byStuart Weir
Becky Briggs, photo by London Marathon media
Ben Connor, photo by British Athletics
Mohamud Aaden, photo by British Athletics
In this piece, Stuart Weir writes about the teams selected by British Athletics for the World Championships, European Championships, and Commonwealth Games.
With three major championships in two months this summer, marathon runners must choose where they will event. While the World Championships are certainly the most prestigious, some athletes may prefer a home championship (Commonwealth Games in Birmingham) or the European Championships to press for a medal.
Naomi MItchell, photo by British Athletics
British Athletics has just announced the names of ten athletes who will compete in the European Championships in Munich, Germany, in August.
Senior Women
Becky Briggs
Rosie Edwards
Naomi Mitchell
Alice Wright
Senior men
Mohamud Aadan
Luke Caldwell
Ben Connor
Andrew Heyes
Ross Millington
Philip Sesemann
Trials winner Becky Briggs, who has a PR of 2:29.04, set at the Manchester Marathon this year, has competed for GB & NI at the World Cross Country and Half Marathon Championships. Second, in the trial, Naomi Mitchell has a PR of 2:30.54, set this year. Ross Millington and Andrew Heyes both made marathon debuts this year, Millington running 2:11.37 while Heyes crossed the line in a time of 2:13.52.
Philip Sesemann, photo by London Marathon media
Olympic Head Coach, Christian Malcolm, said, “It has been really pleasing to see so many marathon athletes run inside the qualifying standards for major championships and Games this summer. Competitiveness for places has been high and that is really encouraging for the event in the UK. As a result, athletes have had to make performance decisions on which championships they focus on this season, and we support them in their decisions.
Rosie Edwards, photo by British Athletics
“We have a good mixture of athletes in this European marathon squad, and it has been great to see a number of athletes who have excelled in their first marathons. We have several GB & NI internationals in the team and also some earning their first-ever British vest, so it is a proud moment for all the athletes, their coaches, and their support teams.”
Britain has already selected five athletes for the World Championship (Oregon) marathon
Rose Harvey
Jess Piasecki
Charlotte Purdue
Josh Griffiths
Chris Thompson
At the Commonwealth Games, England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have separate teams giving more opportunities for athletes to compete this summer.
