Commonwealth Games: Asher-Smith salutes the strength of English with 75 selected athletes

• Team England nominates 75 men and field teams for the 2018 event in Australia
• Adam Gemili and Katarina Johnson-Thompson among the contenders for the medal


Greg Rutherford, Olympic long jump champion in London in 2012, and British sprint holder Dina Asher-Smith were named in an English men's 75-man athletics team for next year's Commonwealth Games in Australia.

The athletic team will be the largest group of 650 members of the Gold Coast English team, which will include 400 athletes and 250 support staff in 18 sports, making it the largest team to represent the world. England at an international sporting event.

Most of them will start flying to Brisbane training camp in mid-March to give them more than 15 days of acclimatization before the Games start on April 4. England will try to defend their position against Australia at the top of the medal table.

A spokesman for the England team would not be attracted by the cost of the trip, but admitted that "it is obvious that it is not good to send 400 athletes and 250 support staff around the world." However, one source said that they believed that the figure would be in the millions.

Meanwhile, Asher-Smith, who will be running in the 200m and 4x100m, said he believes the England athletics team, which also includes the Commonwealth 100m silver medalist and 4x100m Adam Gemili, Katarina Europe gold medalist Johnson Johnson-Thompson, and the most successful of the recent British relay world championships in London, had "a lot of contenders for a medal that could sweep events. Asher-Smith, who most of the 2017 season was lost with a broken foot before an impressive performance got his fourth place at the world championships 200m and silver in 4x100m, he admitted that the World Championships in Hall will probably jump to Birmingham in March to focus instead on the Commonwealth Games.

"With the two so close, I do not know if it's feasible to do both," he said. "For a long time, I wanted to do the Commonwealth Games because it's something I've never done. He is one less than the Olympics and is the top priority for 90% of athletes. Having the Commonwealth Games so early in the season, you really push because sometimes when the event is in August, you must have these mini-goals along the way. But with the Commonwealth so soon, there is no excuse for not doing all the rep and all the steps. "

21, also pointed out that already won the medal relay at the Olympics and World Championships, and that you want to use Brisbane 2018 as a stepping stone for greater individual achievement. "I have the opportunity to finish very well in respected competitions," he said. "If I do well in Europe and the Commonwealth next year, I can use it to build global and Olympic success. It would be good to do well and stop by finishing fourth or fifth individually and hope to move on to bigger things. "

Sarah Winckless, chief of mission of the Commonwealth Games in England, said he is confident that the strong selection of athletes, as well as facilities in Australia take advantage, that means everything is ready for success. "We are extremely proud to announce such a strong team," he said. "We are presenting some of the best athletes in the world and we are confident that we will send the best prepared English team to Australia next April.

"We anticipate that the high level of competition that will provide the Commonwealth Games and our excellent team of staff will focus on ensuring that when we get there, Team England will be ready for a world-class performance environment. "

The England athletics team in full

Men
Adam Gemili (100m and relay), Adam Hague (Pole Vault), Andrew Osagie (800m), Andy Pozzi (110m Hurdles), Andy Vernon (10,000m), Ashley Bryant (Decathlon), Ben Williams (Triple Jump), Callum Wilkinson (20k Walk), Charlie Grice (1500m), Chris Baker (High Jump), Dan Bramble (Long Jump), Danny Talbot (200m and relay), Dave King (110m Hurdles), Dwayne Cowan (4x400 relay), Elliot Giles (800m), George Caddick (4x400 relay), Greg Rutherford (Long Jump), Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (4x100 relay), Jack Green (400m Hurdles), James Dasaolu (100m and relay), John Lane ( Decathlon), Kyle Langford (800m), Luke Cutts (Pole Vault), Martyn Rooney (4x400 relay), Matthew Hudson-Smith (400m and relay), Nathan Douglas (Triple Jump), Nathan Fox (Triple Jump), Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake (200m and relay), Nick Miller (Hammer), Rabah Yousif -(4x400 relay), Robbie Grabarz (High Jump), Taylor Campbell (Hammer), Tom Bosworth (20k Walk), Tom Gale (High Jump), Zharnel Hughes (200m and relay).
Women
Adelle Tracey (800m), Alyson Dixon (Marathon), Amelia Strickler (Shotput), Anyika Onuora (4x400 relay), Asha Philip (100m and relay), Ashleigh Nelson (4x100 relay), Bethan Partridge (High Jump), Bianca Williams (200m and relay), Cheriece Hylton (4x400 relay), Corinne Humphreys -(4x100 relay), Desiree Henry (100m and relay), Dina Asher-Smith (200m and relay), Emily Diamond (4x400 relay), Finette Agyapong (4x400 relay), Gemma Bridge (20k Walk), Holly Bradshaw (Pole Vault), Iona Lake (3,000m Steeplechase) , Jade Lally (Discus), Jazmin Sawyers (Long Jump), Jessica Judd (1500m), Katarina Johnson-Thompson(Heptathlon), Katie Snowden (1500m), Katie Stainton (Heptathlon), Laura Weightman (5,000m), Lorraine Ugen (Long Jump), Lucy Bryan (Pole Vault), Margaret Adeoye (4x400 relay), Meghan Beesley (400m Hurdles), Molly Caudery (Pole Vault), Morgan Lake (High Jump), Niamh Emerson (Heptathlon), Perri Shakes-Drayton (4x400 relay), Rachel Wallader (Shot put), Rosie Clarke (3,000m), Sarah McDonald (1500m), Shara Proctor (Long Jump), Shelayna Oskan-Clarke (800m), Sonia Samuels (Marathon), Sophie Hitchon (Hammer), Tiffany Porter (100m Hurdles).


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