Selection Policy for the Home Nations 5k Road Championships NI & Ulster Team!

Expression of Interest – We require any interested athletes to submit an expression of interest to Mark Kirk by email to mark.kirk@athleticsni.org before midnight on the 23rd of August 2026. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WILL BE A CONDITION OF SELECTION AND ATHLETES WILL RECEIVE CONFIRMATION BY EMAIL.

Criteria for selection – The first two finishers in the men’s and women’s races at the NI and Ulster 5k Road Championships which will be held in Coleraine on the 21st of August will gain automatic selection provided they have achieved the qualifying standard set below. For the remaining places the panel will base the selection on current form, recent past performances, and performance history in road running and track events over comparable distances. The aim is to select the strongest possible team to represent NI and Ulster at this event. The panel may use their discretion when necessary. The minimum performances standards which must be achieved between the 1st of January 2026, and 23rd August 2026 are below. Track and road times will be considered.

Men’s 5k standard 14.30

Women’s 5k standard 17.25

Selection meeting - The selection panel will meet during the week beginning the 23rd of August and the teams will be announced on the Athletics NI website once the final selections have been confirmed.

Selection Panel - Selections will be made by a panel nominated by the Athletics NI Selection Committee and shall be made up as follows:

1. A representative of the Endurance Committee (Voting)

2. The Athletics NI Endurance Coordinator (voting)

3. A representative of Ulster Athletics Council (voting)

4. An Independent Coach (voting)

5. Independent Chair (casting vote)

The chair of the selection panel may direct that assistance is sought (in a non-voting capacity) from anyone else that they feel may be of help. Any voting member of the Selection Panel shall declare any known conflict of interest in respect of any selection issue and shall not be entitled to vote on that issue.

Appeals Process - There shall be no right of appeal to the selection made by the panel.

De-Selection Process - De-selection of an athlete may occur following

1. Failure to adhere to the Athletics NI athlete code of conduct

2. Failure to achieve the standard fitness testing protocols

In the event that an athlete sustains an injury following acceptance of their position on the team, they are required to inform the ANI Endurance Coordinator immediately.

Confirmation of Team Staff - The team management positions will be appointed as required to support the team and will be confirmed by the Panel following the selection of the athletes.

Clean Sport - All athletes competing at the Home Nations 5k Road Championship 2026 shall be deemed to have made themselves familiar with, and agreed to be bound by, the UKA Anti-Doping Rules and to submit to the authority of UK Anti-Doping in the application and enforcement of the Anti-Doping Rules.

The UKA Anti-Doping Rules apply to entrants participating in the sport of Athletics, for 12 months from the date of the entry to the event, whether or not the athlete is a citizen of, or resident in, the UK.

To check the status of registered medicines, please visit www.globaldro.com. For information on the Clean Athletics programme, testing procedures and for a copy of the full UKA Anti-Doping rules, please visit www.uka.org.uk/cleanathletics. For general Clean Athletics queries, please contact enquiries@cleanathletics.org.

Right to amend - Athletics NI reserves the right to amend this Selection Policy at its sole discretion and will make any amended version publicly available (including the date on which the amendment was made) at www.athleticsni.org.