10:44AM, Thu Aug 2, 2012

Follow The North East's Athletes At The Olympics

Kat Driscoll: A medal hope for Team GB

The North East has a number of athletes competing across various disciplines at this year’s Olympics in London.

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Distance runner Ross Murray competes in the 1,500m and will run in the first round of heats on Friday August 3. The second round is two days later and the final is on Tuesday August 7. Murray is a long-time Gateshead Harrier but trains in Twickenham, London.

Marathon runner Freya Murray has replaced Paula Radcliffe in the women's race on Sunday August 5. Murray is originally from Scotland but lives in Newcastle, and runs for Chester-le-Street.

Kent-born Trampolinist Kat Driscoll is a serious medal hope for Team GB and has both qualification and the final of her event on Saturday August 4. Renowned as the ‘Least Known World Number One’ Driscoll moved to the area when she was 18 and trains in Washington.

Stephanie Houghton and Jill Scott have already started their Olympic adventure with the Team GB women’s football team. Houghton scored their winning goal in the 1-0 victory over New Zealand. Both are former Sunderland Women’s team players and are from the region. They next face Cameroon on July 28 and Brazil on July 31.

Sarah Clark will take part in the -57kg category for women’s judo. The only day of competition for her is Monday July 30. Clark is from South Shields but trains in Edinburgh.

Chantelle Handy (left) will represent Team GB at basketball and will be in the side with one of the more hectic schedules in the Games. They face Australia on July 28, Canada on July 30, Russia on August 1, France on August 3 and Brazil on August 5. Handy plays her club basketball for Athinaikos in Greece but grew up in Consett, County Durham.

Laura Weightman is the prodigy of ‘Jarra Arra’ Steve Cram who both coaches and mentors in her event of 1,500m. She begins her Olympic journey on Monday August 6 with a first heat and if she qualifies will race on Wednesday August 8 and will run for a medal on Friday August 10 if she makes it through. Weightman is from Morpeth.

Stephanie Proud is the only swimmer from the North East and will compete in the 200m backstroke. Proud is from Durham and will go in heat five on Thursday August 2.

Two of Team GB’s rowers come from Durham: Kat Copeland (left) can race in both Lightweight Single and Double Scull. In the singles she faces a grueling schedule starting on July 28 and ending on August 4. In the Doubles the first race is on July 30 and the final is also on August 4. Jessica Eddie (right) is the second rower from the region and goes in the ‘Women’s Eights’. Her first race is scheduled on July 29, second on July 31 and the final should the team make it will be on August 2.

Peterlee-born Cumbria resident Alan Wills competes in the Archery for Team GB. Wills crashed out alongside his team-mates in a defeat to Ukraine on the Games’ opening day but returns to action in the solo event on Wednesday August 1.

Sunderland striker Ji Dong-won has already made his Olympics bow at St James’ Park. He appeared as a late substitute for South Korea against Mexico. He will next have the chance to play against Switzerland on Sunday July 29 and then against Gabon on Wednesday August 1.

Angela-Winstanley-Smith will compete in Water Polo. Born in South Shields, she plays for a team in Manchester but still lives in Newton-Aycliffe. Her first match will be against Russia in the Women's Preliminary Group B match. One of the longer running competitions in the Olympics, the final is not until August 9.