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UK Athletics today announced the names of who will make up Team Great Britain and Northern Ireland competing in the IAU World 100km Championships on August 27 in Berlin, Germany.

UK Athletics

After one of the most competitive 100km races ever seen in the country at the annual Anglo Celtic Plate Home Countries International with seven men breaking the seven-hour barrier and three women under eight hours, GB & NI will field a strong team in the German capital later this year.

England’s Matt Dickinson (Phillip Kissi, Clapham Chasers) and Scotland’s Jo Murphy (unattached) claimed the men’s and women’s British 100km championship titles respectively in Perth, booking their places on the team.

Dickinson achieved almost even 50k splits to win the trial in 6:39:34, while Jason Kelly (self-coached, Metro Aberdeen) was second in 6.42:23 with Ollie Garrod (South London Harriers) taking third in 6:46:50, all earning a call-up to the GB & NI squad. Northern Ireland’s Gareth King was fourth at the trial in a time of 6:47:33 to earn his first international vest.

Scotland’s Jo Murphy produced a well-paced race at the trial to run a negative split coming home in 7:41:12, which was a personal best by almost 10 minutes, to achieve her first British vest.

Sam Amend (Andrew Walling, Belgrave), who has competed on several British teams in recent times, took second place in 7:48:39, also a PB, with Caroline Turner (Lonely Goat RC) running her first 100k in 7:51:39 for third spot and a seat on the plane to Germany. Amy Sarkies (Rugby & Northampton), who finished in a time of 8:00.50 at the trial, completes the women’s quartet.

“The racing at the Anglo Celtic Plate Home Countries International shows that ultra-running is in a very strong position in the country for both men and women, so we are really looking forward to heading to Berlin to take on the best in the world in August.”

The British teams

Senior women:

Sam Amend (Andrew Walling, Belgrave)

Jo Murphy

Amy Sarkies (Rugby & Northampton)

Caroline Turner (Lonely Goat RC)

Senior men:

Matt Dickinson (Phillip, Kissi, Clapham Chasers)

Ollie Garrod (South London Harriers)

Jason Kelly (self-coached, Metro Aberdeen)

Gareth King

The IAU will organise six championships in 2022. They will also put on the World Mountain and Trail Championships in cooperation with World Athletics, International Trail Running Association, World Mountain Running Association, Athletic Association of Thailand and a local organising committee.

They will begin with the IAU 24H Asia and Oceania Championships in India. This race will be followed by IAU 100km World Championship in Germany, IAU 24H Americas Championships in Brazil, IAU 24H European Championships in Italy, IAU 50 km European Championships in Spain, and the IAU 50km African Championships in Nigeria.

The 100km Championships have been run since 1987. The IAU was founded in 1984.

Great Britain typically fields one of the most competitive teams. Historically, the women have won the second most medals in the event with seven gold, two silver and five bronze. Only Russia is ahead with 19 medals, to GB & NI’s 14. The men’s teams have won three medals, one of each colour. Again, Russia lead the tally at 19.

The championships and Bernau

Berlin will be hosting the delegations and Bernau, Germany will host the championship. Bernau is especially known for the BAUHAUS UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE. The start and the finish of the championship will be located in the heart of their unique architectonic assembly.

Like Berlin, Bernau was founded in the 13th century. The town developed quite a reputation far beyond Brandenburg for its cloth and its beer and it flourished. Even today, the impressive 8m (26 ft.) city walls and the ramparts testify to the defensive measures once taken to protect the city. A historical showcase is the Hussite Festival. Every year in June, people in medieval clothes gather in “Bernauer Stadtpark”, turning it into a market fair with tournaments.

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