by Stuart Weir
Allyson Felix, Bianca Williams, Andrew Pozzi, Aries Merritt, photo by Philip Oldham
Stuart Weir is in Manchester, England for us to cover the Manchester Great CityGames, which I visited in 2015 and 2016. One of my favorite events, this event will be on my bucket list again in 2019. Here’s Stuart’s preview of the well recieved street meet on the streets of Manchester. A well recieved event, the athletes love it, the fans love it, and it is part of the future of the sport. Oh, and thanks to Stuart, who is finally back in his home country after covering the Commonwealth Games and Doha for Runblogrun this season.
Poignantly one year on from the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, which saw 22 people die and hundreds injured in a terrorist attack, the Arcadis Great City Games take place in on Friday evening with the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run on Sunday. The 10th running of the Great City Games consists of a program of 8 races and two field events. There are three races over the rarely run straight 150 metres and a 200 metres hurdles. Two of the races feature para athletes.
Hurdle clash of titans: Andrew Pozzi versus Aries Merritt, photo by Philip Oldham
Run on a specially built track in the center of Manchester with free admission for spectators, the format brings our sport to a new audience. The men’s pole vault and women’s long jump take place in a city square at a time when people will be leaving nearby offices.
Allyson Felix, Bianca Williams, Jonathan Moore (Arcadis-the sponsor), Andrew Pozzi, Aries Merritt, photo by Philip Oldham
The highlight of the women’s program is the 150 metre race featuring Marie Josee Ta Lou, double silver medallist at London 2017 and winner of the 100m in the recent Doha Diamond League taking on former Olympic and World Champion, Allyson Felix.
Allyson Felix, Bianca Williams, phoot by Philip Oldham
In the men’s 110m hurdles 2012 Olympic Champion, Aries Merritt goes against 2018 World Indoor 60m hurdles champion, Andrew Pozzi. In the womens’ 100H, Alina Talay (Belarus) who has won medals at world indoor and outdoor champions, takes on Norway’s Isabelle Pedersen of Norway.
Bershawn Jackson, three times world champion at 400H, runs in the 200H.
Sophie Hahn (five times a world champion) runs in the T37/8 150 metres and Jason Smyth (winner of 9 global gold medals) is in the men’s T13 150m.
Building a track, Manchester, England, May 17, 2018, photo by Philip Oldham
