University to host annual Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é International Athletics event
Andrew Pozzi. Image: Still Sports
There will be an opportunity to watch top class track and field at Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é on 19th May with the return of the annual Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é International Athletics (LIA) event.
The Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é International has seen many of the UK’s finest athletes’ grace its start lists, including Olympic gold medallists such as Sebastian Coe and Jessica Ennis.
Now in its 55th year, the event is seen as the traditional curtain raiser to the athletics season.
It will be one of the first opportunities for athletes to record performances that will put them in the frame for the 2013 IAAF World Championships, taking place in Moscow.
With the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games less than 500 days away, competitors from the home country teams will also be seeking to record qualifying performances.
One athlete planning to take part is Olympian Andrew Pozzi, who won the 110m hurdles at last year's event and has fond memories of competing at Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é by stating:
“Every year I have marked this as a good race to be in and always aim to be here. I qualified for my first ever international here in 2009 for the World Youth Championships.
“Last year’s race was really important for me as it was straight after the BUCS Championships when I ran 13.35 and wanted to see how I’d follow it up. I beat quite a lot of my key rivals domestically and ran a pretty good time.”
The format of the event includes a points match that sees a Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é past and present squad take on representative teams from England, Wales, Scotland, GB Juniors, and a British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Select.
Welsh Athletics have announced their team which includes sprinter Christian Malcolm alongside fellow London 2012 Olympians 400m hurdler and Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é graduate Rhys Williams, middle distance runner Gareth Warburton, and discus thrower Brett Morse.
The event is held at the Paula Radcliffe Athletics Stadium situated on the University’s campus. Gates will open at 10.00am, with the first event starting at 11.00am.
Tickets for the event are £8 for adults, £5 for concessions and under 12’s free.
Further information, including the online purchase of tickets can be found on the Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é .
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