European Athletics (EAA) – News – Farah and Ennis head Britain’s European indoors team

Mo Farah and Dwain Chambers, Great Britain’s two gold medal winners at the 2009 European Athletics Indoor Championships, will both defend their titles at this year’s event in Paris next month.

The 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships will be held in the French capital at the Palais Omnisport Paris-Bercy from 4-6 March.

Chambers and Farah, who won the 60m and 3000m in the Italian city of Torino two years ago, were part of a 32-strong British team that was announced on Tuesday.

“I have worked hard over the winter and am in better condition than last year. It’s always an honour to compete for my country and I will always try and perform to the best of my ability. There will be many good athletes competing in Paris, not least of all the other British athletes, but if I stay healthy and focussed I must stand as good a chance any other athlete,” said Chambers, who won the 2010 World Indoor Championships 60m title and then got the silver medal in the European Athletics Championships 100m last summer.

Chambers is joined in the 60m by former World Junior Championships 100m winner Harry Aikines Aryeetey and Joel Fearon, who earns his first British vest following an outstanding winter which has seen him rise to fourth in this year’s European rankings.

A lot of attention will also be on the current world and European heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis, who is looking to add a continental pentathlon gold medal to one she won at the 2010 World Indoor Championships.

“This is a strong team which can realistically challenge for medals and top eight finishes, and I expect just that given the mix of experience and potential within the line-up,” said Great Britain head coach Charles van Commenee.

“I am especially happy with the fact that 10 out of the 32 athletes make their first senior appearance. Of course I expect the world class guys to win medals, but I am also interested to see the debutants in action. I encourage them to take this opportunity to immediately make an impact at a high level; they are good enough to do so by making the tough qualification standards.”

Newcomers include teenage sprint sensation Jodie Williams, last year’s World Junior Championships women’s 100m winner.

“I’m really excited to be in the team, my hard work through the winter has paid off. Taking the step up to seniors is quite scary, it’s going to be a good experience and a learning curve but I feel like I’m ready,” said the 17-year-old Williams.

Helen Clitheroe, who also could be in medal contention in the women’s 3000m, has been named as the team captain.

“I’m so proud to be asked to be captain for the Aviva GB&NI team in Paris. I’ve been running at senior international level for 13 years so I have plenty of experience to pass onto the rest of the athletes. We have a great team and this competition is a perfect springboard onto the rest of the 2011 season,” commented Clitheroe.

The British team’s other candidates for a medals include 400m man Nigel Levine and 800m runner Jenny Meadows.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland team:

Men

60m: Harry Aikines Aryeetey, Dwain Chambers, Joel Fearon

400m: Richard Buck, Nigel Levine, Richard Strachan

800m: Andrew Osagie, Joe Thomas

1500m: Nick McCormick, Colin McCourt

3000m: Andy Baddeley, Mo Farah

60m hurdles: Lawrence Clarke

High jump: Robbie Grabarz, Tom Parsons

4x400m relay: Buck; Nick Leavey, Luke Lennon- Ford, Levine, Strachan, Conrad Williams

Women

60m: Jodie Williams, Bernice Wilson

800m: Jenny Meadows, Marilyn Okoro

1500m: Stacey Smith, Hannah England

3000m: Helen Clitheroe

60m hurdles: Tiffany Ofili

Pole vault: Holly Bleasdale

Pentathlon: Jessica Ennis

4 x 400m relay: Kelly Massey, Meadows, Lee McConnell, Okoro, Kelly Sotherton, Laura Wake

 

European Athletics (EAA) – News