Zoey Clark, Laviai Nielsen, Amy Allcock and Emily Diamond at the 2019 World Athletics Relays in Yokohama (© Getty Images)
British Athletics has announced a 16-strong team for the women’s, men’s and mixed 4x400m events at the World Athletics Relays Silesia21 on 1-2 May.
Olympic relay bronze medallist Emily Diamond will be joined by multiple global relay medallist Zoey Clark and 2017 world silver medallist Laviai Nielsen in the squad.
Clark will also be reunited with Jessie Knight and Ama Pipi, who were part of the silver medal-winning quartet at the European Indoor Championships in February.
World indoor and European relay bronze medallist Amy Allcock will join the team alongside Yasmin Liverpool and Jess Turner.
The men’s team includes Olympic, world and European medallist Martyn Rooney and his fellow London 2017 bronze medallists Dwayne Cowan and Rabah Yousif Bkheit.
Joe Brier, Lee Thompson and James Williams – all part of the bronze-medal winning team at the 2021 European Indoors – earn their second British team call-ups of the season.
Charlie Dobson will be making his senior GB debut and Efe Okoro completes the line-up.
The mixed relay teams will be selected from the athletes within the women’s and men’s 4x400m squads.
“We are really pleased to be selecting strong teams for the respective relay events,” said performance director Sara Symington. “Maintaining the health and safety of all athletes, coaches and team personnel is of paramount importance to us, as is recognising athletes' wishes in their preparation for Tokyo, so all athletes were given the option to opt-in or opt-out of the event for this year.
“In terms of the men’s and women’s 4x100m relays, it was a joint decision between the British Athletics performance team and the respective 4x100m squads to not enter teams for those events to the World Athletics Relays.
“The 4x400m athletes and staff have opted to take the opportunity to compete and we will support them in this approach. It is vital that we recognise these are challenging times and that we fully consult with the athletes and staff on the best way to prepare for Tokyo, recognising that one approach will not necessarily fit both squads.”
British team for Silesia
WOMEN
4x400m: Amy Allcock, Zoey Clark, Emily Diamond, Yasmin Liverpool, Jessie Knight, Laviai Nielsen, Ama Pipi, Jessica Turner
MEN
4x400m: Joe Brier, Dwayne Cowan, Charlie Dobson, Efe Okoro, Martyn Rooney, Lee Thompson, James Williams, Rabah Yousif Bkheit
