European indoor relay gold medallist to lead team in Sopot, while Eilish McColgan has withdrawn from the competition

Eilidh Child has said she hopes to try and keep the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team “chilled out and relaxed” at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Poland this weekend, having been named as the team captain.

Child, who won 4x400m gold and 400m silver at last year’s European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg before claiming world relay bronze in Moscow in the summer, was selected by UKA performance director Neil Black to lead the team at the championships from March 7-9.

“I was really shocked when Neil phoned me,” Child said. “It was the last thing on my mind that I was going to be asked to be team captain. I’m really honoured, it was a complete surprise.”

She added: “To me the role of captain is about being there to support one another. Hopefully I can add that extra little bit of support and try and keep everyone chilled out and relaxed.”

With hopes of retaining the women’s 4x400m title in Sopot, Child has been named in a strong relay squad along with Margaret Adeoye, Shana Cox, Christine Ohuruogu, Victoria Ohuruogu and Laura Wake. Adeoye and Cox will run the individual event.

“I’m delighted Eilidh accepted the team captaincy role for these championships,” said Black.

“At the recent Sainsbury’s Glasgow International Match, Eilidh demonstrated her leadership skills when she captained the Scottish team. She is well respected among her fellow team mates and I know she will lead by example.

“We’ve got a relatively young team in Sopot and experienced athletes like Eilidh will help integrate the number of new faces in the team.”

A 34-strong GB & NI team will travel to Poland, following the news that Eilish McColgan has withdrawn from the competition, having been due to compete in the 3000m. UKA advise she has not returned to full fitness following a recent minor illness.

“It’s really disappointing that I’m not going to compete at the World Indoor Championships,” she said. “I was really looking forward to it but I don’t feel I would do my selection justice at this moment in time. I wish my team mates the very best of luck in Sopot.”

GB & NI team for Sopot:

MEN

60m: Dwain Chambers, Richard Kilty
400m: Richard Buck, Nigel Levine
800m: Mukhtar Mohammed, Andrew Osagie
1500m: Lee Emanuel, Chris O Hare
3000m: Andy Vernon, Jonathan Mellor
60m hurdles: Andrew Pozzi, William Sharman
4x400m: Daniel Awde, Michael Bingham, Jamie Bowie, Buck, Luke Lennon-Ford, Levine, Conrad Williams
High jump: Robbie Grabarz, Tom Parsons
Pole vault: Luke Cutts

WOMEN

60m: Sophie Papps, Asha Philip
400m: Margaret Adeoye, Shana Cox
800m: Laura Muir
1500m: Jemma Simpson
4x400m: Adeoye, Eilidh Child, Cox, Christine Ohuruogu, Victoria Ohuruogu, Laura Wake
60m hurdles: Tiffany Porter
Pole vault: Holly Bleasdale
Long jump: Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Shara Proctor