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England Team for Nitro Athletics Melbourne announced

With seven weeks to go until the action gets under way, we are delighted to announce the England team for the inaugural Nitro Athletics series, which will take on Usain Bolt’s Bolt All-Stars, Australia, China, Japan and New Zealand in a new look athletics format. England are to be captained by 2008 Olympic 400m champion and multiple world medallist Christie Ohuruogu.

Nitro Athletics focuses on providing the most challenging and engaging fusion of discipline, technique and teamwork by adding a Nitro spark to traditional athletic events. Athletes will be forced to apply tactics and strategy in sprint, distance, field and para-athletic events.

Each team will have two opportunities to level the playing field by using one Nitro Power Play and one Nitro Steal. Power Plays and Steals will be drawn by random lot by each team captain at an event prior to the first meeting.

The series takes place on Saturday 4th, Thursday 9th and Saturday 11th February 2017 and the England team will be going all out to take the crown.

Tony Hadley Head Coach of the England team said, “I am delighted England Athletics have accepted the invitation to take part in the inaugural Nitro athletics series in Australia. It’s a new way to stage athletics and the competition promises to be of a very high standard. We are delighted to announce a very strong team to represent England with a nice mixture of youth and experience. It is a great opportunity for the athletes to gain valuable experience of some of the challenges that the Commonwealth Games will hold in Australia in 2018.”

As well as captain Christine Ohuruogu, the team includes three time Olympian Michael Rimmer and Commonwealth Games 200m bronze medallist Bianca Williams alongside some of the rising stars of athletics in England.

The England team* is:

Theo Campbell (Birchfield H, James Hillier)
Adam Hague (Sheffield & Dearne/Sheffield Hallam Uni, Trevor Fox)
Joe Dunderdale (Sheffield & Dearne)
Scott Hall (Gateshead, Sam Stanislaus)
Confidence Lawson (Shaftesbury Barnet, Clarence Callender)
Gabriel Odujobi (Sale Harriers Manchester, Tony Jarrett)
Michael Rimmer (Liverpool Pembroke, John Bigg)
Kieran Showler-Davis (Basingstoke & Mid Hants, John Davis)
Jamie Webb (Liverpool H, Rob Denmark/ Adrian Webb)
Richard Weir (Derby, Spencer Duval)
Rabah Yousif (Newham & Essex Beagles, Carol Williams)

Margaret Adeoye (Enfield & Haringey, Linford Christie)
Alex Bell (Pudsey & Bramley, Aaron Thomas)
Jo Blair (Luton/ Rugby & Northampton, David Burrell)
Karla Drew (Sheffield & Dearne, Antonio Minichiello)
Mary Elcock (Oldham & Royton, Karen Williams)
Alison Leonard (Blackburn, Bud Baldaro)
Christine Ohuruogu (Newham & Essex Beagles, Lloyd Cowan)
Abigail Roberts (Sheffield & Dearne, Trevor Fox)
Charlene Thomas (Wakefield, Aaron Thomas)
Bianca Williams (Enfield & Haringey, Lloyd Cowan)
Hannah Williams (Herts Phoenix, Colin Gaynor)

The athletes will be lining up against opposition including 2008 Olympic hurdles champion Dawn Harper-Nelson from the United States and Usain Bolt himself in who form part of the Bolt All-Stars.
Further world-class additions will be made to the Bolt All-Stars team while the Australian team are keeping their cards close to their chest with a current squad of 42 athletes which will be trimmed back to a team of 24 in the New Year.

Click here to find out more about Nitro Athletics Melbourne

*An additional selection is to be made.