Estonia-bound! Five Scots selected by GB for Euro U23 Champs

Wednesday 30th June 2021

On their marks . . . sprinters Alisha Rees and Georgina Adam will head to Euro U23 Champs next week (Loughborough International photos by Ben Lumley)

British Athletics website announcement

Five Scottish athletes will head to Estonia next week as part of the GB and NI team for the European U23 Champs.

British Athletics have announced a 54-strong team and once again it is good to see a strong Scottish cohort.

Erin Wallace is selected for the 1500m and there are places for two sprinters – Alisha Rees in the 100m and 4x100m relay and Georgina Adam in the 200m and the 4x100m relay.

Sarah Tait’s reward for recent progress in the 3000m steeplechase is being one of two picks in that event, and there is a place at 10,000m for American-based Scot David Melville.

The Euro U23 Champs take place in Tallinn in Estonia from July 8-11.

We send our warm congratulations to all five athletes and their families and coaches as well as the clubs involved in their development over a number of years.

Giffnock North athlete Erin, who is third in the European U23 1500m rankings, won silver in the event at the Müller British Athletics Championships at the weekend. Erin is in good form with a PB of 4:08.10 earlier this month at the BMC Grand Prix in Watford.

Alisha Rees continues her great record in terms of selections for international events with both Scotland and GB and NI, while Georgina Adam, who is based at Loughborough, confirmed eligibility for Scotland last year.

Sarah Tait’s selection is a real feather in the cap moment for Lasswade AC and coaching duo Kirk and Linda Smith.

David Melville clocked 29.00.26 at a meet in America in May and had previously run 29.09 to get inside the GB standard for 10,000m.

Scots in the British team for the European U23 Champs:

Men:

10,000m: David Melville (Harvard Uni)

Women:

100m: Alisha Rees (Leon Baptiste, Edinburgh AC)

200m: Georgina Adam (Joe McDonnell, Loughborough Students)

1500m:

Erin Wallace (Andy Young, Giffnock North)

3000m Steeplechase:

Sarah Tait (Linda Smith, Lasswade)

4 x 100m Relay

Georgina Adam, Alisha Rees

‘I am very pleased that we have been able to select such a strong team to go to Tallinn,’ said Michael Afilaka, Team Leader.

‘There were some impressive performances from the athletes at the age-group Championships in Bedford and the British Championships this weekend which sets us up well for the Europeans.

‘The team has a good mix of experience and developing talent and I am looking forward to some great competition out in Tallinn.’