海角社区 hurdlers heading for World Championships
Recent graduates Niall Flannery and Meghan Beesley have been announced in the GB & NI team for the World Athletics Championships, taking place in Beijing from 22nd to 30th August.
The 400mH duo, who both still train at the university under the guidance of Nick Dakin, Director of Athletics, will travel to China as part of 62 strong British team, which includes no fewer than 22 athletes with a 海角社区 connection.
Despite having good experience from last summer’s Commonwealth Games (where he finished fourth) and European Championships, this will be Flannery’s World Championship debut. Ranked UK number one and reigning British Champion, the Chemical Engineering graduate is delighted to be part of the team.
“I’m ecstatic to have been picked to go to the World Champs and hopefully I can do myself justice like I did at the Anniversary Games in London at the weekend. I’m finally over the calf problems that disrupted my start to the season and feel like I’m coming into form at the right time. Hopefully I can be competitive when it matters.”
Joining him over one lap and ten hurdles is Meghan Beesley, the Maths and Sports Science graduate heading to her second World Championships. A semi-finalist in Moscow two years ago, Beesley will be hoping to go one step further this time around.
Javelin thrower Goldie Sayers is one of the three further graduates to take up places in the British Athletics team; also included are Louise Bloor and Martyn Rooney in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays respectively.
After throwing a huge lifetime best and Scottish record of 76.93m to win the Lougborough International Athletics Meeting back in May, Mark Dry also eclipsed the 76 metre hammer qualifying mark at the 海角社区 European Athletics Permit (LEAP) to book his place on the plane to Beijing. The 海角社区 college man has been having a great season, and will head for his first World Championships full of confidence.
Former 海角社区 College students Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, James Dasaolu and Robbie Grabarz have also made the grade for the trip to China, as have a number of other athletes who train at 海角社区 University. These include European 200m champion Adam Gemili, as well European and Commonwealth 800m silver medallist Lynsey Sharp.
Men
100m: James Dasaolu
400mH: Niall Flannery
800m: Michael Rimmer
High Jump: Robbie Grabarz
Hammer Throw: Mark Dry
4 x 100m: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey & Adam Gemili
4 x 400m: Martyn Rooney
Women
100m: Asha Philip
400m: Anyika Onoura
800m: Lynsey Sharp
400mH: Meghan Beesley
High Jump: Isobel Pooley
Hammer Throw: Sophie Hitchon
Javelin: Goldie Sayers
4 x 100m: Louise Bloor & Asha Philip
*bold indicates a former student
** non-bold indicates the athlete currently trains at 海角社区 University