Information on Loughborough

Large Loughborough contingent named in Olympic athletics squad

Posted on 16/07/2008

Martyn Rooney at an athletices meeting in Loughborough earlier this year

The British Olympic Association has named 14 of Loughborough’s finest in its first wave of competitors selected for its Team GB athletics squad.

 

Students Martyn Rooney and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey headline a list that includes eight Loughborough graduates and a further four University-based athletes.

 

The pair both achieved selection times in their respective 400m and 100m events prior to competition in Birmingham, Rooney achieving his first standard at the Loughborough International Athletics meet on campus in May.

 

Rooney went on to win the 400m final at the British trials last weekend in 45.31 seconds to guarantee his spot on the team. Aikines-Aryeetey finished joint fifth in a tough final in 10.26 seconds and is one of four athletes named in a four-strong relay squad.

 

Commonwealth 1500m champion Lisa Dobriskey, a graduate who continues to train at Loughborough, came from behind in an exciting four-lap final to win in 4:15.84. Fellow distance runner Helen Clitheroe, who also trains at the University, set a new British record in the 3000m Steeplechase ahead of graduate Barbara Parker in second. Both women have gained selection to the British team.

 

Loughborough-based pole vault pair Steve Lewis and Kate Dennison have also been named in the initial 48-strong squad alongside graduate Goldie Sayers in the javelin and

 

Graduates Nathan Douglas (Triple Jump), Jeanette Kwayke (100m), Andrew Turner (110m Hurdles) and Lee McConnell and Nicola Sanders (both 400m and 4x400m) all performed well at the weekend to secure selection, as did Loughborough-based sprinter Michael Bingham who has been included in the 4x400m relay.

More Loughborough athletes are expected to be named by the BOA this weekend when the second Team GB wave is confirmed. Many athletes will be hoping performances at tomorrow’s LEAP meet are enough to secure selection for Beijing.

 

Loughborough athletes named this week:

 

Loughborough students:

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey 4x100m

Martyn Rooney, 400m  

 

Loughborough graduates:

Lisa Dobriskey 1,500m (Ashford AC)  Also Loughborough-based

Nathan Douglas, Triple Jump (Oxford City)  (Loughborough graduate)

Jeanette Kwayke 100m (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies)  Loughborough graduate

Lee McConnell 400m (Shaftesbury Barnet);

Barbara Parker 3,000m steeple chase (City of Norwich AC)

Nicola Sanders 400m (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow)

Goldie Sayers Javelin  (Belgrave Harriers)

Andrew Turner, 110m Hurdles (Loughborough graduate)

 

Loughborough-based

Michael Bingham 4x400m (unattached)

Helen Clitheroe 3,000m steeple chase (Preston Harriers);  

Kate Dennison Pole Vault (Sale Harriers Manchester)

Steve Lewis, Pole Vault (Newham & Essex)