UK Athletics has announced the Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland (GB & NI) team for the fifth edition of the European Athletics U18 Championships, which will take place in Rieti from 16–19 July.
These championships will allow young athletes to showcase their talents against some of the best emerging athletes from across Europe.
This team features Tito Odunaike (Club: Marshall Milton Keynes AC, Coach: David Johnson), the 2026 UK Athletics Indoor triple jump Champion, who at just 16 years of age became the youngest ever winner of the men’s British title.
Odunaike will be heading into the championships ranked number one in Europe after setting a new personal best of 16.12m at the Mannheim International Gala, achieving a European U20 leading mark.
In the women’s shot put, Emilia Adele (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC). Undefeated throughout the 2025 season, she set a new championship-best performance at the English Schools Championships.
Adele has continued her winning streak this season, throwing over 16m on four occasions and setting a new personal best of 16.87m.
After success at Loughborough International and becoming the youngest winner of the Bannister Mile, Freddie Rowe (Havering AC, Patrick Gahagan), will line up in the men’s 1500m race as one of the favourites.
Team Leader, Alan Richardson, said, “The European under-18 championships is a key developmental stage for young athletes as their first opportunity to compete at an international championship. The experience will be invaluable in terms of preparation, participation and everything that entails, set in a competitive environment.
“I would like to congratulate all those selected for earning their opportunity to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland at their first international championship.”
The U18 Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland team at the 2026 European U18 Championships, Rieti, Italy, 16-19 July 2026:
Men
100m: Divine Iheme (Radley Athletic Club, Nkiruka Iheme)
200m: Ethan Heggarty (Bingley Harriers & AC, Demetric Nelson)
Bronson Hearn-Smith (Colchester Harriers AC, Stephen Garnham)
400m: Lucas Cameron (Tonbridge AC)
800m: Charlie Chambers (Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC, Mike Chambers)
Magnus Riddle (Tynedale Harriers & AC, Peter Venus)
1500m: Freddie Rowe (Havering AC, Patrick Gahagan)
Alistair Street (Kilbarchan AAC, John Rodger)
3000m: Joseph Scanes (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC, Mike Reeves)
Finn Maclennan (Cambridge & Coleridge AC)
2000m Steeplechase: Aaron Reid (Giffnock North Athletics Club, Croy Thomson)
High Jump: Samuel James (Kingston AC and Poly Harriers, James Wild)
Eli Adams (North Shields Polytechnic Club, Bruce Robertson)
Long Jump: Owen Firth (Waverley Athletics Club, John Shepherd)
Triple Jump: Tito Odunaike (Marshall Milton Keynes, David Johnson)
Shot Put: Rhian Mitchell (Kilmarnock Harriers & AC, Kevin Mitchell)
Discus: Moyo Stumpenhusen (Rugby & Northampton AC, Gary Herrington)
Chu Ononogbu (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, Clyde Gordon)
Javelin: Ned Scott (Winchester & District AC, Bronwin Carter)
Combined Events: Douglas Knox (Springburn Harriers, Alasdair Strange)
Oliver Downs (Invicta East Kent AC, Alex Pope)
Women:
100m: Celine Obinna-Alo (Gateshead Harriers & AC, Richard Kilty)
Shivelle Marshall (Croydon Harriers, Paul Weston)
200m: Shaiya Kenion (Coventry Godiva Harriers, Brian Darby)
Holly Ryan (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, Ty Holden)
400m: Noa Chodokufa (Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies, Paul Franklin)
Darcy Coslett (Llanelli AC, Rhys Williams)
800m: Ezrah Harrold (Chelmsford AC, David Fewell)
Jorjia March (Chelmsford AC, John Clarke)
3000m: Sonny Allen (Highgate Harriers, Errol Peak)
Poppy Guest (Aldershot Farnham & District, Mick Woods)
2000m Steeplechase: Evelyn Wildman (Chiltern Harriers AC, Steve Perkin)
100m Hurdles: Isabella Moulton (Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies, Tony Jarrett)
400m Hurdles: Lucia Bertacchini (Winchester & District AC, Andrew Fisher)
High Jump: Allessia Scala (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC, John Bancroft)
Triple Jump: Leila Newth (Ealing Southall & Middlesex AC, David Johnson)
Shot put: Emilia Adele (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC)
Discus: Elkie Baker (London Heathside, Neville Thompson)
Javelin: Lucy Bull (Cheltenham and County Harriers, Carolyn Franks)
Charlotte Pabari (City Of Portsmouth AC, Bronwin Carter)
Hammer: Sophie Robertson (Glasgow Jaguars T&F Club, Bill Main)
Combine Events: Dionne Maguinness (Airdrie Harriers)
Leanna Elliot (Cumbernauld AAC)
All sprinters are included in the medley relay squad
