6th June 2008

Weekend Preview

 

6 June 2008

 

 

 

Several Athletes on the UK Athletics World Class Performance plan will be looking to make their mark in Europe this weekend as the summer season really cranks into gear.

 

At the prestigious Bislett Games Golden League event in Oslo on Friday evening, a strong British contingent includes Marlon Devonish, (Coventry Godiva) who tackles both the men’s 100m and 200m, Leon Baptiste (Enfield & Haringey) and Rikki Fifton (Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets) will contest the men’s 100m B race and GB & NI’s 400m world champion Christine Ohuruogu (Newham & Essex) goes in the women’s 200m.

 

In the 800m, Michael Rimmer (Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton Harriers) and Sam Ellis (City of Sheffield) contest the men’s race and Jenny Meadows (Wigan AC) goes in the women’s. 

Hatti Dean (Hallamshire Harriers) and Helen Clitheroe (Preston Harriers) will line up in the women’s 3000m steeplechase alongside fellow Brit Jo Ankier (Shaftesbury Barnet).  Jo Pavey (Exeter Harriers) will make her season’s debut on the track over 5000m.

 

Tom Lancashire (Bolton United Harriers) is due to race in the 1500m, as is former Commonwealth champion Michael East (Newham & Essex). Andy Baddeley (Harrow AC) will race in the Dream Mile, the traditional climax at Bislett.

 

Also on Friday evening, at the Memorial Primo Nebiolo in Turin, Italy, sprinters Craig Pickering (Marshall Milton Keynes), Simeon Williamson (Highgate Harriers), Christian Malcolm (Cardiff AAC) and Harry Aikines-Aryeety (Sutton & District) will each contest the 100m as well as teaming up in the 4x100m relay.

 

At the same meeting Martyn Rooney (Croydon Harriers) will be hoping to continue his good form over 400m.

 

On Saturday, in Mühlhausen, Germany, Chris Tomlinson (Birchfield Harriers) will be joined by fellow long jumpers Jade Johnson (Herne Hill) and Nathan Morgan (Birchfield Harriers) at the unique Weitsprung Meeting, which is entirely dedicated to the discipline.

 

Meanwhile also on Saturday in Chania, Crete, World indoor champion Phillips Idowu (Belgrave Harriers) will open his outdoor campaign in the men’s triple jump. Whilst on the track, Montell Douglas (Blackheath & Bromley) and Donna Fraser (Croydon Harriers) are entered for the women’s 100m and 400m respectively.

 

Also of British interest at the Greek meeting is the comeback of former European, Commonwealth and World Indoor champion Ashia Hansen (Birchfield) who launches her comeback in the women’s triple jump.

 

Useful Links

 

Turin: http://www.memorialprimonebiolo.org/ENG/welcome.aspx

Chania, Crete: http://www.venizelia.gr/venizelia/2008/starting.htm

Muhlhausen: http://www.weitsprung-meeting.de/

Oslo: http://www.bislettgames.com/english/index.html