Welsh decathlon record holder Ben Gregory has earned himself a British vest on home soil having qualified to face France, the Czech Republic, Spain and Poland in the Indoor Combined Events International Match in Cardiff on January 26-27.
Gregory took the bronze medal at last weekend’s England Indoor Heptathlon Championships, his first medal at the event since 2015, to secure his place in a team alongside John Lane, who won the title in Sheffield, and Scotland’s Andrew Murphy, who won silver.
The 28-year-old finished with 5,422 points to finish third having been 11th at the end of the first day but also claimed the Welsh title with the championships incorporated into the event.
Howard Bell makes up the senior British quartet for the event at NIAC, Cyncoed.
Battled through a tough weekend to secure this spot, left it all out on the track in the final event to make it happen. Proud of my efforts, grateful for all my support team. Coaches, family, friends kept my head strong in the fight. Big push towards the International 💪🏽 #letsgo https://t.co/GocenNO9LO
— Ben Gregory (@bengregz) January 8, 2019
The British women’s contingent will be headed by World Junior heptathlon gold medallist Niamh Emerson, who also claimed Commonwealth bronze in 2018. She kicked-off her 2019 season with two personal bests in the 60 hurdles and the shot putt, adding over a metre to her previous best in the latter, and looks on course for a good score in Cardiff, which will host its first GB Indoor international in seven years.
The 2016 European Youth and 2017 Commonwealth Youth long jump champion Holly Mills and European Youth decathlon sixth place finisher Jack Turner headline the junior teams. Mills, who took bronze in last year’s match in Spain, claimed a second straight Under-20 pentathlon crown last weekend.
The British Athletics teams for the Indoor Combined Events match on January 26-27.
Senior Men: Howard Bell (Edinburgh AC), Ben Gregory (Birchfield Harriers), John Lane (Sheffield & Dearne), Andrew Murphy (Kilbarchan)
Senior Women: Ellen Barber (Yeovil), Niamh Emerson (Amber Valley & Erewash), Alice Hopkins (Oxford City), Lucy Turner (Gateshead Harriers)
Junior Men: Scott Brindley (North Ayrshire), Joel McFarlane (Central), Jack Turner (Exeter)
Junior Women: Jenna Blundell (Team Bath), Holly Mills (Andover), Amaya Scott (Southampton)