20th December 2016

EILIDH DOYLE TO FACE DALILAH MUHAMMAD OVER 400M AT MULLER INDOOR GRAND PRIX BIRMINGHAM

27 December 2016

2014 European 400m hurdles champion Eilidh Doyle has announced that she will compete in the 400m at the Müller Indoor Grand Prix Birmingham on 18 February.

The Scot will face American Dalilah Muhammad, who won 400m hurdles gold in Rio and becomes the third current Olympic champion to confirm their participation in Birmingham along with Mo Farah and Elaine Thompson.

Doyle, who won 4x400m relay bronze with her British teammates at the Olympic Games in Rio, is looking forward to testing herself against a world class field in the flat 400m event in February.

She said: “I always love competing in Birmingham and it will be great to get back on the track and test myself in a 400m. It will be a strong field so a great opportunity for me to see how my winter training has been going and hopefully get 2017 off to a good start.”

“There is a really big year ahead with the World Championships taking place in London, and the Muller Indoor Grand Prix will be an important part of my build up towards the summer.”

Muhammad had a remarkable year in 2016 as she dominated the 400m hurdles, running a world leading time of 52.88 before going on to win the Olympic title in 53.13.

The 26 year old will make her first appearance at the Müller Indoor Grand Prix and is hoping to transfer her 400m hurdles form to the 400m flat event when she lines up at the Barclaycard Arena.

She said: “2016 was such a fantastic year for me and the Muller Indoor Grand Prix will be an important race to make sure I can keep my good form going in to next year.

“It’s nice to be able to do a different event indoors, I enjoy running the flat 400m and I’m hopeful of running a personal best in Birmingham.

“This will be my first time competing indoors in Europe so I’m really excited to come and run at what is one of the best indoor events in the world.”

The Müller Indoor Grand Prix Birmingham is a vital event for British athletes as they prepare for a year which will include two global championships in the UK; the World Para Athletics Championships and the IAAF World Championships London 2017. Then in March 2018, Birmingham will host the IAAF World Indoor Championships from 2-4 March.

The Müller Indoor Grand Prix is the number one ranked indoor grand prix in the world. Tickets are available at http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/37005137ABD4D783