Press Release – British Athletics
odie Williams (coach: Ryan Freckleton; club: Herts Phoenix) will captain the Great Britain and Northern Ireland squad at the 2021 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland (4-7 March).
The European and Commonwealth medallist will compete in the individual 400m for the first time at a major championship after back-to-back indoor PBs at the British Athletics European Indoor Selection Trials – 52.27 her best – saw her earn her place on the team.
Williams finished fourth over 60m at the 2011 edition of the Championships and returns ten years later to compete in the 400m and 4x400m relay.
Upon receiving the captaincy, Williams said, “It is a huge honour to be chosen as the team captain. I was a little nervous when I was first asked but I am looking forward to it.
“This is my ten-year anniversary since I made a senior British team for the first time. The European Indoors (in Paris) was my first senior championships. It is cool that it has all come full circle and I am now going to be team captain.”
On her primary message to the team, especially the 15 athletes making their senior debuts for Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Torun, she said: “My biggest message would be ‘to back yourself’. It can feel quite daunting coming in as a newbie. I know I played down my aspirations on my debut, but I would say don’t do that. You have made the team in your own right, just like everyone else. Enjoy the experience and embrace it.”
On her own expectations for the championships, the 27-year-old added: “I am going there to perform. I’m a competitor, I don’t like to downplay my aspirations. It is a new event for me, but I’ll be going there to be in finals and challenge for medals. At this point in my career, that is why I’m standing on the start line.”
Olympic Head Coach, Christian Malcolm added, “I’m really pleased to be announcing Jodie as the team captain of the British team for the European Athletics Indoor Championships. She has taken herself out of her comfort zone during this indoor season, achieving an indoor PB and earning her place on the team. She has a wealth of experience to share which will be beneficial to the whole squad. I know she will lead by example, on and off the track, during the championships.”
The British Athletics team (46) for the European Athletics Indoor Championships 4-7 March 2021:
400m:
Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong; Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)
Ama Pipi (Linford Christie; Enfield & Haringey)
Jodie Williams (Ryan Freckleton; Herts Phoenix)
800m:
Ellie Baker (Jon Bigg; Shaftesbury Barnet)
Isabelle Boffey (Luke Gunn; Enfield & Haringey)
Keely Hodgkinson (Trevor Painter; Leigh)
1500m:
Holly Archer (Andrew Parmenter; Cambridge & Coleridge)
Katie Snowden (Dan Stepney; Herne Hill)
3000m:
Amy-Eloise Markovc (Chris Fox; Wakefield)
Verity Ockenden (Tony Houchin; Swansea)
Amelia Quirk (Mick Woods; Bracknell)
4x400m Relay:
Zoey Clark (Eddie McKenna; Thames Valley)
Beth Dobbin (Leon Baptiste; Edinburgh)
Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong; Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)
Yasmin Liverpool (Stewart Marshall; Coventry)
Ama Pipi (Linford Christie; Enfield & Haringey)
Jodie Williams (Ryan Freckleton; Herts Phoenix)
60m Hurdles:
Emma Nwofor (Newham & Essex Beagles)
Tiffany Porter (Jeff Porter; Woodford Green Essex Ladies)
Cindy Sember (Jeff Porter; Woodford Green Essex Ladies)
Pole Vault:
Holly Bradshaw (Scott Simpson; Blackburn)
Long Jump:
Abigail Irozuru (self-coached; Sale Harriers Manchester)
Jazmin Sawyers (City of Stoke)
Women’s High Jump
Emily Borthwick (Fuzz Caan; Wigan & District)
Morgan Lake (Fuzz Caan; Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)
Shot Put:
Sophie McKinna (Mike Winch; Great Yarmouth)
Amelia Strickler (Zane Duquemin; Thames Valley)
Pentathlon:
Holly Mills (Laura Turner-Alleyne; Andover)
Men:
60m:
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Benke Blomkvist; Sutton & District)
Oliver Bromby (Marvin Rowe; Southampton)
Andrew Robertson (Michael Carolan; Sale Harriers Manchester)
400m:
Joe Brier (Matt Elias; Swansea)
Lee Thompson (John Henson; Sheffield & Dearne)
James Williams (self-coached; Liverpool)
800m:
Guy Learmonth (Justin Rinaldi; Lasswade)
Jamie Webb (Adrian Webb; Liverpool)
1500m:
Piers Copeland (Bob Smith; Wimborne)
Archie Davis (Joel Kidger; Brighton Phoenix)
Neil Gourley (Ben Thomas; Giffnock North)
3000m:
Andrew Butchart (Barry Fudge; Central)
Jack Rowe (Tim Eglen; Aldershot Farnham & District)
Philip Sesemann (Andrew Henderson; Leeds City)
4x400m Relay:
Joe Brier (Matt Elias; Swansea)
Efe Okoro (Tony Hadley; Birchfield Harriers)
Tom Somers (Newham & Essex Beagles)
Owen Smith (Matt Elias; Cardiff)
Lee Thompson (John Henson; Sheffield & Dearne)
James Williams (self-coached; Liverpool)
60m Hurdles:
Andrew Pozzi (Santiago Antunez; Stratford-upon-Avon)
Men’s Pole Vault
Charlie Myers (Chris Boundy; Birtley)
Long Jump:
Jacob Fincham-Dukes (Matt Barton; Leeds City)
Men’s High Jump
Joel Khan (Deirdre Elmhirst; Worcester)
