New British record holder Kate Dennison headlines a 10-strong Loughborough University contingent in the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the European Indoor Championships in Turin (Italy) from 6-8 March.
The Loughborough-based pole vaulter, who has twice bettered the national indoor best this month to set a new mark of 4.46m, is joined by training partner Steve Lewis, three alumni and five University-based athletes.
University sports scholar Nick McCormick is one of three British athletes competing in the men’s 3000m. McCormick, who is coached at Loughborough by John Nuttall, set a personal best in last weekend’s Aviva Grand Prix to guarantee his first outing with an international team since 2006.
A personal best in the 1500m last weekend for Loughborough-based graduate Chris Warburton has secured his spot in Italy.
A further three former students feature in the 4x400m relays – Loughborough-based Phil Taylor and Kim Wall joined by alumnus and Olympian Vicki Barr.
Loughborough pair Martyn Bernard and Samson Oni go head to head in the High Jump, after graduate Oni and University-based Bernard both set season’s bests last weekend in Birmingham of 2.27m and 2.23m respectively.
Alumnus Andy Turner completes the line-up, representing Britain in the 60m Hurdles.
The championships mark the first outing for the Aviva GB & NI team with UKA’s Head Coach Charles van Commenee at the helm.
At the last European Indoors in Birmingham in 2007, GB & NI topped the medal table with 10 medals including four gold.
Head Coach van Commenee said: “Major championships are the best part of any athlete’s life. It is what they train and live for. The athletes selected in the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team have a fantastic opportunity to achieve something significant in the sport.
“We will do all we can help them try and make the most of this opportunity and perform to the best of their ability. In recent years, we have established a really strong reputation within European athletics, especially in light of some of the successes at last year’s European Cup, the Olympic Games and European Cross Country Championships.
“It is important for us to sustain our standing by committing ourselves to the challenges in Turin and competing fiercely in order to meet our individual and collective goals.”
Loughborough athletes selected for the 36-strong GB&NI team are as follows:
WOMEN
Pole Vault: Kate Dennison (Loughborough-based, coach Steve Rippon)
4x400m: Vicki Barr (alumni)
Kim Wall (Loughborough graduate, coach Nick Dakin)