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December 2009
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Ten athletes to follow at the Glasgow International Match |
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29.01.2009 |
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Great Britain will once again pin its sprint hopes on
the 22-year-old Craig Pickering.
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The richest indoor international match in the world returns
to its established home in Glasgow
for the curtain raiser to the 2009 athletics season, this weekend. The country
versus country format guarantees an exciting event to entertain the crowd at
the Kelvin Hall.
Last year saw an exciting win for the GB team which will
again be pushed hard in its bid to retain the title in face of strong
competition from USA, Germany, Sweden and a Commonwealth Select
team.
Here is a brief profile of top 10 picks for this weekend's
action in Glasgow:
Craig Pickering -
GB, Men's 60m
The 22-year-old claimed a bronze medal at the World
Championships in the 4x100m relay in Osaka 2007. In June that same year he
achieved a new PB to win the 100m at the European Cup and gained a silver medal
in the 60m at the European Athletics Indoor Championships. He made his debut appearance
at last year's Olympic Games making it to the second round. Pickering is a world class indoor performer
and today he will be looking for his third successive victory here at the
Kelvin Hall.
Kim Collins -
Com, Men's 60m & 200m
After finishing sixth in the 200m final in Beijing, the
former World and Commonwealth 100m champion will be looking to prove he can
still be a star on the world stage here at the Kelvin Hall today. Competing for
the first time in Glasgow,
Collins will make up the Commonwealth select team running in both the 60 and
200m, where the 32-year-old will be up against British pair, Pickering and
Baptiste, respectively.
Montell Douglas -
GB, Women's 60m
Douglas, a promising sprinter, has won the European Under 23
100m silver medal and was second at the UK Championships last July. She went on
to make a huge breakthrough at Loughborough where she ran 11.05 in the final,
smashing the British record that had stood for 27 years. The current British
record holder will line up against American Angela Williams in the 60m.
Greg Rutherford -
GB, Men's Long Jump
Overcoming a number of injury problems, Rutherford made a
fine return to top form in 2008 with a massive jump of 8.20m to take the UK title and gain his place on the plane to Beijing. He followed this
up with a win at the Aviva London Grand Prix and finished 11th in the final at
his first ever Olympics. European silver medallist in 2006, Rutherford will
have his sights set on winning today adding weight to suggestions that he is a
future global medallist.
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The High Jump prodigy from Germany Raul Spank will
be a serious medal contender in Glasgow.
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Raul Spank - Ger,
Men's High Jump
In a hugely successful debut Olympic Games, Spank, was the
best placing high jumper for Germany
since Dietmar Mogenburg's gold 24 years ago. Having never jumped higher than
2.24m before 2008, Spank shocked many when he almost snatched a medal in Beijing with a personal
best of 2.32m. The 20-year-old placed fifth overall but now has sights of medalling
in front of a home crowd at the Berlin World Championships this summer. He will
certainly be one to watch this year.
Steve Lewis - GB,
Men's Pole Vault
In a brilliant start to the year, Lewis has already set
himself a new PB of 5.75m and is now third in this seasons world rankings. The
22-year-old rose to international class when he cleared 5.05m for the World
Youth bronze medal, and followed this up with a Commonwealth bronze. Ever
improving, Lewis will be looking to challenge for a medal at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in March.
Angela Williams -
USA,
Women's 60m
Last year Williams stormed back to form after a spell of
injury and won the 60m in the World Indoor Championships. She competed in the
4x100m team for the USA in Beijing yet
disappointingly the team were disqualified before the finals. Williams, who has
won a number of silver medals, will be hoping to claim gold this summer in Berlin. With British
100m record holder Montell Douglas also lining up, the 60m is sure to be an
exciting one.
Marilyn Okoro -
GB, Women's 800m
Okoro steadily came through to top form in 2008 winning the UK title and
the Aviva London Grand Prix. In her first Olympics she reached the semi-finals,
however with her ambition and talent she will look to do even better this year
at the Worlds. Okoro will face her British rival Jenny Meadows at the Kelvin
Hall today who beat Okoro each time they met indoors last year.
Lolo Jones - USA,
Women's 60m hurdles
The world indoor champion had a successful 2008 which built
towards a strong Olympic gold medal chance. Devastatingly Jones clipped the
ninth hurdle (of ten) in the final and came home in seventh place. Finishing
second in Glasgow
last year, Jones will be out to win this year and re-gain her place as the
world's number one women's sprint hurdler.
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Mo Farah remains Great Britain's biggest hope in the
Men's 3000m.
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Mo Farah - GB,
Men's 3000m
Last year's European Cup winner and GB number one over
3,000, 5,000 and 10,000m, Farah will be aiming for the podium at the European
Athletics Indoor Championships in Torino. After being knocked out before the final in Beijing,
the hugely talented Farah is determined and confident in improving this year
with sights firmly set on London
in four years time.
Tickets for the meet on Saturday, January 31 are available
by phone on 08000 556 056 or online at www.ukathletics.net
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