Ohuruogu to lead GB in Portugal

EUROPEAN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
Venue: Leiria, Portugal Dates: 20-21 June Coverage: Live on BBC Two (1530-1930 BST both days), BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sport website

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Ohuruogu is running over 200m and in the 4x400m relay

Olympic 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu will captain Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the European Team Championships in Leiria, Portugal.

But the squad will be without four injured athletes, including world silver medallist Nicola Sanders.

Sanders (ankle) and Montell Douglas (knee) were ruled out of the 4x400m relay, with no replacements named.

Craig Pickering has been brought in to replace James Dasaolu (hamstring) in the men's sprint relay.

Gemma Bennett (achilles) is out of the women's 100m hurdles, with Phyllis Agbo taking her place.

I want to play my part on the track, but if I can help others perform at their best that will be just as important Christine Ohuruogu

Dwain Chambers' selection should guarantee maximum points in the 100m, in which he leads the European rankings this summer with a time of 10.06 seconds.

Ohuruogu runs over 200m and the Beijing silver medallist Phillips Idowu competes in the triple jump.

The event replaces the European Cup, which saw GB & NI win the men's competition in France last year, whilst the women placed third.

Team must not worry about rule changes - Ohuruogu

This year, the men's and women's teams will be united, 12 rather than eight countries will take part, there will be fewer attempts for field athletes and a new format will apply for long-distance races.

Ohuruogu said: "As the European Cup, this was a weekend I always enjoyed. There is such a good spirit amongst the British athletes and a lot of support for each other too.

"I want to play my part on the track, but if I can help others perform at their best with a little bit of encouragement or a little bit of advice, that will be just as important for the team."

Charles van Commenee, UKA's head coach said: "Under the former format, this was an event that the British team have traditionally done very well at.

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on Great Britain's team for the European Team Championships

"It is the only team competition at this level of the sport and is one that people can really relate to.

"It is a new format this year and it will take time for people to get used to it and to understand it. But people always understand winning and losing and we must aim to succeed."

Heptathlete Jessica Ennis and 400m runner Michael Bingham miss out - Ennis will compete in the UK and Bingham will rest after his involvement at the NCAA Championships in the US.

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Great Britain team

Men
100m: Dwain Chambers
200m: Rikki Fifton
400m: Tim Benjamin
800m: Colin McCourt
1500m: Tom Lancashire
3000m: Nick McCormick
5000m: Mo Farah
110m hurdles: Andy Turner
400m hurdles: David Greene
3000m steeplechase: Stuart Stokes
High Jump: Samson Oni
Pole Vault: Steve Lewis
Long Jump: Chris Tomlinson
Triple Jump: Phillips Idowu
Shot: Carl Myerscough
Discus: Abdul Buhari
Hammer: Andy Frost
Javelin: Mervyn Luckwell
4x100m: Harry Aikines-Aryeety; Craig Pickering; Marlon Devonish; Tyrone Edgar; Fifton; Simeon Williamson
4x400m: Benjamin; Greene; Nigel Levine; Richard Strachan; Rob Tobin; Conrad Williams

Women
100m: Ashlee Nelson
200m: Christine Ohuruogu
400m: Lee McConnell
800m: Jenny Meadows
1500m: Hannah England
3000m: Steph Twell
5000m:
Laura Kenney
100m hurdles: Phyllis Agbo
400m hurdles: Eilidh Child
3000m steeplechase: Helen Clitheroe
High Jump: Stephanie Pywell
Pole Vault: Kate Dennison
Long Jump: Phyllis Agbo
Triple Jump: Nadia Williams
Shot: Alison Rodger
Discus: Eden Francis
Hammer: Zoe Derham
Javelin: Laura Whittingham
4x100m: Emily Freeman; Joice Maduaka ; Nelson; Kadi-Ann Thomas; Laura Turner
4x400m: Vicki Barr; McConnell; Ohuruogu