26 December 2015

World and European Indoor champion Richard Kilty and sub-10 man Chijindu Ujah to face world 100m medallist Trayvon Bromell and former world champion Kim Collins

World and European 60m champion Richard Kilty (coach: Benke Blomkvist) and British 60m champion Chijindu Ujah (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo) will go up against 2003 world 100m champion Kim Collins and the USA’s world 100m bronze medallist Trayvon Bromell when they line up over 60m at the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix on 20 February.

Kilty added the European indoor title to his World Indoor Championships gold earlier this year and has a personal best of 6.49. Although he has never beaten Collins in four attempts over 60m, he remains unbeaten against British teammate Ujah and will be aiming to continue his impressive indoor form at the Emirates Arena.

Kilty said: “I love competing indoors and I can’t wait to run in Glasgow again. This will be a good test for me against some of the best sprinters in the world and the best preparation for the British Championships where I want to secure my spot for Portland and try to defend my world title from Sopot two years ago.”

At the age of 21, Ujah established himself as Britain’s best 100m sprinter this year, running sub-10 seconds for the second consecutive year and reaching the World Championships semi-final. With a personal best of 6.53 for 60m, he will be confident of performing well in Glasgow.

He said: “2015 was another good year for me but I’m already excited for 2016 and getting started at the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix. I’ve got my eye on improving my personal best and pushing for sub-6.50, I’m sure we will all push each other to some really fast times in Glasgow.”

39 year old Collins was the world’s best indoor sprinter in 2015, going unbeaten all season and improving his personal best to 6.47. After first competing in Britain in 2002, Collins has raced a number of times in Glasgow but is hoping for his first win in Scottish soil in February.

He said: “I always love competing in the UK and have been coming to Glasgow for many years, I can’t wait to get back there in February. Being unbeaten indoors in 2015 was an amazing achievement for me and I want to keep the run going this season, but it will be a tough race in Glasgow and the fans could be in for a great show.”

At the other end of the age scale, Brommell became the world’s fastest ever teenager over 100m in the summer, running 9.84 in July and then impressing hugely in Beijing to win World Championships bronze. The Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix will be his first ever 60m in Europe and he will be looking to challenge his 6.54 personal best.

Brommell said: “2015 was a great year for me and I was delighted to win a medal in Beijing. The Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix will be an important meet to set me up for another good year and I’m looking forward to testing myself in a world class 60m race.”

The Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix will be the first major athletics event of an action packed 2016 season and a great opportunity to see world-class talent at such close quarters. The final of four stops on the IAAF World Indoor Tour, the Emirates Arena will see a number of clashes between the best athletes on the globe.

With the Olympic Games in Rio just months away, this competition will be an exhilarating start as athletes prepare themselves for the summer.

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “The Glasgow Grand Prix will bring together some of the world’s most talented athletes and is set to be a terrific showpiece for the city. UK stars Richard Kilty and Chijindu Ujah, as well as the likes of Mo Farah and Dina Asher-Smith, will be looking  for a fast start in this Olympic year, which will bring lots of excitement to proceedings at the Emirates Arena in February.”

For tickets to the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix please visit http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/35004F13D8742C7B