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Mo Farah included on British Athletics’ World Class Programme for 2018-19

Mo Farah has been included on British Athletics’ World Class Programme for 2018-19.

Dina Asher-Smith, Zharnel Hughes and Laura Muir are also in the top tier of the programme – Olympic Podium.

Long jumper Shara Proctor, who won bronze at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships this year, has been added to the 14-strong group.

Farah is in again after his switch to the marathon last year. He won the Chicago Marathon in October and has declared his intention to run at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

British Athletics performance director Neil Black said: “Mo has had a fantastic first year concentrating on road racing as we knew he would. His performances in London and Chicago were what we expected of a truly world class athlete.

“We will continue to support Mo in his ambitions and we look forward to potentially welcoming him onto the British team for the IAAF World Championships in 2019 as part of his preparations for the marathon at Tokyo 2020.”

Membership onto the WCP for 2018-19 is based upon an athlete’s potential to win a medal at Tokyo 2020 or Paris 2024.

There are three levels of membership of the WCP, split into five sections – Olympic Podium, Paralympic Podium, Olympic Podium Potential, Paralympic Podium Potential and Olympic Relays.

Laura Weightman and Melissa Courtney have been added to the Olympic Podium Potential group.

Jonnie Peacock is on the Paralympic Podium list
Jonnie Peacock is on the Paralympic Podium list (John Walton/PA)

Jonnie Peacock and Hannah Cockroft are two of 30 on the Paralympic Podium list.

European 4x100m relay gold medallist in Berlin, Bianca Williams and 200m runner Beth Dobbin have joined the Olympic Relays.

Black added: “The past 12 months have been filled with vital competitions as we head towards Tokyo 2020 and a whole host of athletes have risen to the challenge and demonstrated their quality when it matters most.

“The 114 athletes being offered membership onto the World Class Programme for 2018-19 reflects the great amount of strength we possess building towards Tokyo 2020 and beyond that towards Paris 2024.”