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Rutherford and Ohuruogu among Brits added to Birmingham line-upPublished by
Martyn Rooney and Matthew Hudson-Smith also set to go head-to-head over 300m at the Birmingham Grand Prix as a number of British athletes confirm their intentions to compete on June 7British Athletics has named 24 athletes set to compete at the Sainsbury’s Birmingham Grand Prix – the fifth meeting in this year’s Diamond League series – on June 7. Mo Farah, whose participation in the 1500m was announced in April, is set to be joined at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium by the likes of Olympic, European and Commonwealth long jump champion Greg Rutherford, world 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu, European 200m champion Adam Gemili, European 400m top-two Martyn Rooney and Matthew Hudson-Smith and double world junior champion Morgan Lake. “I love competing in Birmingham and I can t wait for the Sainsbury s Birmingham Grand Prix,” said Rutherford. “It s a World Championships year and I m determined to win the only major title that I m missing from my cabinet. Everything is geared to that aim and if I can beat my main rivals in Birmingham in June it will set me up perfectly for the rest of the year.” Ohuruogu is set to race a 400m field including the likes of European indoor bronze medallist Seren Bundy-Davies as she looks to get her season off to a strong start. “The Sainsbury s Birmingham Grand Prix will be really important for me to make sure I start my season well,” explained Ohuruogu. “Defending my title at the World Championships in Beijing is the main target for 2015 but I want to run well in every race, especially on home soil in front of British fans. I m excited to pull my spikes on and get back out on the track.” Gemili is among the entries for the 100m along with world and European indoor 60m champion Richard Kilty and sub-10 second man Chijindu Ujah, while the women’s 200m is set to see world junior 100m champion and European indoor 60m silver medallist Dina Asher-Smith go head-to-head with European and Commonwealth 200m silver medallist Jodie Williams. “This will be my first time to run an individual event at an IAAF Diamond League meeting on home soil,” said 19-year-old Asher-Smith. “I expect the line-up to be truly world class but the British girls are very strong at the moment and we will do our best to get the crowd off their seats.” Rooney and Hudson-Smith are another duo set to go head-to-head but over the rarely-run 300m distance. “I have competed at the Alexander Stadium many times but this will be only the second time I ve competed in a Diamond League meeting in Birmingham,” said Hudson-Smith. “I started as a 200m runner and moved up to 400m last year so the 300m distance should be perfect for me.” British athletes announced for the Sainsbury’s Birmingham Grand Prix on June 7MEN 100m: Adam Gemili, Richard Kilty, Chijindu Ujah WOMEN 200m: Dina Asher-Smith, Jodie Williams The post Rutherford and Ohuruogu among Brits added to Birmingham line-up appeared first on Athletics Weekly. Read the full article at: www.athleticsweekly.com
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