Olympic heptathlon champion set to return to competitive action at May’s street athletics event

Jessica Ennis-Hill is set to make her comeback at the Great CityGames Manchester on May 9 as the Olympic heptathlon champion returns to competitive action following the birth of her first child last year.

The 29-year-old hasn’t competed since July 2013 having struggled with injury and then become a mum to her now eight-month-old son Reggie.

Her participation in the heptathlon at the Hypo Meeting in Gotzis was announced earlier this year, with the Sheffield athlete due to go up against the likes of defending champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson and another of Britain s multi-eventers, double world junior champion Morgan Lake, at the end of May.

On Tuesday Great CityGames organisers Nova International confirmed that Ennis-Hill will also compete in Manchester and will line up in the 100m hurdles on a temporary track on Deansgate. Although Johnson-Thompson is also competing at the event, the pair are not due to clash until their return to multi-event action, as European pentathlon champion Johnson-Thompson contests the 200m hurdles and long jump.

“I’m really looking forward to making my competitive return at the Great CityGames Manchester,” said Ennis-Hill, who will be competing at this event for the fourth year. “The atmosphere is always amazing there.

“Street athletics is a lot of fun. Not only are you really close to the fans, but the energy around the Morrison’s Great Manchester Run weekend is fantastic as the elite races and the mass participation run bring the city together in a celebration of running.”

Ennis-Hill won the 100m hurdles event in 2012 before she went on to claim her Olympic heptathlon title in the summer. In 2010 she won the 150m before finishing second in that event and third in the 100m hurdles the following year.

Athletes are set to compete in front of an expected 25,000 crowd in Manchester’s city centre on May 9, while BBC television cameras will also capture the action for fans to follow live on BBC One from 1pm. The event is part of a weekend of sport in the city, with Europe s biggest 10km, the Morrisons Great Manchester Run, taking place on the Sunday.

The post Jessica Ennis-Hill to compete at Great CityGames Manchester appeared first on Athletics Weekly.