Some of Britain’s top athletes have been included in the National Athletics League team for the Manchester International next Wednesday.
The team, all of whom were selected having competed in the league this year, will head to the Manchester Regional Arena seeking to challenge England, who topped the leaderboard when the event was last held in 2019.
The NAL will be particularly strong in the throws as they take on Wales, Northern Ireland and Great Britain U20s, as well as the hosts. In the shot, Youcef Zatat (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies) and Amelia Strickler (Thames Valley), who are both ranked second in the UK this year, will start favourite.
Strickler improved her PB to 18.11m at the second-round match in Wormwood Scrubs. Meanwhile, Zatat has competed in multiple throws at two matches this season.
Nick Percy, who has shown similar loyalty this year for Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, will represent the league in the discus, having gained the Commonwealth Games qualifying mark for Birmingham 2022.
Discus thrower Shadine Duquemin (Shaftesbury Barnet) and hammer thrower Rachel Hunter (Jaguars) are two others who will be strong in their events. Greek javelin thrower Ioanna Malli (City of Liverpool) will be challenging for top points too.
Away from the throws, European under-23 pole vault silver medallist Molly Caudery, second in the UK rankings behind only Holly Bradshaw in 2021, will similarly be expected to win her event.
Much will be expected too of 400m hurdler Nicole Kendall (Thames Valley), who has set two league records in her three appearances this year and who will also support the 4x400m team.
Greg Millar (Birchfield) should place highly in the javelin, as should Pippa Rogan (Thames Valley) in the high jump.
Holly Mills (Harrow), who this summer won European under-23 heptathlon bronze, will concentrate on the long jump. Portuguese international Edson Gomes should challenge for victory in the 110m hurdles. Lee Thompson (Sheffield & Dearne) could be in the mix for the win in the 400m and the Olympic relay representative is also among a strong 4x400m team.
The squad for the new league will be hoping to improve on the third achieved last time out by a combined British Athletics League and UK Women’s Athletics League outfit.
Team leader Mike Harris said: “The first ever NAL team is a strong one. Athletes have supported the league matches with one eye on selection and this has boosted the league competition in its inaugural season.
“The competition for places in the team has been intense and we are hopeful of once again being the main challengers to England for the trophy.”
Playing out alongside the five-way international will be a junior match involving England, Scotland, Wales and GB U18s.
Spectator tickets – priced at £5 for adults and free for under-16s/seniors 65-plus are available here.
National Athletics League team, Manchester Regional Arena, August 18
Men
100m: Jack Lawrence (Birchfield). 200m: Alex Haydock-Wilson (Windor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow). 400m: Lee Thompson (Sheffield & Dearne). 800m: Dominic Walton (Sheffield & Dearne). 1500m: Kadar Omar (Birchfield). 5000m: Omar Ahmed (Birchfield). 110m hurdles: Edson Gomes (Shaftesbury Barnet). 3000m steeplechase: Alexander Teuten (Southampton). 400m hurdles: Niall Carney (Shaftesbury Barnet). High jump: Rory Dwyer (Birchfield). Pole vault: Jack Phipps (Birchfield). Long jump: Ben Fisher (WSEH). Triple jump: Suen Okome (Sale). Shot: Youcef Zatat (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies). Discus: Nicholas Percy (Shaftesbury Barnet). Hammer: Chris Shorthouse (Birchfield). Javelin: Greg Millar (Birchfield). 4x100m: Jack Lawrence (Birchfield), Destiny Ogali (Harrow), Nicholas Walsh (Sale), Jason Kalala (Newham & Essex Beagles), Elliott Powell (Birchfield), Greg Kelly (Jaguars). 4x400m: Haydock-Wilson, Ben Higgins (Sheffield & Dearne), Elliot Powell (Birchfield), Thompson, Mark Cottam (B&W), Rick Yates (Trafford). Amb 100m: Segun Samuel
Women
100m: Rebecca Jeggo (Shaftesbury Barnet). 200m: Jazmine Moss (Trafford). 400m: Jessica Tappin (Thames Valley Harriers). 800m: Emily Simpson (Sheffield & Dearne). 1500m: Alex Mundell (Thames Valley). 5000m: Kirsty Walker (Reading). 3000m steeplechase: Alex Barbour (WSEH). 100m hurdles: Jenna Blundell (Bristol & West). 400m hurdles: Nicole Kendall (Thames Valley). High jump: Pippa Rogan (Thames Valley). Pole vault: Molly Caudery (Thames Valley). Long jump: Holly Mills (Harrow). Triple jump: Montana Jackson (Thames Valley). Shot: Amelia Strickler (Thames Valley). Discus: Shadine Duquemin (Shaftesbury Barnet). Hammer: Rachel Hunter (Jaguars). Javelin: Ioanna Malli (City of Liverpool). 4x100m: Trezeguet Taylor (Trafford), Emmanuella Quaye (Enfield & Haringey), Sileena Farrell (Thames Valley), Moss, Blundell. 4x400m: Carys McAulay (Trafford), Lauren Rule (Herts Phoenix), Kendall, Linnea Killander (Thames Valley Harriers), Simpson, Tappin. Amb 100m: Madeline Down
