THREE athletes from Halesowen have been selected to compete at the 2016 School Games — a national multi-sport event for the UK’s elite young athletes — taking place at Loughborough University and Sheffield from September 1-4.

Gabriella Homer, 15, who goes to Hagley Catholic High School will represent England West Midlands in cycling; Molly Jenks, 16, from The Earls High School, will feature in the athletics 4x100m relay; and Josie Oliarnyk, 16, who goes to St. Paul’s School for Girls, will be in the athletics long jump and 4x100m relay.

The four-day contest is backed by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust. and will see 1,600 athletes compete across 12 events.

Homer, who trains at Wolverhampton Wheelers, said: “This is the second time I have been selected. Knowing what a great experience it is, this makes me really excited and proud to compete again.”

The young athletes will be following in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars who have competed at the event.

Previous competitors include Olympic gold medallist and world record-breaking swimmer Adam Peaty and Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and GB sprinter Adam Gemili.

Molly Jenks, who trains at Halesowen Athletic Club, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be competing at this event and representing England Midlands.”

Josie Oliarnyk, also from Halesowen AC, added: “I am very proud to compete for the England Midlands team in two different events.”