Commonwealth Games England (CGE) announced today the selection of Steve Way and Amy Whitehead to compete for Team England in the marathon event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The duo represent the first individuals to be selected from the sport of athletics and bring the total number of athletes officially selected to Team England for Glasgow 2014 to 69.

Both marathon athletes achieved the England Athletics (EA) qualifying standard and were selected on the basis of their performances at the recent London Marathon.

Way ran a personal best of 2:16.27 to cement his place on the marathon start line in Glasgow on 27 July.

“It’s an absolute dream come true, it’s a fairy tale scenario,” said Way of Bournemouth. “It sounds cliché but I can’t possibly put it into words how much I am looking forward to the Games.

“The excitement and prospect of my first major games and representing my country over the marathon distance it’s just quite unbelievable.

“Every time I get on the start line for the marathon my main aim is to better myself, improve on my personal best. At the London Marathon I managed to do that with a big personal best and at the Commonwealths I will be looking to make another significant improvement.”

Way is joined by Whitehead, who will also be making her Commonwealth Games debut. The Nottinghamshire athlete finished 13th in London clocking a time of 2:34.20.

Whitehead said: “I’m absolutely over the moon. It’s a dream come true, since having my daughter I’ve wanted to represent my country in the marathon I feel really privileged and proud to be part of the team.

“I’ve always wanted to make the Commonwealth Games and it’s been a personal ambition of mine to get here. I would love to do as well as I possibly can. When you put on an England vest you want to do everybody proud”.

Jan Paterson, Team England Chef de Mission said: "I'd like to welcome Amy and Steve to Team England as the first members of the athletics squad and congratulate them on the performances that secured them their qualification. The marathon at Glasgow 2014 will undoubtedly be a superb event with lots of support along the way for the athletes."

Peter Stanley, Team Leader, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Steve and Amy to Team England. The Commonwealth Games are approaching fast and it’s exciting that we are beginning to nominate and announce athletes.

“Steve and Amy ran superbly at the London Marathon, with both fulfilling our selection criteria. We are nearing the end of the qualification period for athletes before the final selection meeting takes places in early June.

“Our Games target is still the intention of achieving the highest possible number of top eight places.”  

The athletes were formally nominated to CGE for selection to Team England by England Athletics.

CGE will announce the full athletics squad on 9 June 2014.