A look ahead to Great CityGames action in Manchester’s city centre

International stars such as Trayvon Bromell, Dafne Schippers and Kim Collins, plus British athletes including Greg Rutherford, Tiffany Porter and Richard Kilty are among those who will descend on Deansgate for the Co-operative Bank Great CityGames Manchester on Friday (May 20).

For the first time, the Great CityGames Manchester will be staged on a Friday evening, between 16:45 and 19:30, when spectators will be able to witness some of the world s best athletics action for free and at close quarters.

Races take place on a special, purpose-built track on Deansgate in the heart of the city, with field events in a similar setting at nearby Albert Square.

Here we take a look at some of the events on offer. For our full four-page preview to this weekend’s Great CityGames and Great Manchester Run action check out the May 19 edition of Athletics Weekly magazine, which features Porter as cover star and can be ordered here or downloaded digitally here.

Men’s 100m

Last summer Trayvon Bromell finished third behind Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin in the world 100m final in Beijing. In March he took the world indoor 60m title in Portland. And now, aged 20, the most exciting young sprints talent on the planet heads to Manchester to take part in the city s annual Great CityGames.

Bromell, who has a PB of 9.84 run at last year’s American trials which makes him the joint tenth fastest man in history, will take on Britain’s Richard Kilty and CJ Ujah plus St Kitts & Nevis sprinter Kim Collins in a hotly-anticipated 100m race.

Women’s 100m hurdles

An exciting women s 100m hurdles clash sees UK record-holder Tiffany Porter against fellow Brits Serita Solomon and Lucy Hatton, plus Norwegian Isabelle Pedersen.

Porter has dominated the event over the last two years at the Great CityGames, having won in Manchester and Newcastle in 2014 and 2015, and she will be hoping for further success when she defends her title.

“It s all about the Olympics this year,” she said. “So performing well on the track in Manchester would be great in the run-up to the summer.”

Men’s long jump

Olympic, world, European and Commonwealth champion Greg Rutherford heads a strong long jump line-up.

Back in the UK after training and competing in the US, the 29-year-old is up against Ignisious Gaisah and Paralympic medallist Ronald Hertog of Netherlands, Norris Frederick of United States and fellow Briton JJ Jegede.

Women’s 100m

A women s sprints showdown sees world 200m champion Dafne Schippers take on Americans Cleo VanBuren and Tianna Bartoletta and Poland s Marika Popowicz.

Schippers, the European 100m and 200m champion, was beaten by Dina Asher-Smith over 150m at this meeting 12 months ago, but said: I love taking part in these events. Street athletics bring a unique atmosphere, with the crowd so close to the athletes. You don t get that too often in a season and I m delighted to be returning to the UK to take part.”

Men’s T44 100m

USA’s Jarryd Wallace, who won 200m and 4x100m gold at the 2013 IPC World Championships, takes on a field including Michael Seitis of Greece and Felix Streng of Germany.

Wallace, who is also a two-time Parapan Am Games 100m champion, has already clocked fast times this summer, including a wind-assisted 10.57 in the USA in April.

Check out the May 19 edition of AW magazine for a more in-depth look ahead to this weekend s Co-operative Bank Great CityGames Manchester and Great Manchester Run action. Further details and a timetable can be found at greatcitygames.org

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