A group of 22 athletes have been selected in the first of two waves of selections for next month’s European Athletics U20 Championships in Tallinn, Estonia (15-18 July).
Two athletes selected are currently ranked number two in the 2021 European U20 standings: Sophie Ashurst [women’s pole vault] and Temi Ojora [women’s triple jump].
Sale Harriers Manchester’s Sophie Ashurst cleared a personal best of 4.16m in the pole vault in Loughborough earlier this year and won the trial event at the England Athletics U20/U23 Championships last weekend. The 18-year-old earned her first British vest as GB Junior at the Loughborough International where she finished in third place.
Meanwhile, Temi Ojora has been in consistent form during the 2021 season to date and sits second in the European rankings with a mark of 13.62m last month. The US-based athlete earns her first call-up to a British team in Tallinn.
Welsh athlete Osain Perrin is ranked third in the European U20 rankings in the men’s 5000m, and he set his PB of 13.53.03 on his way to victory in the trial race at the BMC Grand Prix in Watford earlier this month.
Additionally, Mary John lies third in the women’s 400m rankings after she posted a career best time of 53.49 in Lee Valley at the start of the month.
Under 17 sprinter Success Eduan pipped Sophie Walton to the victory at the trials at the weekend, but both have received a call-up for the 200m in Tallinn. Walton is ranked fourth in Europe in the U20 rankings this year, with Eduan sixth, so both will be targeting high placings at next month’s championships.
In the men’s 100m, Toby Makoyawo booked his place in the team after clocking 10.64 to win at the trials at the weekend. His PB of 10.37 ranks him fourth in Europe (U20) so far this year.
Dominic Ogbechie and Charlotte Payne, both on the British Athletics Futures Academy Programme, are selected for the men’s high jump and women’s hammer respectively.
The rest of the team for the European Athletics U20 Championships will be announced in the second wave selections on Tuesday 6 July 2021.
The British team (first wave) for the European Athletics U20 Championships, Tallinn, Estonia
Women:
100m: Joy Eze (Michael Donnelly, Gateshead)
200m: Success Eduan (Anita Richardson, Sale Harriers Manchester) Sophie Walton (Trevor Williams, Horwich)
400m: Mary John (Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)
5000m: Alice Garner (Mick Woods, Aldershot Farnham and District)
100m Hurdles: Lily Parris (Julie Benterman, Chelmsford)
Pole Vault: Sophie Ashurst (Andy Ashurst, Sale Harriers Manchester)
Triple Jump: Temi Ojora (Nick Newman, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)
Shot Put: Nana Gyedu (John Hillier, Blackheath and Bromley)
Discus: Samantha Callaway (David Callaway, Newham and Essex Beagles)
Javelin: Elizabeth Korczak (Bob Willows, Brighton and Hove)
Hammer: Charlotte Payne (Paul Dickenson, Reading)
Heptathlon: Abigail Pawlett (Joe Frost, Stockport T&F)
Men:
100m: Toby Makoyawo (Peter Griffiths, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)
400m: Edward Faulds (James Wright, Rugby and Northampton)
5000m: Osian Perrin (Andrew Walling, Menai)
3000m Steeplechase: Kristian Imroth (Stephen Murphy, Shaftesbury Barnet)
110m Hurdles: Joseph Harding (Laura Turner-Alleyne, Basildon)
400m Hurdles: Adam Booth (Graeme Gourlay, Poole AC)
High Jump: Sam Brereton (Fuzz Caan, Birchfield) Dominic Ogbechie (Marius Guei, Highgate)
Long Jump: Brad Davies-Pughe (Jake Awe, Shaftesbury Barnet)
