Three Sussex athletes have been included in the British team for the Rio Olympic Games with both Rob Mullett and Seb Rodger being selected to join Charlie Grice.
After two Olympiads of drought this is the largest number of Sussex athletes to be selected for a specific Games since 1968 when four were included in the squad that travelled to Mexico.
The Brighton & Hove trio of Chris Carter, 800 metres, Arthur Jones 20km walk and Andy Todd, 400m hurdles and relay, the most of any club that year, were joined Pat Jones from Worthing in the 80m hurdles.
All three of this year’s selections are reigning National Champions with Grice (Brighton Phoenix) winning the 1500m, Mullett, Lewes, the 3000m steeplechase, and Rodger from Eastbourne, the 400m hurdles.
Grice had tucked the qualifying standards under his belt last year but both Mullett and Rodger had only one standard to their name, Rodger clocking a 49.29s on Monday night in Belgium after being overlooked by the selectors for a place in the European Games and their places had to be confirmed by the selectors.
Mullett is one of a small number of athletes whose parent was also an international athlete. Father Bill (Brighton & Hove) was an international cross-country runner for Scotland and a British steeplechase international last century.
A fourth Sussex domiciled athlete, Jade Lally, who is a Surrey athlete, but currently lives at Horsham, has also been announced in the team to compete in the Discus throw.
If you have any queries or want more information regarding this post, please Email Reg Hook.