World No.1 long jumper Lorraine Ugen is hoping to inspire girls and athletes all across the country this weekend as she takes the reigns as Great Britain captain for the inaugural Athletics World Cup.
Each of the eight nations competing in London’s Olympic Stadium - a new format which sees countries compete against each other collectively - will have a female captain in commemoration of the 100-year anniversary of women’s suffrage.
That's an honour that has fallen on Ugen's shoulders for the two-day event, currently on top form having set a new personal best of 7.05m in Birmingham last month, as well as winning the Stockholm leg of the IAAF Diamond League.
But for the 26-year-old, this event is about more than the figures on the scoreboard, confident the World Cup can have significant influence in front of what is expected to be a sell-out crowd.
“It’s nice to see female leads on all teams,” she said.
“It will be an inspiration to young girls and athletes out there that they can be leaders in sport and hopefully inspire them to want to do the same.
“We have a great set of athletes coming out for the first World Cup and I am looking forward to being the captain for these athletes and hope that we can put on a show for the home crowd.
“I am most looking forward to the team spirit that comes with competing in a team event rather than just focusing on individual events only.”
Ugen will lead a 45-strong squad for the event – boasting 51 Olympic, world and European medals between then.
Asha Philip, Olympic bronze medallist and Commonwealth champion, joins World Championship silver medallists Zoey Clark and Emily Diamond.
Martyn Rooney and Dwayne Cowan, who both won bronze at last year’s World Championships in London are also in the squad, as is Commonwealth champion Bianca Williams, but Daryll Neita misses out to injury.
Eight of the world’s best athletics nations are descending on the capital for the event, with Great Britain joined by China, France, Germany, Jamaica, Poland, South Africa and USA in 34 events across two evening sessions.
MEN
100m: Ojie Edoburun
200m: Delano Williams
400m: Rabah Yousif
800m: Elliot Giles
1500m: Neil Gourley
110m Hurdles: Andrew Pozzi
400m Hurdles: Dai Greene
High Jump: Chris Baker
Pole Vault: Charlie Myers
Long Jump: Dan Bramble
Triple Jump: Nathan Douglas Shot Put: Scott Lincoln
Discus: Brett Morse
Hammer: Nick Miller
Javelin: James Whiteaker
4x100m: Reuben Arthur, Sam Gordon, Confidence Lawson, Andrew Robertson
4x400m: Cameron Chalmers, Dwayne Cowan, Martyn Rooney, Delano Williams,
WOMEN
100m: Bianca Williams
200m: Beth Dobbin
400m: Anyika Onuora
800m: Adelle Tracey
1500m: Jemma Reekie
100m Hurdles: Megan Marrs
400m Hurdles: Meghan Beesley
High Jump: Morgan Lake
Pole Vault: Holly Bradshaw, Sophie Cook
Long Jump: Lorraine Ugen
Triple Jump: Naomi Ogbeta
Shot Put: Amelia Strickler
Discus: Jade Lally
Hammer: Sophie Hitchon
Javelin: Laura Whittingham
4x100m: Shannon Hylton, Imani Lansiquot, Asha Philip, Bianca Williams
4x400m: Finette Agyapong, Amy Allcock, Zoey Clark, Emily Diamond
Sportsbeat 2018