Four of Team GB’s London 2012 medallists have been selected by British Athletics for the European Athletics Team Championships, with fellow London Olympian Perri Shakes-Drayton named as team captain.
Double gold medallist Mo Farah, long jump champion Greg Rutherford, silver medallist Christine Ohuruogu and bronze medal-winning high jumper Robbie Grabarz will all be looking to send the home crowd home happy again when they take to Gateshead International Stadium on June 22-23.
Also named in the team is reigning 400m hurdles world champion Dai Greene, double European Indoor champion Shakes-Drayton, European indoor gold medallist Holly Bleasdale and world 1500m runner-up Hannah England.
British Athletics head coach Peter Eriksson, who will leave his post at the end of the month, said: “In selecting the team we prioritised athletes who would give us best possible chance to win this prestigious competition whilst competing in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
"I am delighted that our athletes have made this event a key part of their summer campaign and look forward to seeing how close we can get to repeating the victories of 2000 and 1989.
“It is also a pleasure to name Perri Shakes-Drayton as team captain for the Championships. She was excellent at the European Indoors in March winning two gold medals against top class competition, and I know that she can lead by example both on and off the track this weekend.”
Shakes-Drayton added: "I'm so pleased to be selected as team captain and proud for myself and my coach.
“As an athlete you want to perform the best you possibly can on the track but it's always pleasing if you can be seen as a leader and a good example for your team-mates.
"When I went to the World Juniors in 2006 I was team captain there and I was incredibly proud. I hope I can use my experience to help guide some of the new team members as we try to win the title in front of our home crowd!"
GB & NI team for the European Athletics Team Championships:
MEN:
100m: James Dasaolu (Steve Fudge); 200m: Danny Talbot (Daniel Cossins); 400m: Nigel Levine (Linford Christie); 800m: Andrew Osagie (Craig Winrow); 1500m: Charlie Grice (John Bigg); 3000m: David Bishop (James Thie); 5000m: Mo Farah (Salazar); 110mH: William Sharman (Jerzy Maciukiewicz); 400mH: Dai Greene (Arnold); 3000mSC: Rob Mullett (David Leach); High Jump: Robbie Grabarz (Ahmed); Long Jump: Greg Rutherford (Pfaff); Triple Jump: Nathan Douglas (Aston Moore); Pole Vault: Steve Lewis (Pfaff, Scott Simpson); Shot Put: Zane Duquemin (John Hillier); Discus Throw: Brett Morse (Andy Brittan); Hammer Throw: Mark Dry (Tore Gustafsson); Javelin: Lee Doran (David Parker); 4 x 100m: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Rana Reider), Dwain Chambers (Reider), James Dasaolu, James Ellington (Reider), Joel Fearon (Michael Khmel), Adam Gemili (Michael Afilaka), Richard Kilty (Linford Christie), Danny Talbot; 4 x 400m: Michael Bingham (George Williams), Richard Buck (Fudge), Nigel Levine, Martyn Rooney (Reider), Richard Strachan (Christie), Conrad Williams (Christie)
WOMEN:
100m: Asha Philip (Christine Bowmaker); 200m: Anyika Onuora (Reider); 400m: Perri Shakes Drayton (Zah); 800m: Jessica Judd (Rob Denmark); 1500m: Hannah England (Baldaro); 3000m: Laura Weightman (Steve Cram); 5000m: Emelia Gorecka (Mick Woods); 100mH: Tiffany Porter (Reider); 400mH: Eilidh Child (Arnold); 3000mSC: Eilish McColgan (Liz McColgan); High Jump: Isobel Pooley (Ahmed); Long Jump: Shara Proctor (Reider); Triple Jump: Yamile Aldama (Frank Attoh); Pole Vault: Holly Bleasdale (Pfaff, Simpson); Shot Put: Sophie McKinna (Geoff Capes); Discus Throw: Jade Lally (Andy Neal); Hammer Throw: Sophie Hitchon (Gustafsson); Javelin: Freya Jones (Don Babbit); 4 x 100m: Annabelle Lewis (Roger Walters), Anyika Onuora, Asha Philip, Tiffany Porter, Bianca Williams (Cowan); 4 x 400m: Meghan Beesley (Nick Dakin), Eilidh Child, Shana Cox (George Williams), Kirsten McAslan (Trevor Painter), Christine Ohuruogu (Cowan), Victoria Ohuruogu (Cowan)
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