Reigning Olympic and World long jump Champion Greg Rutherford headlines a 23-strong British team for this month’s World Indoor Championships in Portland, America.
Rutherford has been struggling with a chest infection in recent weeks and was forced to pull out of last weekend’s Indoor British Championships, with Dan Bramble instead taking the title.
[quote: We are confident that many of those selected will be challenging for medals:Neil Black:left]
But the duo have both been named in the team for the World Championships from March 17-20.
London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz, World Championship silver medallist Shara Proctor and double World Indoor Championships medallist Tiffany Porter are also included.
Chris Baker is set for his global championship debut alongside Grabarz in the high jump while the team also contains a number of newly crowned British Indoor champions in 800m title winner Adelle Tracey, 1500m runner Charlie Grice and 3000m athlete Steph Twell.
At 18 years old age, Morgan Lake is the youngest member of the team, and will compete in the pentathlon.
At the last World Indoor Championships in Sopot two years ago, Great Britain came away with six medals including gold for Richard Kilty in the men’s 60m.
The sprinter has opted to withdraw himself from selection for performance reasons, choosing instead to focus on the outdoor season, as have 400m British champion Nigel Levine, 60m hurdles champion Andy Pozzi and 1500m champion Hannah England.
Performance Director for British Athletics, Neil Black said: “This is a team that has been selected on the basis that every athlete can realistically make their final, but also with an eye on their individual development looking towards the Olympics this year and the London 2017 World Championships.
“There have been some excellent performances during the indoor season and we are confident that many of those selected will be challenging for medals.
“It is important to remember that British Athletics’ focus, as well as that of the individual athletes, is geared towards Rio in this Olympic year, and the World Indoors is one of many stepping stones our athletes will look to use.”
Sportsbeat 2016