British Athletics has announced a 53 strong team for the World Para Athletics European Championships and there will be eight Scottish athletes within the team to compete in Berlin from 20-26 August 2018.
T35 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Maria Lyle, is joined by Paralympic gold medal winning F51 thrower Jo Butterfield MBE, double gold medal winning T11 sprinter Libby Clegg MBE and T64 silver medalist long jumper Stef Reid MBE. T38 sprinter Ross Paterson is also selected and race runners Gavin Drysdale, Kayleigh Haggo and Hannah Dines also make the team.
As well as these eight Scottish athletes, Ben Rowlings who is coached by Ian Mirfin MBE and currently lives and trains in Scotland with Red Star Athletics Club, also makes the team.
This will be the first time that Race Running, which has its roots in Scotland, has been included in the programme at this level of international event. As a result, this is a very special moment for the trio of Kayleigh, Gavin and Hannah, and their coach Janice Eaglesham MBE, as they win selections for Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the very first time.
These selections represent another ‘high water mark’ for Para athletics in Scotland with Red Star Athletics Club very much to the fore, as well as other clubs and coaches across Scotland who have embraced disability athletes and sections.
Everyone at SDS wishes the athletes and their coaches every success in Berlin.
The selected athletes and events for the World Para Athletics European Championships are as follows;
Jo Butterfield MBE (Philip Peat; Forth Valley) – F51 Club Throw
Libby Clegg MBE (Joe McDonnell, Charnwood) – T11 100m and 200m
Hannah Dines (Janice Eaglesham) – RR3 100m
Gavin Drysdale (Janice Eaglesham; Red Star) – RR3 100m
Kayleigh Haggo (Janice Eaglesham; Ayr Seaforth) – RR3 100M
Maria Lyle (Jamie Bowie; Team East Lothian) – T35 100m & 200m
Ross Paterson (John Kinder; Red Star) – T38 200m & 400m
Stef Reid MBE (Aston Moore; Charnwood) – T64 Long Jump and 200m* (200m subject to confirmation)