06 February 2009

Olympic 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu (Newham & Essex) will race for the first time this year at the Woodie’s DIY Irish Indoor Athletic Championships at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast this weekend. The 24 year old is entered for the 60m and 200m.

In the shorter sprint, she faces friend, training partner and defending champion Anyika Onuora (Liverpool Harriers). Meanwhile, another Beijing Olympian – Steph Twell (Aldershot, Farnham & District) – will also be in action this weekend.

The 19 year old will compete at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Cross Country Championships in Aberdeen on Saturday. Among her opponents is training partner Emma Pallant (Aldershot, Farnham & District), who won 1500m bronze behind the victorious Twell at the World Junior Championships last summer.

In the men’s race, European U23 cross country silver medallist Andy Vernon (Aldershot, Farnham & District) will start as favourite.

On the continent, several other GB & NI internationals will be in action at the Sparkassen Cup in Stuttgart on Saturday. Simeon Williamson (Highgate Harriers), Craig Pickering (Marshall Milton Keynes) and Harry Aikines-Aryeety (Belgrave Harriers) clash with some strong international opposition in the 60m.

800m specialist Marilyn Okoro (Shaftesbury Barnet) steps up to the women’s 1500m, Nick McCormick (Morpeth Harriers) goes in the men’s 3000m, Richard Buck (City of York) is in the men’s 400m and Andy Turner (Sale Harriers) and Alan Scott (Shaftesbury Barnet) clash in the men’s 60m hurdles.