Five athletes at St Mary’s University, Twickenham (SMU) have been selected to represent Great Britain & Northern Ireland at the European Athletics Championships this year.
Thomas Randolph, Jack Rowe, and Izzy Fry are alumni of SMU’S Endurance Performance Centre (EPC), with Thomas still regularly training at the University. Zak Seddon is a English Athletics (EA) Talent Hub athlete based at SMU. Elliot Giles is a two-time Olympian and SMU alumnus, who also trained in the elite facilities at the University as a member of the EPC.
The European Athletics Championships is an elite biennial athletics event, with the 2024 edition taking place in Rome from the 7th to 12th June 2024.
Thomas Randolph and Elliot Giles have both been selected to compete in the men’s 800m race. Thomas previously won Bronze in the 2021 European U23 Championships, while Elliot took home a Bronze medal in the 2016 European Championships.
Elliot also competed in the men’s 800m at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, reaching the semi-finals in Tokyo.
EPC and EA Talent Hub Athlete Jack Rowe has been selected for the men’s 5000m, having won Silver in the 5000m at the 2020 British Championships. Izzy Fry has been chosen to compete in the women’s 5000m, having previously placed fourth at the 2019 European Junior Championships.
Current SMU student Zak Seddon will be competing in the 3000m steeplechase, having won a Gold medal at the 2013 European Junior Championships.
EPC coordinator and performance coach Craig Winrow said, “It is really great to see five of our EPC athletes past and present being selected for the European Championships. All five of the athletes have been supported by the EPC and its coaches throughout their development, and we wish them the best of luck for the Championships.”
Head of Sport St Mary’s Andrew Reid-Smith added, “Congratulations to all the athletes for being selected to run for Great Britain. For some this will be their first senior major championship, which is a special achievement.
“We’re proud to be London’s leading university for endurance running, as well as being an England Athletics Talent Hub that works with athletes and coaches to give them access to specialist facilities, support services, and high-quality training groups.
“We have worked with the National Governing Bodies and partners over several years to establish a unique running environment and culture. This also attracts international squads and running groups from around the world that come to St Mary’s to train. Our aim is to develop these foundations to continue to provide opportunities and success for future athletes.”
The Endurance Performance Centre (EPC) is an internationally renowned endurance running programme at St Mary’s University, with one of the best training setups in the world. The EPC and its coaches provide an endurance performance environment that supports, challenges, and develops elite runners.
These European Championships selections continue a proud history for St Mary’s in elite athletics events including the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with many students having competed over the years. SMU alumni who have gone on to win medals at the Olympic and Paralympic Games include Sir Mo Farah, Rebecca Romero, Moe Sbihi, Dave Weir, Matt Wells, and Corrine Hall.