Duo are the first two British athletes to earn selection for the 2025 World Athletics Championships

After impressive performances over the past year, Calli Hauger-Thackery and Emile Cairess have booked their spots on the plane to Tokyo.

The pair have been selected to represent Great Britain in the marathon at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships and will run over 26.2 miles in the Japanese capital.

Hauger-Thackery earns selection after clocking 2:21:24 for seventh at last year's Berlin Marathon, following that up with 2:22:38 for sixth at the Boston Marathon. She is second to only Paula Radcliffe (2:15:25) on the UK marathon all-time list.

Cairess meanwhile placed third at last year's London Marathon with 2:06:46 and then recorded a time of 2:07:29 for fourth at the Paris Olympics. He is second to only Mo Farah (2:05:11) on the UK marathon all-time list.

Team Leader Paula Dunn said: "We’re delighted to confirm Emile and Calli as the first athletes selected for the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Both have demonstrated consistency and world-class performances over the past year and we’re excited to support them as they prepare for Tokyo."

Further selections for the Great Britain and NI. team for the World Athletics Championships will be announced in August.