s European Championships in Munich. Other opportunities created as a result of the revised structure will be discussed with him over that period as a number of changes are made.

The revised plans, which have been part of an ongoing strategy review with UK Sport over recent months will come into play from September. As part of a range of amendments to the previous approach the key principles include:

Further Increasing levels of support and engagement with athletes on the World Class Performance (WCP) programme;
A significant increase in financial investment into the personal coaches of athletes on the WCP (Olympic and Paralympic)
Investment into a planned new athlete performance and technical innovation centre
An increased investment into Event Group Leadership across the WCP.

To ensure athletes across the programme continue to receive the support and focus required, new roles will be introduced to the programme. As well as the previously communicated incoming role of Technical Director with extensive coaching knowledge to lead the WCP, there will be new event leadership appointments in due course to sit alongside the WCP Head of Sprints & Relays and WCP Endurance Performance Manager that already exists, and a number of additional athlete support roles.

As a result of this change, combined with increasing the financial investment into personal coaches of athletes on the WCP, the role of Head Olympic Coach has been removed from the structure.

Christian Malcolm will continue to deliver his Head Coach role for the duration of this summer’s major championships, working alongside Paula Dunn, Team Leader for this summer’s World Championships in Eugene and European Championships in Munich.

Mark Munro, interim CEO for UKA said: “We are extremely grateful and appreciative to Christian for his time and efforts as well as his commitment and professionalism during his time as Head Coach.

“Taking on board a role during a pandemic and the associated challenges that brings – alongside staffing and structure changes – has been incredibly challenging. He has worked hard to steady the ship and continued to be professional throughout.

“Unfortunately given all the changes we need to make and the greater prioritisation for investment into personal coaches, the Olympic Head Coach role does not sit within the revised structures. However, we have made a commitment to work with Christian over the summer with the potential for exploring other roles within the structure to enable us to maintain his involvement with UKA.

“Ensuring the WCP is in the right shape to support athletes towards the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games is an absolute priority for UKA. Therefore, we will continue to evolve our systems to ensure greater support for WCP athletes and their coaches, as well as increasing investment into excellent support environments for athletes either locally or at a central point they can access.”

Christian Malcolm said:

“I am very disappointed to hear about the news but understand the rationale around this decision.

“My priority now is to continue working in the same way, maintaining professionalism and doing my job throughout the summer. I am fully focused on supporting our athletes and coaches, during this extremely busy summer for our sport.

“We have some incredibly talented athletes – some of whom have ambitious aims to compete across three major championships this summer. I’m looking forward to seeing them compete and supporting those individuals towards the World and European Championships, as well as representing their home nations during the Commonwealth Games.”

UKA can confirm that the recruitment process for the new UKA Technical Director has been ongoing with a view to appointing shortly, with a start date in September.

17th June 2022 0 comment

Athletics

‘LET’S TALK ABOUT RACE’ LEADS TO SPORT-WIDE COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS RACIAL INEQUALITY

written by Hugh

Commitment to embed Equality Diversity & Inclusivity in all UKA and HCAF strategies.
Ethnicity targets to be set in addition to mandatory unconscious bias training.
Toolkit for ED&I to be created for club use.
LTAR network to be launched to ensure delivery against action plan.

The UK Athletics ‘Let’s Talk About Race’ programme launched this summer has culminated in a sport-wide commitment to tackle issues of racial inequality endorsed jointly by UKA and the Home Country Athletics Federations (HCAFs).

The programme was launched to review all issues related to race within the sport following the murder of George Floyd. Whilst athletics in the UK is enjoyed by a diverse community, UKA CEO Joanna Coates appealed to the sport to let UKA know how it could be better at supporting ethnically diverse communities in the long term and not just in the immediate aftermath of this tragic event.

The programme launched with a series of roundtables, bringing together voices from across the athletics community to discuss race and was followed by a series of focus groups that identified priorities which have enabled UKA to finalise the actions to be taken forward as part of the 2021-2024 Diversity Action Plan – set to be published in January.

The headline actions agreed by the CEO forum include:

A sport-wide commitment to address racial inequality in athletics
Embedding ED&I in UKA & HCAF strategies
Diverse representation at all levels of athletics e.g. Developing a Club ED & I toolkit for use
Development & Education e.g. Mandatory unconscious bias/ED&I training in coaching, officials and workforce qualifications
Develop mentoring/shadowing programmes
Policies e.g. Develop and implement a Race Equality Code of Conduct agreement for officials

Joanna Coates, UK Athletics CEO, said:

“Following the impact of the murder of George Floyd, UKA felt it essential to engage with the sport and take positive action against racism by delivering the ‘Let’s talk about Race’ programme in line with our commitments to the Race at Work Charter.

“We are very proud of the work undertaken so far on this having committed to real change within the sport. But agreeing the plan is only the first step. The recommendations will be taken forward as part of our 2021-2024 Diversity Action Plan, and the sport will need to work collectively to make these changes.”

Donna Fraser, Equality, Diversity and Engagement Lead at UK Athletics, said:

“The murder of George Floyd sparked positive and negative conversations about race around the world and although a heart-breaking experience, we took the time to reach out to the athletics community to understand the true feelings and experiences within our sport.

“The passion and commitment to make change from those who supported the programme really shone through and I thank them for their honesty. This is the start of a journey and I have no doubt that the athletics community will hold myself and the senior leaders at UKA and the HCAF’s accountable for the Let’s Talk About Race deliverables.”

Thanks go to the respective Chairs of the focus groups; Imani Lansiquot, Yannick Phippen, Michael Afilaka, Melanie Anning, Marcus Opoku, Mark Draisey and Sabrina Pace Humphreys.

Article & Image courtesy of https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/news-and-features/lets-talk-about-race-leads-to-sport-wide-commitment-to-address-racial-inequality/

21st November 2020 0 comment

Athletics

LEADERSHIP CHANGES CONFIRMED AS NEW CEO OF UK ATHLETICS ANNOUNCED

written by Hugh

Joanna Adams Appointed as CEO for Governing Body of the Sport
Chris Clark to step down as Chair and take on lead role in developing commercial plan for sport
Nic Coward to assume role of Chair until end of year

UK Athletics has today announced Joanna Adams as the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer for the National Governing Body.

Joanna, who is currently chief commercial officer at LLDC, was CEO of England Netball from 2015 to 2019, including the memorable success at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

She also professionalised netball by bringing in major sponsors and television agreements whilst growing grassroots participation and media coverage including on digital channels, and led the expansion of the Vitality Superleague franchise system.

Her time at England Netball concluded last summer with the hosting of the most successful Netball World Cup in history and before her role there was a Commercial Director for the Football Conference and a Director at Notts County Football Club.

In addition to the newly appointed CEO, there are further leadership developments targeted at enabling the sport to move forward whilst ensuring continuity and stability.

Chris Clark has confirmed he will be stepping down as Chair when Joanna joins the organisation, and will become an advisor to the UK Athletics Board taking on the development of a commercial plan for the sport and working with the new senior team on developing partnerships and sponsorships.

As former Global Head of Marketing for HSBC, Clark’s extensive experience and insight will continue to benefit the organisation drawing on his experiences working with rights holders and branded properties.

Nic Coward, the interim CEO will then assume the role of Chair until the end of the year, throughout the ongoing reviews and to provide support and stability throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games period.

Chris Clark said: “The role of Chair for UKA clearly now requires a huge time commitment during this crucial period. My other commitments to regulated businesses and public sector organisations have significantly increased since commencing the role and I have to concede that I cannot give it the time commitment it deserves right now.

“However I am delighted to have the opportunity to continue working with UK Athletics on the commercial strategy and with Joanna’s appointment and her track record of success in not only sports governance but also commercial, marketing and competition structures, means we have excellent leadership to take the sport on in a positive future direction.

“Nic has already made a very positive impact and retaining his expertise for this transition period was an important consideration when the Board debated the changes we needed to make. The focus now has to be the future and how we will apply the learnings and best practice from the ongoing reviews and ensure the sport has a hugely successful future.”

14th February 2020 0 comment