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**Ursus** · 03-09-19, 12:26

Unbelievably 50% more female steeplechasers than throwers in aggregate.

Only 2 out of 24 throwing slots filled. 2!

Lamentable

Pathetic

Shameful

Disgraceful

Embarassing

Disgusting

Athletics: Running, jumping and THROWING.

Heads should roll.

Well done to McKinna and Miller for rising above it.

**RunUnlimited** · 03-09-19, 13:06

Ursus I feel your pain, it is an abject failure of the sport in this country that so few throwers are not of a good enough standard to make a major championships. At the same time there have been some signs of progress recently, with Scott Lincoln only just missing out on the Doha standard and going over 20 meters for the first time and being very consistent all season. Harry Hughes was supremely unlucky to have an injury strike him at precisely the *wrong* time this season, wrecking his chances of progressing further after he'd broken 80 meters in June.
Behind Nick Miller in the hammer, Taylor Campbell added nearly two meters to his PB this season and wasn't too far from joining Miller on the squad, while Osian Jones has been re-writing the Welsh record books almost every time he stepped into the hammer cage. In total GB have a total of 5 men who have thrown 73m or better this year, which is a level of strength and depth not seen anywhere else outside of the usual suspects in this discipline.
And at the junior and U-23 level, we've had some very good performances and distances set by a slew of young, up-and-coming throwers both Boras and in Gavle, with finalists in the men's and women's shot put, women's hammer (with two representatives at that!) and men's discus in the Euro U-20's alone.

There is always hope of better things my friend, do not despair too much!

**RunUnlimited** · 03-09-19, 13:23

Well, I think the biggest news here is that Charles Da'vall Grice, who became the 4th fastest Brit ever over 1500m just a month or so ago, has paid the ultimate price for (once again) getting it wrong during the UK trials, running a tactically inept race and finishing outside the top 3.

Imagine that, a man who's run 3:30 will in the same season *not* be going to a major championships! But he only has himself to blame for that.

**Afrothletics** · 03-09-19, 14:44

Seems like the only one who's been hard done by is Charlie Myers, but only has himself to blame after no-marking at the champs despite being the only one with the standard. Other than him all of the spots with qualified athletes eligible have been filled, except for Greg Thompson in the Discus who also flopped at the Champs and hasn't replicated his Q mark from early on in the season. Shame as I'm sure having an additional two field eventers would've helped the sorry state British field events are in at the moment.

Will be interesting to see how they approach the invites system as a few are currently in line for one (Phil Norman, Jaz Sawyers, Jessie Knight, Tom Gale, Chris Baker) but wouldn't really argue that any fit the criteria of 'podium potential' that British Athletics have set out.

**Sovietvest** · 03-09-19, 15:29

So, Neil Black gets to unilaterally decide which invites to accept - with no appeal possible - and he will only give them to people with potential to win a medal in 2020. Sawyers and Gale are on are on 'Podium Potential funding, so they have a chance. However, to be on Podium Potential funding you need to have potential to medal by 2024. I guess Gale is on funding based upon his longer term potential but I can't see any case for him winning a medal next year. Given Sawyers' stage of development they must have given her funding with shorter term success in mind. So my guess is that she gets it but no one else.

Personally, I think we should take any athlete who gets a qualifying mark or an invite - to not do so is to unfairly discriminate against our athletes versus other countries' and serve as a huge disincentive to athletes who in most cases are struggling to compete without the benefit of funding

**Runner88** · 03-09-19, 15:30

The selectors seem to have placed a very high importance in the trials, which is fair enough in that it does take out some subjectivity. Greg Thompson and Charlie Myers paying the price for sub par performances.

Finette Agyapong hasn't run an open 400m all season yet manages to get on the 4x400m team. Same could be said for Beth Dobbin but I think her 200m speed gives her the benefit of the doubt. I've no idea how the team management are approaching the mixed relay. Are the also rans in the relay pool being given the nod?

I'm intrigued and pleasantly surprised by McColgan and Twell in the 10,000m. Named just to give them options and decide at a later date?

I would like to see Baker and Gale go in the high jump, standard has been poor all season around the world, they could both make the final on a good day. Gale is young and improving.

**larkim** · 03-09-19, 16:07

I suppose no reason not to name Twell and McColgan in an optional event when there are spaces available and they have the times. Can't see Twell doing marathon and then 10000m but you never know - I did marathon and then XC the weekend after with my best ever run, so clearly my experience as a middle aged slow marathoner can be directly translated into Twell's...

**sprintdude** · 03-09-19, 16:09

Anyone in the squad with a similar name to someone else

this time.

**Jay** · 03-09-19, 18:02

Overall I'm happy with the team but do have a few thoughts. Firstly I think it's a shame that in 2 events where they're wouldn't have taken the places of others, had they been selected, both Charlie Myers and Greg Thompson have been left out. Yes I know they're inconsistent (particularly Thompson), but when a large team is being selected and others have been selected while also having achieved the standard but shown a lot of inconsistency (Langford, Yousef etc), 2 young athletes could have gained valuable experience. I also wouldn't have named Rooney in this team at the expense of a younger athlete such as Nichlas Baker (who beat Rooney at the trials), due to his poor form this year. Similarly I possibly would have named Yasmin Liverpool in the 4×400m over Amy Allcock who also hasn't had a great season. Just some thoughts, but overall I'm happy with the team and hope more will be added following the IAAF invites.

**Occasional Hope** · 03-09-19, 18:36

presumably Langford and Webb won’t be rooming together 😏

**treadwater1** · 03-09-19, 21:37

AI didn’t think our chances in the women’s 4x4 were particularly good at the start of the season but they’ve picked up dramatically with Nielsen’s times and JWs good run at the ETC, Doyle will be missed, but Diamond is fairly reliable and ran the best leg in Rio.

Generally I think it’s a decent squad but we will miss the likes of Farah, Rutherford, Grabarz and Hitchon who have contributed at the higher end regularly in the recent past. Their absence puts a lot of pressure on Dasher, even more so now that Muirs preparations have been severely disrupted. It looks like the majority of the medals will come from the women’s side this year

Kyle Langford should buy a lottery ticket this weekend

**Stew-Coach** · 03-09-19, 22:18

Target of 7-9 medals.

possible 5 from relays alone??

**Christy93** · 03-09-19, 23:19

Originally posted by Stew-Coach

Target of 7-9 medals.

possible 5 from relays alone??

Both 4x1s I like. W4x4 will be tough, but I have a feeling the might just pip the Poles for Bronze. KJT, Dina, Muir you'd hope to see 3 medals from. Then perhaps one from the M200?

I'll say 5-7 medals will be achieved.

**SMGOtto** · 03-09-19, 23:47

Realistic individual medal chances
DAS x2
Muir (if fit)
KJT

Outside chance
WLJ (either) is it possible for KJT to be selected still for LJ?
M200m (all within a chance)
Nick Miller
H Bradshaw

Massive outside dreamer chance
MTJ - I really think that Ben Williams could land a wonder jump, his first two phases of both the 17m jumps were massive. It's a massive outside option but who knows could comp flop at same time.
M1500 ig one of the guys get it right in a tactical race. Same for w800.
Beth Dobbin in 200m had a quiet season so far apart from the pb- maybe peaking at the right time? I think she has a 22.3 in her...would require a few athletes to have an off day though

With relays I reckon around 5-7 but hopeful of a surprise

Announcement

British athletics name 72-strong team for doha world championships

British athletics name 72-strong team for doha world championships

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