Tuesday 25th May 2010

THE 2010 Welsh Open Championships that will be taking place on Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th June 2010 at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium will follow the winds of change and are implementing an innovative way to enhance the competition experience for the short sprints & hurdles athletes.

To combat the potential prevailing headwind on the home straight, for the first time in Welsh Championship history there will be the provision for photo-finish on both sprint straights. This decision reflects what already happens at meetings with regards to the field events, where a decision is made close to the competition start time about which direction to run depending on the wind direction in jumps.

This proposal was accepted by the Track and Field Committee to offer the athletes the best opportunity to run in favorable conditions that will compliment performance in the build-up to the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Welsh athletes who wish to be considered for Commonwealth Games selection must enter and compete in the event they aim to be selected for.

The event will be a festival of athletics, being an Open Championships, it will feature a strong selection of non Welsh Athletes that will be battling for medals across all disciplines. Also featured in the weekends timetable is the Aviva Parallel Success events and the Closed Welsh Under 13’s & Under 15’s Championships.

Entry is available online at www.welshathletics.org the deadline for entry is midnight on Thursday 27th May 2010.

Monday 24th May 2010

UK Athletics have announced the AVIVA Great Britain & NI teams to compete at next month's SPAR European Cup 10,000m event in Marseille.

European indoor 3,000m gold medallist Mo Farah and Jo Pavey, fifth at the recent BUPA Great Manchester 10k, head the selections and will be joined in the GB team on Saturday 5th June by European cross-country champion Hayley Yelling.

Loughborough Alumni Sonia Samuels, having set a new personal best over 3,000m last weekend at the LIA also gains selection.
Full AVIVA Great Britain & NI Teams:
Men
Mo Farah (Newham & Essex Beagles)
Antony Ford (Sale)
Phil Nicholls (Tipton)
Mike Skinner (Blackheath & Bromley)
Mark Warmby (Newham & Essex Beagles)
Women
Freya Murray (Chester Le Street & District AC)
Hayley Yelling (Windsor Slough, Eton & Hounslow)
Jo Pavey (Exeter Harriers)
Sonia Samuels (Sale)

Friday 21st May 2010

THE summer track season really kicks into top gear this weekend on what looks set be the hottest day of the year so far in the United Kingdom as the road to the Barcelona Europeans and the Delhi Commonwealth’s begin with the traditional McCain Loughborough International curtain raiser.

Star of the eight-hour show on Sunday (23rd May) at the Paula Radcliffe Track will be British athletics superstar Jessica Ennis, the double world indoor and outdoor multi-event champion.

Ennis is aiming to compete in the 100m hurdles, high jump and Javelin as Loughborough Students face England, Wales, Scotland and GB Under 20s.

Ennis said: “Loughborough will be a great opportunity to help me prepare for my first heptathlon of the season at the end of May in Gotzis.

“Loughborough is always a really good competition which I look forward to and enjoy doing. I've competed well there in the past and it’s always got a good buzz about the event.”

Another of Team GB’s Berlin heroes, world 1500m silver medallist Lisa Dobriskey begins her outdoor campaign over 3,000m as UK 1500m champion Hannah England following her successful indoor season in America runs over 800m.

Ireland’s double European indoor champion David Gillick will line up against 2010 World indoor 4x400m medallist Richard Buck and the 2008 Olympic 400m finalist Martyn Rooney, who will also compete the Loughborough University 4x400m team alongside Chris Clarke and Rhys Williams.

Former Loughborough student Will Sharman, GB’s top 100m hurdler will also compete, and Loughborough’s Harry Aikines-Aryeetey will be part of the home team’s 4x100m relay squad.

Loughborough alumni and British No.1 female javelin thrower Goldie Sayers will also be testing her early season form at the meeting.

With places up for grabs in both GB and home nations teams for the European Championships and Commonwealth Games this year, the LIA will have an added edge to it for many of the athletes.

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, a Loughborough College student on the University’s 2012 Sports Scholarship scheme, won the 100m two years ago and is itching to get on to his home track.

“It’s a very good meet and a massive opportunity for the GB juniors, and a Loughborough students to perform at a high intensity and against a world class field. You have England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales all competing,” he said.

“It is a legendary event because everyone has competed here more or less. If you think about the greats like Linford Christie, Mark Lewis Francis, Seb Coe and Paula Radcliffe, they’ve all competed here and all done it. The event is part of athletics history.”
Shanghai IAAF Diamond League

Over in Shanghai on the Asia leg of the IAAF Diamond League global tour Jenny Meadows, the world 800m bronze medallist leads a quartet of British athletes in action on Sunday (23rd May) in China.

World finalist Michael Bingham having set a European-lead time of 45.14secs in Atlanta the previous weekend, the 24-year-old will face a tough field headed by the American duo of former global and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner and the Beijing 2008 Olympic bronze medallist David Neville.

Also in the field are France’s Leslie Djhone and Sweden’s European indoor champion Johan Wissman.

Commonwealth bronze medallist Steve Lewis lines up alongside world and Olympic champion Steve Hooker from Australia in the pole vault.

Sale Harrier Becky Sweeney, winner of the European Champions Club Cup in Slovakia last summer is also on the start list alongside Meadows in the 800m.

Star of the Shanghai meeting will of course be global superstar Usain Bolt, following his world-leading 100m mark of 9.86secs at the IAAF World Challenge meeting in Daegu on Wednesday, the Jamaican plans to wow the crowds over with his second 200m race of the season.

The world record-holder is in top form having clocked the fourth fastest 200m of all-time with 19.56secs in his season’s opener at the Jamaica Invitational.

Preview compiled by Mark Woolley.

The IAAF Diamond League from Shanghai will be broadcasted live on the BBC Sport Interactive and online from 1.00pm on Sunday (23rd May).

Tickets for the McCain Loughborough International are available on the following link: www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_midlands&query=detail&event=385475&interface= and will be available on the gate on the day.

Wednesday 19th May 2010

THE 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic mascots have been unveiled live on the BBC One Show.

The cartoon animations named Wenlock and Mandeville as the mascots for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Lord Coe, London Organising Committee (Locog) chairman, said there will be two mascots - one for the Olympics and one for the Paralympics and they will reflect Britain's Games history, dating back to the London Olympics of 1908 and 1944 and Stoke Mandeville in 1948 - the first Paralympics.

"It should be - and ours is - aimed at children," said Coe of the mascot.

"We want it to be fun, we want it to try and engage and reconnect young people to sport and that should be fun, teach them to play sport and anchor it in our extraordinary Olympic and Paralympic history.

"I can tell you that they are crafted from two drops of steel from a girder that is currently in the Olympic Stadium."

The designs have been kept under wraps by the London Organising Committee. The London 2012 logo was much derided attracting headlines around the globe and Coe hopes the mascot also has an impact worldwide.

The mascots will also form a key part of 2012's marketing and merchandising, with organisers keen to avoid the controversy which surrounded the unveiling of the Games logo in 2007. There was widespread criticism of that particular emblem, which was designed by the Wolff Olins agency and cost £400,000.
Editors Comment:

I like them, their cool, modern, bright and shiny, plus the kids will love them!

Thursday 20th May 2010

GEMMA Steel will line-up for Team England at the Bern Grand Prix 10 mile event this Saturday (22nd May) in the Swiss capital.

The 24-year-old reigning Midlands cross-country champion from Charnwood AC having made her international debut at the Lotto CrossCup meeting in Hannut, Belgium, back in February set a new lifetime best of 27 minutes 27 seconds over 5 miles last weekend in Wymeswold and will be competing in what is described as the “most beautiful 10 miles in the world,” an event that has an entry of over 20,000 runners.
Full England Teams:
Men
Dan Robinson (Stroud)
Thomas Payn (Winchester)
Mark Buckingham (Holmfirth Harriers)
Women
Michelle Ross-Cope (City of Stoke)
Gemma Steel (Charnwood)
Debbie Walters (Birchfield Harriers)
Men Under-23
Matt Clowes (Staffordshire Moorlands)
Paul Whittaker (Southend)
Matt Proctor (Rochdale)

www.gpbern.ch/cms/aktuelles.phtml

Thursday 20th May 2010

SCOTTISH Athletics have announced the teams selected for the McCain Loughborough International that takes place on Sunday 23rd May where they will be up against the Loughborough Students, Wales, England and GB Under 20.

The meeting is the first major event of the season in what is to be a big year for England Athletics with the new Senior Championships in August and the Delhi Commonwealth Games at the end of the summer.
Scotland Teams:
Men
100m: Nick Smith [Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers]
200m: Craig Fleming [Belgrave Harriers]
400m: Kris Robertson [Kirkintilloch Olympians]
800m: Guy Learmonth [Lasswade AAC]
1500m: Alastair Hay [Central AC]
3000m: Bruce Raeside [Notts AC]
110mH: Chris Baillie [Birchfiled Harriers, VP City of Glasgow]
400mH: Francis Smith [Woodford Green & Essex Ladies]
HJ: David Smith [Giffnock North AAC]
LJ: John Carr [Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers]
TJ: Cameron Clark [Kilbarchan AAC]
PV: Alasdair Strange [Shettleston Harriers, Woodford Green & Essex Ladies]
DT: Angus McInroy [Shettleston Harriers]
HT: Mark Dry [Woodford Green & Essex Ladies]
JT: James Campbell [Cheltenham Harriers]
SP: Scot Thompson [Aberdeen AAC, Sale Harriers]
4x100m Relay: Stuart Benson [Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers]/Craig Fleming [ ]/Ryan Oswald [Sale Harriers ]/Calum Innes [VP-Glasgow AC]/Chris Baillie/Francis Smith [Woodford Green & Essex Ladies]
4x400m Relay: Kris Robertson [Kirkintilloch Olympians]/Anthony Young [Pitreavie AAC]/Scott Hughson [Edinburgh AC]/Sean Watson[Shettleston Harriers]/Francis Smith [Woodford Green & Essex Ladies]/Guy Learmonth [Lasswade AAC]
Women
100m: Stacey Downie [Pitreavie AAC]
200m: Stacey Downie [Pitreavie AAC]
400m: Maria Thomas [Club AtletismoCaja de Jaen]
800m: Jenny Tan [Fife AC]
1500m: Morag MacLarty [Central AC]
3000m: Sarah Inglis [Lothian Running Club]
400mH: Eilidh Child [Pitreavie AAC]
3000m Steeplechase: Emma Raven [Chester Le Street Harriers]
HJ: Lucinda Logan [VP-Glasgow AC]
LJ: Sarah Warnock [Edinburgh AC]
TJ: Sarah Warnock [Edinburgh AC]
PV: Henrietta Paxton [Birchfield Harriers]
DT: Navdeep Dhaliwal [Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers]
HT: Susan McKelvie [Edinburgh AC]
JT: No selection
SP: Alison Rodger [Kilbarchan AAC, Sale Harriers]
4x400m Relay: Maria Thomas [Club AtletismoCaja de Jaen]/Kathryn Evans [Edinburgh AC]/Gemma Nicol [Dunfermline & West Fife AC, Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers] /Jenny Tan [Fife AC]/Stacey Downie [Pitreavie AAC]/Jade MacLaren [VP-Glasgow AC]

Tickets are available on the following link: www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_midlands&query=detail&event=385475&interface=

Friday 21st May 2010

UK Athletics have announced the appointment of former GB Olympian Shaun Pickering as National Event Lead: Heavy Throws, building on his recent successful consultancy work for the sport.

Pickering, who will be based from 1st June at the UKA National Performance Centre on the Loughborough University Campus, will provide leadership within the Heavy Throws event area including technical methodology, coaching programmes and event development programmes, and will work alongside UKA’s Strategic Head of Coaching and Development, Kevin Tyler, Home Countries National Coach Mentors and UKA Development and Apprentice Coaches.

The position will also include development across the Olympic and Paralympic programmes, and will serve a performance management role with athletes as required.

Kevin Tyler, UKA’s Strategic Head of Coaching and Development, said: “Shaun has been integral to a number of innovative and successful events delivered by UKA in recent years, most notably the World Class Throws Conference held in 2007. His contacts in the sport are extremely valuable and with that he’s been able further develop the knowledge and experience he gained from participating at the highest level himself.

“He’s well respected in the sport and will undoubtedly serve as a strong leader for Heavy Throws events in the UK, working effectively with coaches and athletes to contribute to and enrich the coaching culture within athletics.”

Pickering added: “For several months now I have acted as a Heavy Throws Consultant to UKA and have worked closely with the coaches in this area to establish just how we can move this fantastic area of the sport forward and to ensure that they have the best knowledge and practices available to them. It is important that we work together to ensure not only representation at 2012, but also a long term plan to bring athletes through for 2016 and beyond.”

Press release from UK Athletics.

Tuesday 18th May 2010

BBC Sport will broadcast all 14 events of the new IAAF Diamond League in 2010.

The five-year deal includes the British Grand Prix in Gateshead and the London Grand Prix, both have which have been added to the old Golden League circuit.

Four events will be shown live on BBC Three, in Paris and Stockholm, plus the series finales in Zurich and Brussels.

All other events will be broadcast live on the red button. The BBC Sport website will have all events live, with on-demand highlights (for UK users).

Usain Bolt, the 100m Olympic and world champion, is scheduled to make seven appearances on the circuit, with his first in China this weekend, and is likely to meet close rival and world silver medallist Tyson Gay at least three times.

At least one from Bolt, Gay or former world record-holder Asafa Powell will be scheduled to run at every Diamond League meeting.

The new circuit was devised by the world governing body the IAAF in an attempt to rejuvenate interest in athletics, which is facing increased competition from other sports, and in an economic climate of dwindling income.

Wednesday 19th May 2010

WORLD and Olympic champion Usain Bolt eased to victory on his 100 metre season debut clocking a global-leading time of 9.86secs at the IAAF World Challenge Colorful Daegu Pre-Championships meeting in South Korea.

The Jamaican world-record holder ahead of his Diamond League debut next Sunday over 200m in Shanghai despite a relative slow start broke clear of the chasing field over the second 50 metres easing home in 9.86 seconds well clear of compatriot Michael Frater and American Mike Rodgers clocking the fastest time in the world this year in the stadium that will stage the 2011 World Championships.

The Daegu meeting was the first in history to be broadcasted ‘live’ in 3D. The host broadcaster made this available to the households that own 3D TV sets, but also in the capital city’s Cheonggyecheon Stream Square, where a 600-inch 3D screen was be installed and distributed 10,000 3D glasses to citizens so that they could also enjoy the historic broadcast.

Monday 17th May 2010

ENGLAND Athletics have announced the teams selected for the McCain Loughborough International that takes place on Sunday 23rd May where they will be up against the Loughborough Students, Wales, Scotland and GB Under 20.

The meeting is the first major event of the season in what is to be a big year for England Athletics with the new Senior Championships in August and the Delhi Commonwealth Games at the end of the summer.

Andy Day, England Athletics Head of Competition said, "We have a great team and we're looking forward to an thrilling event to start off what will be an exciting year."
England Teams:
Men
100m: Rion Pierre
200m: Jeffrey Lawal Balogun
400m: Richard Buck
800m: Ed Aston
1500m: David Proctor
3,000m: Mike Skinner
Steeplechase: -
110m Hurdles: Lawrence Clarke
400m Hurdles: Rick Yates
High Jump: Tom Parsons
Long Jump: Ezekiel Ewulo
Triple Jump: Nick Thomas
Pole Vault: Luke Cutts
Shot: Jamie Williamson
Discus: Abdulazzez Buhari
Javelin: Matthew Hunt
Hammer: Amir Williamson
4x100m Relay: TBA
4x400m Relay: Rick Yates, Richard Buck, others TBA
Women
100m: Laura Turner
200m: Joice Maduaka
400m: Perri Shakes Drayton
800m: Hannah England
1500m: -
3,000m: Faye Fullerton
Steeplechase: Hatti Dean
110m Hurdles: Zara Hohn
400m Hurdles: Hannah Douglas
High Jump: Kay Humberstone
Long Jump: Phyllis Agbo
Triple Jump: Nadia Williams
Pole Vault: Rachel Gibbens
Shot: Eden Francis
Discus: Eden Francis
Javelin: Katy Watts
Hammer: Zoe Derham
4x100m Relay: TBA
4x400m Relay: Kelly Massey, others TBA

Tickets are available on the following link: www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_midlands&query=detail&event=385475&interface=

Thursday 13th May 2010

THE Welsh teams for the McCain Loughborough International that takes place on Sunday 23rd May have been announced.

The first outdoor fixture of the 2010 Commonwealth Games season gives a chance for a good performances to the athletes seeking to impress the selectors.
Welsh Teams:
Men
100m: Christian Malcolm, Tim Abeyie
200m: Tim Abeyie, Liam Duff (Guest)
400m: Rhys Smith, Dwayne Lewis (Guest)
800m: Gareth Warburton
1500m: Steve Davies
3,000m: Tom Marshall
Steeplechase: N/A
110m Hurdles: David Guest
400m Hurdles: TBC
4x100m Relay: Christian Malcolm, Tim Abeyie, David Guest, Liam Duff, Gareth Hopkins, Tino Dummett
4x400m Relay: Rhys Smith, Gareth Hopkins, Matt Elias, Gareth Warburton
High Jump: Jamie Thomas
Pole Vault: Scott Simpson
Long Jump: David Cooke
Triple Jump: Navid Childs
Shot: Ryan Spencer-Jones
Discus: Brett Morse
Hammer: Matthew Richards
Javelin: Lee Doran
Women
100m: Lucy Evans, Mica Moore (Guest), Hannah Thomas (Guest)
200m: Lucy Evans
400m: Caryl Granville, Rebecca Williams (Guest)
800m: Amanda Jones
1500m: Amanda Jones
3,000m: TBC
Steeplechase: Caryl Jones
100m Hurdles: Heather Jones
400m Hurdles: Anwen Rees
4x100m Relay: Lucy Evans, Rhiannon Yates, Mica Moore, Melanie Stephenson, Hannah Thomas, Claire Williams, Rebecca Williams
4x400m Relay: Caryl Granville, Anwen Rees, Bryony Turnbull, Brigid Eads, Rhianne Jones, Rebecca Williams, Lucy Lougher, Amanda Moss
High Jump: Ceri Stokoe
Pole Vault: Jessica Abrahams
Long Jump: Rhiannon Yates
Triple Jump: Sara Barry
Shot: TBC
Discus: Philippa Roles
Hammer: Laura Douglas
Javelin: Lianne Clarke

Tickets are available on the following link: www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_midlands&query=detail&event=385475&interface=

Thursday 13th May 2010

THIS is your chance to run or walk 5km for your local life saving Air Ambulance heroes.

The Leicestershire force are staging a 5km event this Sunday 16th May at Dishley Grange Farm, Derby Road, Loughborough.

By completing the 5km course, you will be doing something amazing - helping us to continue our life saving work. The courses are suitable for all levels of fitness.

Souvenir medals will be given to all finishers plus trophies for the winners.There is also optional fancy dress where you can take part dressed as your favourite Superhero.

Entry information is available on the following link: www.dlraa.co.uk/Heroes_Run.html

Wednesday 12th May 2010

WORLD record-holder Paula Radcliffe and American marathon runner Kara Goucher who are both expecting babies in late September on the same date plan to run the NYRR New York Mini 10km for fun on Saturday 12th June which is the world's oldest all-women's road race.

The New York Road Runners, the race founders and organisers, have warmly welcomed Loughborough University graduate Radcliffe, 36, and world 10,000m bronze medallist Goucher, 31, into the race, part of a super weekend of athletics in the Big Apple which will also include the adidas Grand Prix IAAF Diamond League meeting later the same day.

"The NYRR Mini is the ultimate all-women's race," said New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg. "From its earliest days, it has been about women breaking barriers and women joining together as friends in running. The Mini is an event much more than a race. Some women have run it for many years in a row, throughout all kinds of changes in their lives. What a thrill to host two of the world's best athletes, both of whom who have a fondness for this event, for women's running, and for running together and through this exciting time in their lives during which running means something quite different then it normally does to these two professional racers."

Back in 2001, Radcliffe won the event over the one-lap course of Central Park in 30:47, setting a course record. Other previous winners include Tegla Loroupe, Lornah Kiplagat, Ingrid Kristiansen, Grete Waitz, Deena Kastor, Scotland’s Liz McColgan, Judi St. Hillaire, Lisa Ondieki and Anne Audain.

Radcliffe and Goucher, both sponsored by Nike, last ran together here at the 2008 ING New York City Marathon where Goucher made her marathon debut and finished third in 2:25:53, and Radcliffe won the race for the third time in 2:23:56.

For Goucher and husband Adam, this will be their first child. For Radcliffe and husband Gary Lough it will be their second. The couple also have a 3-year-old daughter, Isla.

www.nyrr.org/races/2010/mini/index.asp

Tuesday 12th May 2010

WORLD 200metres champion, American superstar Allyson Felix is a late, but high profile, entry for the Powerade CityGames Manchester this Sunday (16th May).

After competing at the inaugural IAAF Diamond League meeting in Doha on Friday, Felix will fly immediately to compete over her gold medal-winning distance in the innovative street meeting.

The 24-year-old will replace fellow American, world 400m title holder Sanya Richards-Ross, who withdrew from both the Doha and Manchester events after suffering a quad injury.

Felix's participation will see her face Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, the Bahamian who she relegated to third place in scoring her third successive IAAF World Championships victory in Berlin last August.

Her presence will offer an early-season opportunity for British number one Emily Freeman, seventh on that occasion, to clash with Felix before embarking on her own Diamond League schedule.

Live coverage of the Great City Games from Manchester is on BBC Two from 4.30pm on Sunday 16th May.

Tuesday 11th May 2010

THE world elite IAAF Diamond League series begins this Friday (14th May) in Doha, Qatar, and BBC Sport are the international broadcasters for the United Kingdom.

Friday’s season opener will be available live on BBC Interactive via the red button from 4.00pm. Future broadcasts are scheduled to be on BBC Three or via the red button depending on time differences as the Diamond League has been expanded across the globe in 2010 to include America and Asia.

The British Grand Prix in Gateshead and the London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace, however, will be broadcast on the main BBC One and Two channels.

Viewers can also watch Usain Bolt's season debut live from the Daegu Pre-Championships meeting in South Korea on Wednesday 19th May via BBC Interactive from 1055-1345.

Wednesday 5th May 2010

A trio of British athletes Jemma Simpson (1500m), Lennie Waite (3,000m steeplechase) and Steph Twell (half marathon) have been nominated for the European Athlete of the Month Award for April.

Jemma Simpson (Newquay & Par) produced the best 1500m European time of the season, 4:12.72, while winning a meet in Oregon, Eugene.

Lennie Waite (Rice University) registered the best performance by a European athlete so far this season over the 3,000m steeeplechase, clocking 9:56.73 in Walnut, California.

Steph Twell (AFD) won the half marathon title, clocking 71:56 in Guernsey.

April has always been a transitional month for European athletics as many major cities experience the thrill of thousands of runners running major Marathons while the track & field season kicks off in earnest, albeit mainly in the USA.

Following this, European Athletics is pleased to announce the nominations for the European Athlete of the Month for April representing 11 countries.

At the end of each month, a panel of experts produces a shortlist of the outstanding athletes and performances achieved by European athletes during the month which is emailed to the European athletics media and thousands of fans who have signed up to receive news from European Athletics. The poll is situated in the Fan Zone of the European Athletics website and the public, media and a group of expert statisticians will cast their votes with each category counting as 33.3 percent of the vote.

The winner of each poll will be awarded 10 points, second nine points, etc. and the athlete with the most points after the three different polls have been counted will be declared the winner. In the unlikely event of a tie, Hansjörg Wirz, the president of European Athletics, will have the casting vote.

The voting will close on Monday 17th May at noon CET.

The European Athlete of the Month initiative was launched in January 2007 and is designed to recognise outstanding performers at all levels of the sport in Europe.

No athlete who has previously served a two-year doping ban can be nominated for European Athlete of the Month.

The winning male and female athletes of the monthly awards will be announced and profiled on the European Athletics website.

To vote click on the following link: http://www.european-athletics.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4760&Itemid=208

Thursday 6th May 2010

REIGNING World Champions Sanya Richards-Ross and Allyson Felix of the USA will go head-to-head in the 400m at Crystal Palace for the Aviva London Grand Prix on August 13th and 14th.

The duo have only competed against each other over the one-lap race on five occasions, the first of which came in London in 2007, when Richards-Ross took the win ahead of Felix, who ran a personal best.

Both athletes are world champions and ranked number one in the world over their respective specialist distances, Richards-Ross the 400m and Felix the 200m. Although they have only lined up against each other a handful of times prior to the IAAF Diamond League, they have regularly joined forces as half of the formidable US 4x400m team who are the reigning World and Olympic champions.

Richards-Ross, who married New York Giants’ Cornerback Aaron Ross earlier this year, was famously beaten by Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu in Beijing for the Olympic title, but she bounced back to win in Berlin last year. This will be the 25-year-old’s third appearance at the Aviva London Grand Prix.

Richards-Ross said: “I’m really looking forward to competing at the Aviva London Grand Prix – I have competed there before and it will be a fantastic experience to go back to such an awesome city, and I know we'll be greeted by a great crowd.

“The Diamond League is a really exciting prospect, I find that when elite athletes compete against each other, we push ourselves to run faster and get better results. The Diamond League will allow me to pit myself against these athletes and really strive to find faster times.

“My husband and I both have really fond memories of London, the last time we were there in 2007, Aaron played in the first NFL game at Wembley and I performed really well at Crystal Palace. London 2012 is my long term goal right now so we are really looking forward to returning.”

Felix is the most successful female athlete to have competed at the World Championships, having uniquely won six gold medals. The 24-year-old currently holds four global titles; World indoor, outdoor and Olympic 4x400m as well as the World 200m. Felix finished sixth in the shorter distance of the 100m at the Aviva London Grand Prix last year, but plans to compete in the 200m and 400m this summer.

She said: “I have competed at the Aviva London Grand Prix previously and loved the experience of competing in London. The crowd was fantastic, it's great to compete in front of a crowd that truly appreciates athletics – to add to that I lined up against a fantastic field of athletes which always pushes me harder and helps me run faster.

“The fact that the Aviva London Grand Prix is now part of the Diamond League makes me more excited, I will be lining up against the best in the world, some of whom I don’t get the chance to compete against much. It gives me a great platform to run as hard and as fast as I can and put up a real strong fight against my competitors.

“Obviously I’ll be hoping to be competing in London in 2012, so it’s a great experience to be able to compete there before that great event and really get a feel for racing there.”

Both Felix and Richards-Ross will be opening their IAAF Diamond League campaign at the first meet in Doha on May 14th.

The new IAAF Diamond League is an international series of 14 events, of which the Aviva London Grand Prix is the only event to have a two-day programme.

Friday 7th May 2010

WORLD high jump champion Blanka Vlasic will compete at the Aviva London Grand Prix IAAF Diamond League meeting on August 13th and 14th.

The Croatian retained her outdoor title in Berlin last year and won her second world indoor gold medal in Doha in March.

The 26-year-old, who won the event at the competition in Crystal Palace last year with a height of 2.02metres, said: "I am really looking forward to competing at the Aviva London Grand Prix.

"Not only does it have a fantastic atmosphere because of the size of the place and the athletes that compete, but also because I performed really well last year - I'd love to repeat that this time.

"As part of the Diamond League series, I know that I will be competing against the very best in the world, which is daunting but always pushes me to perform at my very best and hopefully I will do that this year."

Vlasic, who will be aiming to break Stefka Kostadinova's 23-year-old world record of 2.09m this season, having cleared 2.08 last summer, will open her IAAF Diamond League season at the inaugural meeting in Doha next Friday.

Friday 7th May 2010

ANDI Jones (Salford Harriers) and Helen Decker (Ipswich Jaffa) have been selected following their performances at the recent Virgin London Marathon to represent Team England at the Delhi Commonweath Games in October.

Jones finished in 10th place overall at London with a time of 2:16:38 and was first the English male athlete over the line. His performance was inside the guideline time of 2:18:00.

Jones performance at London also saw him win the England Athletics Marathon title, having won the England Athletics Half Marathon title at Wilmslow in March.

Decker ran 2.36:56 in London, inside the 2:38:00 standard and finished as the second English athlete behind Mara Yamauchi, the Commonwealth 10,000m bronze medallist.

With Yamauchi having decided not to run marathons at major championships this year Decker secured the nomination which was then ratified by Commonwealth Games England. Decker's run lowered her personal best which was set in her previous marathon – representing England at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon last September.

Craig Hunter, Chef de Mission for England’s team at the Games said: “We welcome Andi and Helen into the team and wish them every success in their on-going preparations for Delhi”.

England Athletics Team Leader John Brierley said, “We look forward to seeing Andi and Helen competing in Delhi. The marathon was a good event for us in the last Commonwealth Games with medals in both the men’s and women’s event.

“Andi has experienced international competition on and off-road, and it is good that Helen has already tasted competing for her country in the Toronto Marathon last year.

“We know that they and their coaches will be planning ahead to ensure more strong performances, and we look forward to adding more athletes to the team for this event later this summer.”

At the 2006 Commonwealth's in Melbourne both Dan Robinson and Liz Yelling secured bronze medals in the marathon for Team England.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games take place in Delhi, India, from 3rd to 14th October 2010.

Tuesday 4th May 2010

WORLD champion heptathlete Jessica Ennis will take on the cream of Loughborough University’s athletes at this year’s Loughborough International Athletics meeting.

Ennis is aiming to compete in the 100m hurdles, high jump and Javelin as Loughborough Students face England, Wales, Scotland, GB Under 20s and a BUCS Select squad on May 23.

Former Loughborough student Will Sharman, GB’s top 100m hurdler will also compete, and Loughborough’s Harry Aikines-Aryeetey will be part of the home team’s 4 x 100m relay squad.

Loughborough alumni and British No.1 female javelin thrower Goldie Sayers will also be testing her early season form at the meeting.

Ennis said: “Loughborough will be a great opportunity to help me prepare for my first heptathlon of the season at the end of May in Gotzis.

“Loughborough is always a really good competition which I look forward to and enjoy doing. I've competed well there in the past and it’s always got a good buzz about the event.”

With places up for grabs in both GB and home nations teams for the European Championships and Commonwealth games this year, the LIA will have an added edge to it for many of the athletes.

Aikines-Aryeetey, a Loughborough College student on the University’s 2012 Sports Scholarship scheme, won the 100m two years ago and is itching to get on to his home track.

“It’s a very good meet and a massive opportunity for the GB juniors, and a Loughborough students to perform at a high intensity and against a world class field. You have England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales all competing,” he said.

“It is a legendary event because everyone has competed here more or less. If you think about the greats like Linford Christie, Mark Lewis Francis, Seb Coe and Paula Radcliffe, they’ve all competed here and all done it. The event is part of athletics history.”

Tickets for the LIA are on sale now and cost £6.00 for adults and £3.00 for students/concession. To get yours visit www.iamlufbra.com