Eilidh captain as #SALfab14 head for London

Tuesday 25th July 2017

Photo montage by Bobby Gavin

British Athletics website team selection announcement

Eilidh Doyle will lead the British Athletics team at the London World Champs after being selected by her fellow athletes as captain.

And the Scottish representation on that team, which now numbers 81, has risen to 14 – with steeplechaser Lennie Waite among five more athletes added.

The #SALfab14 cohort is a tremendous testament to the dedication of athletes, their families and coaches and the support of clubs and is double the previous record figure of seven selections for a World Champs team in 1983 and 2015.

Waite didn’t finish in the top two at the British Trials in the 3000m steeplechase but then clocked 9.37.94 in a race in Sweden on July 11 to get inside the 9.42 standard that was being asked for selection (with Lennie having run 9.43 on two occasions this season, also).

The American-based Scot, coached by Jim Bevan, represents East Kilbride AC with her father having worked in the town a number of years ago when the family lived in Scotland.

Many congratulations from all at scottishathletics to Lennie on being selected – some 12 months on from becoming an Olympian in Rio – and indeed to all 81 athletes picked to represent GB and NI at the London 2017 World Champs.

Doyle, meanwhile, is savouring the huge honour of the captaincy for a home Games delivered by her team-mates in a special poll.

‘I’m absolutely chuffed to bits,’ said Eilidh, who is headed for her fifth World Champs after making her debut in this event in Berlin in 2009.

‘It’s a huge honour to have been elected by my peers as the Team Captain for British Athletics at London 2017.

To lead your team at a home World Championships is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and to have your team-mates vote that they want you to do it, makes it even more special.’

Doyle’s selection confirms her status as one of Britain’s most respected athletes. Competing at her fifth World Championships, Doyle was the face of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and completed her ‘Grand Slam’ set of Commonwealth, European and World Championship medals last year in Rio, when she added Olympic 4 x 400m bronze to the collection.

British Athletics Performance Director Neil Black said: ‘I’m delighted for Eilidh. She’s a fierce competitor and a fantastic role model for younger athletes in the team.

‘Eilidh is Scotland’s most decorated athlete and has won a medal at all of the majors. She knows what it takes to win! That’s the type of athlete and mindset we need to lead us into a home world championships.’

Scots selected (with coach name and in alphabetical order):

Andy Butchart (Derek Easton) 5000m

Zoey Clark (Eddie McKenna) 400m and 4 x 400m Relay

Eilidh Doyle (Brian Doyle) 400m Hurdles and 4 x 400m Relay

Callum Hawkins (Robert Hawkins) Marathon

Josh Kerr (Joe Franklin) 1500m

Guy Learmonth (Henry Gray) 800m

Eilish McColgan (Liz Mccolgan-Nuttall) 5000m

Laura Muir (Andy Young) 1500m and 5000m

Chris O’Hare (Terrence Mahon) 1500m

Beth Potter (Mick Woods) 10,000m

Lynsey Sharp (Terrence Mahon) 800m