27 May 2014

Olympic 110m hurdles champion and world record holder Aries Merritt will go head-to-head with World Championships finalist William Sharman (coach: Jerzy Maciukiewicz) at the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix on July 11-12. The duo join 10 global medallists already confirmed for the event held at Hampden Park two weeks before the Commonwealth Games.

Just a month after winning Olympic gold at London 2012, Merritt lowered the world record from 12.87 to 12.80 at the Brussels Diamond League and will face Sharman, who finished fifth in Moscow last summer one place in front of his American counterpart.

The IAAF Diamond League will come to Glasgow for the first time in its history and will follow last year’s Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games, which was held at the Olympic Stadium. Sharman finished behind Merritt’s countryman and eventual World Champion David Oliver last year, clocking a personal best of 13.26, whilst Merritt was disqualified. With the world’s best returning to the UK, Merritt will be looking to reassert his dominance on the biggest stage with Sharman keen to build on his impressive early season form.  

Joining the hurdlers at the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix are double Olympic and world champion Mo Farah (Alberto Salazar), world 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu (Lloyd Cowan), Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo), World Indoor 60m gold medallist Richard Kilty (Rana Reider), 2003 world champion Kim Collins and Yohan Blake, the second fastest man over 100m of all time.

The Scottish contingent of world 4x400m bronze medallist Eilidh Child (Malcolm Arnold), European U23 bronze medallist Laura Muir (Andy Young), Chris O’Hare, Eilish McColgan (Liz McColgan), Paralympic Games silver medallists Libby Clegg (Keith Antoine) and Stef Reid (Reider) will all be looking to give the home crowd the biggest cheer over the course of the two days.

More of the biggest stars from the world of athletics will be confirmed in due course for the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix on July 11-12.

Any adults purchasing tickets for the event will receive a free child’s ticket and can purchase via http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/british-athletics-series/sainsburys-glasgow-grand-prix/