Record breaking Payne prepares for European Championships
Newbury hammer thrower Charlotte Payne was crowned England Athletics senior champion on Sunday with a championship record throw of 69.19 metres.
That record win came two days after Payne discovered she had been selected to represent Great Britain at the Senior European Championships, which take place later this month in Munich.
“I’m over the moon,” Payne said.
“At the beginning of this year making a senior GB team seemed like a long shot, it was only around the time of the British Championships that I realised I could be a contender for Europeans.
“I’m so excited, representing your country is always the highest honour.
“Winning the senior English Championships was a big day for me, I needed to prove that I was in good shape for the Europeans and that’s what I did.”
Payne is part of a 155 strong team for the European Championships that includes newly crowned world champion Jake Wightman and experienced Olympic medallist Dina Asher-Smith.
“I’m having a bit of a fangirl moment knowing I’m on the team with some of my idols,” she said.
“There are people on this team who I’ve looked up to since I started competing.
“I don’t think it adds any extra pressure, probably the opposite, it gives me a bit of confidence knowing I’m making the same teams as them.”
The 20-year-old is no stranger to international competitions, having competed in Portugal, France, Germany, Sweden and Estonia, where she captained the team at the European Under-20 Championships.
“Competing abroad is totally different to competing domestically, competition abroad is a bit more unknown,” she said.
"Being on Team GB definitely adds to my focus.
“Different languages, officials and competitors, but I love the experience.
“Every championship is totally unique and each one sticks in my mind for different reasons.”
Payne, who now holds all three major UK titles, will be hoping this one sticks in her mind for all the right reasons – it’s sure to be another step in the right direction.
