17 January 2013

Double Olympic champion Mo Farah (coach: Alberto Salazar) has confirmed that he will compete over 3,000m at the British Athletics Grand Prix at Birmingham’s NIA on Saturday 16 th February – his only planned indoor race in 2013.

Farah, who won a historic distance-double over 5,000m and 10,000m at the London Olympics last summer, is a regular visitor to Birmingham having set a British record of 8:08.07 as he finished second over 2 miles in Birmingham last year.

The 29 year old finished fourth in the 3,000m at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul last March and then went on to retain his European 5,000m title before adding two Olympic gold medals to the gold and silver medals he won over 5,000m and 10,000m at the Daegu World Championships in 2011. 

Farah is looking forward to returning to the track and competing against a strong field in front of the passionate Birmingham crowd.  

“I always love running in Birmingham and have fond memories of celebrating my Olympic success with the British fans at Alexander Stadium last August. I always run well at the NIA.  I won this meet in 2007, 2009 and 2011 and that’s what I’ll be aiming to do for next month at the British Athletics Grand Prix.” 

Looking ahead to the defence of his World 5,000m title in August, Farah believes that competing in Birmingham is an important part of his preparations.

“The big focus this year is the World Championships in Moscow. I’ve had a good winter training block and the British Athletics Grand Prix will be the first time that I compete this year, so I’m looking forward to getting back on the track in front of a home crowd.” 

Also competing in Birmingham will be Olympic high jump bronze medallist and European Champion Robbie Grabarz (Fayyaz Ahmed), World Indoor pole vault bronze medallist Holly Bleasdale (Dan Pfaff, Scott Simpson), World Indoor 4x400m relay champion Perri Shakes-Drayton (Chris Zah) and World Indoor long jump bronze medallist Shara Proctor (Rana Reider). 

Get up close and personal with the world’s best athletes. Hospitality packages are now available for the British Athletics Grand Prix on Saturday 16^th February. Secure your places today by e-mailing hospitality@uka.org.uk or calling 0121 713 8462.