Novuna GB & NI Team Announced For World Indoor Athletics Championships In Poland
5th March 2026UK Athletics has confirmed 29 athletes for the Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland (GB & NI) team for the World Athletics Indoor Championships, Torun, Poland (20-22 March)
The team has been selected based on the performance aims to maximise medal success and top-eight placings at these Championships.
Fresh from making history with her world record-breaking indoor 800m earlier this month, Keely Hodgkinson returns to the global stage in impressive form. She is joined in the 800m by Issy Boffey, who has enjoyed a breakthrough season and now sits eighth on the UK all-time list.
Reigning World Indoor Champion Jeremiah Azu looks to defend his world 60m title, following a commanding performance at the UK Indoor Championships. Jody Smith will be making his senior debut in the event after a standout season.
In the 1500m, 2025 World Indoor medallist Georgina Hunter Bell leads the British challenge, holding the fastest UK time of the year. She lines up alongside Jemma Reekie, the Scot and 2026 British Champion, who heads to Torun full of confidence after a dominant performance in Birmingham earlier this season.
British record holder Dina Asher-Smith returns to the World Indoors competition for the first time since 2016 and heads to Poland in strong form. She is joined in the 60m by World silver medallist Amy Hunt, who has lowered her personal best multiple times already this year.
Multiple World and Olympic medallist Josh Kerr will contest the 3000m, while 2026 British Indoor Champion Jack Higgins takes on the 1500m and 2023 World medallist Ben Pattison will go in the 800m. In the women’s 3000m, 2026 British Indoor Champion Hannah Nuttall is selected alongside an experienced Katie Snowden.
The 2026 British Indoor Champion, Hannah Nuttall, goes in the 3000m and is joined by experienced athlete Katie Snowden.
2024 World Indoor Champion, Molly Caudery, will look to challenge for another global podium. In the long jump, Molly Palmer set a new personal best of 6.68m in Cardiff last weekend, earning her first senior international vest.
There are a handful of athletes who have been selected subject to the final world ranking positions which will be finalised by World Athletics by Wednesday 11 March.
In the pentathlon, Abigail Pawlett has been selected subject to final world rankings. Should she fall outside the qualifying positions for the combined event, she will instead contest the individual 60m hurdles, also pending final rankings.
Defending indoor 400m world champion Amber Anning has announced she will miss these Championships to give herself more time to prepare for a busy outdoor season, which includes the Commonwealth Games and European Championships.
Paula Dunn, UK Athletics Performance Director, said:
“With 29 athletes selected to represent the Novuna GB & NI team, including some exciting senior debutants and experienced international performers, we are ready to take on the very best in the world.
“This championship marks an important beginning to what promises to be a landmark year for the team, with a home European Championships on the horizon this summer.
“I have complete confidence in the team’s ability to rise to the occasion and proudly represent the nation on the global stage. My congratulations go to every selected athlete and their coach.”
The Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland (20-22 March):
Men
60m
Jeremiah Azu (Cardiff, Helen James)
Jody Smith (Thames Valley, Alex Currie)
800m
Ben Patterson (Basingstoke & Mid Hants, Dave Ragan)
1500m
Jack Higgins (Tonbridge AC, Mark Hookway)
James McMurray (St Albans, Deborah Steer) *
3000m
Josh Kerr (Edinburgh, Danny Mackey) *
Heptathlon
Lewis Church (Tonbrigde AC, David Hull) *
High Jump
Joel Clarke Khan (Thames Valley Harriers, Deirdre Elmhirst) *
Pole Vault
Owen Heard (Harrow AC, Kate Rooney) *
Shot Put
Scott Lincoln (Dale Stevenson, City of York) *
Women
60m
Dina Asher-Smith (Blackheath & Bromley, Michael J Ford)
Amy Hunt (Charnwood, Marco Airale)
60m Hurdles
Abigail Pawlett (Trafford, Ashley Bryant) *
Emma Nwofor (Thames Balley Harriers, Joel Brown) *
400m
Yemi Mary John (Woodford Green Essex Ladies, Alan James)
Louisa Stoney (Belgrave Harriers, Marvin Rowe) *
800m
Issy Boffey (Enfield & Haringey, Luke Gunn)
Keely Hodgkinson (Leigh, Trevor Painter)
1500m
Georgia Hunter Bell (Belgrave Harriers, Trevor Painter)
Jemma Reekie (Kilbarchan, Jon Bigg)
3000m
Hannah Nuttall (Charnwood, Helen Clitheroe)
Katie Snowden (Herne Hill) *
Pentathlon
Abigail Pawlett (Trafford, Ashley Bryant) *
Ellen Barber (Wells City Harriers, John Lane) *
Pole Vault
Molly Caudery (Thames Valley, Stuart Caudery) *
Long Jump
Molly Palmer (Thames Valley, Lukasz Zawila) *
Triple Jump
Georgina Forde-Wells (Woodford Green AC, Lukasz Zawila) *
4x400m Relay
Poppy Malik (Harrow, Nick Dakin)
Lousia Stoney (Belgrave Harriers, Marvin Rowe)
Tess McHugh (Sale Harriers Manchester, Stephen Ball)
Jazmine Moss (Gateshead Harriers AC, Richard Kilty)
The relay will also include athletes who have been selected in their individual event
*Selected subject to securing the required world ranking position