Congratulations to Rebecca Keddie on her selection for the England Athletics team at the Loughborough International Athletics on Sunday 17th May.
Rebecca has been named in the England squad for the Senior Women's 800m - a significant milestone for any athlete and a clear marker of the level she has reached. England Athletics name their squad through a selection process and the team announced for 2026 reflects the strongest domestic athletes across every discipline. Being named in that group for the 800m, alongside athletes from some of the country's leading clubs, is a testament of where Rebecca sits in the national rankings right now.
The Loughborough International has been running since 1967 and is widely considered the curtain raiser to the outdoor athletics season. It is held at the Paula Radcliffe Stadium at Loughborough University, named after the marathon world record holder who trained there, and brings together teams from England, Scotland, Wales and GB and NI Under-20s across a full programme of track and field events. The standard across the field is consistently high and for many athletes it represents their first experience of competing for their country at senior level. Earlier this year she ran 2:09.19 indoors at the British Champs in Birmingham in February, and she followed that with 2:07.42 at the IFAM Outdoor in Brussels, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze event, which was a seasons best and a key performance in her selection.
What makes this moment more meaningful is the long road that has led to it. Rebecca's career goes back to running 2:55 in the 800m as an 11 year old in 2011 - and competing at club level in both the 800m and 1500m at events like the Lily B and Youth Development League fixtures as a teenager, taking on events the team needed rather than just the ones that suited her. She has developed very well over the years of consistent hard work and the England selection is a recognition of all of it.
We also want to acknowledge Charlie, who had been selected for the England Youth Talent Programme relay at the same event. Charlie has had to withdraw due to the hamstring injury he picked up at the SEAA Championships, a frustrating situation given how hard he had been working to get there. Recovery is the priority and we look forward to seeing him back competing when he is ready.
In the meantime, all attention turns to Rebecca heading to Loughborough on Sunday. Wearing an England vest at a team international of this standard is something to be very proud of, the result of years of commitment, hard work, good coaching and the kind of steady, patient progression that eventually puts athletes in rooms like this one.
Good luck Rebecca 👏
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