Neil Black: 'European Team Championships crucial to development'

Performance director Neil Black believes that the European Team Championships has given him the chance to continue the development of some of the biggest prospects in British athletics.

Sprint duo Richard Kilty and Dina Asher-Smith have been selected as part of a 47-strong squad for the event in Russia, and Black has revealed that plenty of consideration was placed on progression ahead of competitions later in the summer and next year's Olympic Games.

Black is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "The European Team Championships provides a good opportunity for us to develop and explore the pool of talent we have in this country.

"At this time of the season, good decisions have to be made and we have selected a team with the aim of being competitive whilst giving some crucial debut opportunities to new names."

Great Britain and Northern Ireland finished in fifth place at last year's event.