A strong team will represent the National Athletics League at the Loughborough International on Sunday.
The squad will take on teams from Loughborough University, England, Scotland, Wales and GB&NI U20s in the historic event, first held in 1958.
This will be the first year the NAL has sent a team to the meeting, which is welcoming spectators for the first time since 2019. The team was picked from applicants who competed in NAL matches last year or in the first round in 2022.
The NAL will be expecting big points in the throws, led perhaps by last year’s UK No.1 hammer thrower Jessica Mayho (Birchfield), who has already thrown over 68m this year.
Nicole Kendall, who set two league records in the 400m hurdles last year, is due to compete in her main event plus the relay and heads a large contingent from Thames Valley Harriers.
Shadine Duquemin (Shaftesbury Barnet), who lies third on the UK rankings this year, should challenge in the discus. Another on form in the throws is Emily Dibble (Birchfield), who has lifted herself to third on the national rankings in the javelin with a PB of 51.12m.
Irish international Ellen McCartney (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies), who has been over 4.24m this year, will similarly be expected to figure highly in the pole vault.
Jude Bright-Davies (Thames Valley) will also be expected to score highly on the triple jump runway after his 15.91m PB in the indoor season puts him third on the 2022 UK rankings.
Portuguese sprint hurdles international Edson Gomes (Shaftesbury) will be looking to follow up his win in the opening NAL round in Manchester this season with another in Loughborough.
His counterpart in the women’s event, Angelita Broadbelt-Blake (Thames Valley) – a 13.18 hurdler – will also be giving the league team the benefit of her huge experience.
The NAL will have shot putter Kane Aubrey (Harrow) and discus thrower Chukwuemeka Osammor (Sheffield & Dearne), who are both sixth on the the UK rankings for their respective events this year.
Also hoping to score highly will be Trinidad Tobago long jumper Che Richards, who has PB of 7.80m.
The event was not staged in 2020 due to the pandemic, while entry was restricted last season due to ongoing Covid measures. The meeting will be streamed live on Vinco. NAL’s bespoke vests have been provided by Fastrax. .
The event is due to kick off at 10.45am with the women’s hammer, according to the provisional timetable.
Women
100m: Alannah Fashanu (SB). 200m: Jazmine Moss (Traff). 400m: Hannah Kelly (Bolton). 800m: Hannah Cameron (Jag). 1500m: Alex Mundell (TVH). 3000m: Verity Hopkins (Ton). 3000m steeplechase: Sarah Short (TVH). 100m hurdles: Angelita Broadbelt-Blake (TVH). 400m hurdles: Nicole Kendall (TVH). High jump: Pippa Rogan (TVH): Pole vault: Ellen McCartney (WG&EL). Long jump: Eloise Harvey (Herts P). Triple jump: Montana Jackson (TVH). Shot put: Sophie Merritt (B’mth). Discus: Shadine Duquemin (SB). Hammer: Jessica Mayho (Bir). Javelin: Emily Dibble (Liv). 4x100m: Mia Smith (TVH), Trezeguet Taylor (Traff), Emmanuella Quaye (E&H), Shona Vincent (WG&EL). 4x400m: Lauren Rule (Herts P), Tess McHugh (Sale), Louise Evans (B&B), Jessica Tappin (TVH).
Men
100m: Nicholas Walsh (Sale). 200m: Ben Snaith (NEB). 400m: Oliver Biddle (B&W). 800m: Angus Harrington (Blackheath and Bromley). 1500m: James McCrae (PANVAC). 3000m: Alex Durant (Sheff&D). 3000m steeplechase: Michael Ellis (Ton). 110m hurdles: Edson Gomes (SB). 400m hurdles: Alex Daley (B&W). High jump: Adam Brooks (Yate). Pole vault: George Heppinstall (Sheff&D). Long jump: Che Richards (WG&EL). Triple jump: Jude Bright-Davies (TVH). Shot: Kane Aubrey (Harrow). Discus: Chukwuemeka Osammor (Sheff &D). Hammer: Jac Palmer (Card). Javelin: Benji Pearson (Bir). 4x100m: Jay Williams (Harrow), Miguel Perera (Harrow), Omar Grant (Harrow), Luke Collis (Harrow), Josh Faulds (SB). 4x400m: Daley, Biddle, Snaith, TBA
