Loughborough athletes bound for World Athletics Championships

Sport
morgan lake celebrates after the high jump

Alumna Morgan Lakes goes into the World Championships in fine form. Image provided by Pete Simmons.

Loughborough-linked athletes have confirmed their place at upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

charlie dobson gives the thumbs up

All eyes will be on alumnus Charlie Dobson in the men's 400m. Image provided by Pete Simmons.

Taking place from 13-21 September 2025, more than 2,000 athletes from over 200 countries will compete in Japan’s capital city for some of the most coveted podium places in the sport. 

Leading Loughborough’s charge for Great Britain will be alumna Molly Caudery (Pole Vault), alumnus Charlie Dobson (400m), alumna Morgan Lake (High Jump), and University-based Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Heptathlon).  

There will be high hopes for 28-year-old Lake, who made history last month by becoming the first British woman to clear two metres at the Diamond League meet in Zurich.

Alumnae trio Hannah Nuttall (5000m), Hannah Brier (4X400m), and Abi Pawlett (Heptathlon) have also been selected, alongside alumni Jake Wightman (1500m), Ben Pattison (800m), and Seamus Derbyshire (400m Hurdles).

Two current Loughborough students are also set to compete at the Olympic Stadium, with Ireland’s Jenna Breen and Great Britain’s Poppy Malik both chosen in the 4X400m.

Loughborough College learner Daryll Neita will appear in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m respectively.

University-based Jazmin Sawyers (Long Jump), Lawrence Okoye (Discus), and Melissa Courtney- Bryant (5000m), Eliza McCartney (New Zealand – Pole Vault), Olivia McTaggart (New Zealand - Pole Vault), and Imogen Ayris (New Zealand – Pole Vault) complete Loughborough’s strong contingent.

Louise Gear, Director of Sport, Loughborough University, said: “We’re extremely proud of every athlete selected for the World Championships in Tokyo.

“The Championships are widely recognised as a key competition on the athletics calendar and selection in itself is a huge achievement.

“Credit also goes to the athletes’ wider support network, including coaching staff, who have all played an invaluable role in their journeys. We wish them all the very best and will be cheering them all on from Loughborough.”

Loughborough-linked athletes selected for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo 2025

Hannah Nuttall - Great Britain - 5000m
Jazmin Sawyers - Great Britain - Long Jump
Seamus Derbyshire - Great Britain - 400m Hurdles
Molly Caudery - Great Britain - Pole vault
Lawrence Okoye - Great Britain - Discus
Charlie Dobson - Great Britain - 400m
Jake Wightman - Great Britain - 1500m
Abi Pawlett - Great Britain - Heptathlon
Poppy Malik - Great Britain - 4x400m
Ben Pattison - Great Britain - 800m
Morgan Lake - Great Britain - High Jump
Katarina Johnson-Thompson - Great Britain - Heptathlon
Daryll Neita - Great Britain - 100m/200m/4x100m
Melissa Courtney Bryant - Great Britain - 5000m
Hannah Brier - Great Britain - 4x400m
Jenna Breen - Ireland - 4x400m
Eliza McCartney - New Zealand - Pole Vault
Imogen Aryis - New Zealand - Pole Vault
Olivia McTaggart - New Zealand - Pole Vault 

 

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 25/133

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2025 QS World University Rankings – the ninth year running.

Loughborough is ranked 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2026, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2025 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.

Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.