UK Athletics has unveiled the 44-strong squad set to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the European U23 Athletics Championships, scheduled to take place in Bergen, Norway, from 17 to 20 July. The team includes several athletes already experienced on the senior international stage, as well as a crop of promising youngsters who have previously earned medals at U18 or U20 level.
With seven gold medals and a total of 14 podium finishes at the previous edition in Espoo, expectations are high once again. This British contingent will be looking to reaffirm its dominant position in European age-group athletics.
From U23 champions to senior-level breakthroughs
Sprint events will once again be one of the British team’s biggest medal hopes. Over 100 metres, Nia Wedderburn-Goodison and Faith Akinbileje arrive in Bergen with the first and third fastest European U23 times this year – 11.16 and 11.19 seconds respectively. Both former European U18 champions, they will be eyeing up a British one-two in the final. In the 200 metres, four-time European U20 medallist Success Eduan will line up alongside Alyson Bell and Kissiwaa Mensah – both fresh from global success in the 4×100 m at the World Relays in Nassau.
In the men’s sprints, Jeriel Quainoo leads the British charge in the 200 m, having also made the step up to senior level this season. Like Mensah, Akinbileje and Wedderburn-Goodison, Quainoo was part of the medal-winning squad at the World Relays in China earlier this year. In the 100 m, Micheal Onilogbo will be the sole British representative.
The middle-distance events also promise to deliver. Over 800 m, Justin Davies has had a breakout season, clocking a world-class 1:44.35. He’ll be joined by Henry Jonas and David Race, who both impressed at the British U23 trials. On the women’s side, Abigail Ives has stepped up to senior competition this year, earning a call-up for the European Team Championships and running close to her PB. She will enter the championships as the second fastest in the field, but will need a significant improvement to challenge for gold, which seems destined for Switzerland’s Audrey Werro.
Over 1500 m, Ava Lloyd and Mena Scatchard currently rank second and third in Europe at U23 level. In the 5000 m, Ed Bird, a world U20 medallist in 2023, and Will Barnicoat, a three-time European cross-country champion, are both in medal contention. Emily Newnham, meanwhile, will be the favourite in the women’s 400 m hurdles, having posted a best of 54.49 this season – nearly a full second quicker than anyone else in the field. The European Indoor and World Relays participant brings valuable experience to the team.
The field events are not lacking in British contenders either. In the pole vault, Gemma Tutton holds the top European U23 ranking and heads to Norway off the back of a strong showing at the European Team Championships. Zara Obamakinwa will throw in the women’s discus, while Kimani Jack will be one to watch in the high jump, having recently set a new personal best.
In the combined events, Abigail Pawlett and Sammy Ball arrive in excellent form. Both competed at the prestigious Hypo-Meeting in Götzis earlier this summer, where Ball earned the title of rookie of the year, highlighting his immense potential in the decathlon.
Team Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the 2025 European U23 Championships (Bergen, 17–20 July)
Women
- 100 m: Nia Wedderburn-Goodison, Faith Akinbileje
- 200 m: Success Eduan, Alyson Bell, Kissiwaa Mensah
- 400 m: Yemi Mary John, Poppy Malik, Rebecca Grieve
- 800 m: Abigail Ives
- 1500 m: Ava Lloyd, Mena Scatchard
- 10,000 m: Jasmine Trott, Jasmine Wood
- 400 m hurdles: Emily Newnham
- 3000 m steeplechase: Emily Parker
- Long jump: Georgina Scoot
- Pole vault: Gemma Tutton
- Discus: Zara Obamakinwa
- Javelin: Elizabeth Korczak
- Heptathlon: Abi Pawlett
- 4×100 m relay: Joy Eze
- 4×400 m relay: Holly Mpassy
Men
- 100 m: Micheal Onilogbo
- 200 m: Jeriel Quainoo
- 400 m: Brodie Young
- 800 m: Justin Davies, Henry Jonas, David Race
- 1500 m: Thomas Bridger, Ryan Martin
- 5000 m: Will Barnicoat, Ed Bird, James Dargan
- 10,000 m: Johnny Livingstone, Dafydd Jones
- 110 m hurdles: Daniel Goriola
- 400 m hurdles: Harry Barton, Jake Minshull
- Long jump: Archie Yeo
- High jump: Kimani Jack
- Shot put: Piers Cameron
- Decathlon: Sammy Ball
- 4×400 m relay: Brook Cronin, Thomas Hockley
