Pozzi planning a Grand return

BRITISH sprint hurdler Andrew Pozzi will compete at the Müller Indoor Grand Prix Birmingham.

The Stratford-upon-Avon runner will be at Arena Birmingham on Saturday, February 16, returning to the scene of his 2018 World Indoor 60m hurdles title.

The Grand Prix is the world’s No.1-ranked indoor athletics event and Pozzi will be just one of the many world-leading athletics stars fans will get the chance to see go head-to-head.

Pozzi has an outstanding indoor record, in 2017 claiming the European title and in March 2018 winning gold at the IAAF World Championships, also at Arena Birmingham. It was at the same meeting in 2017 he ran a personal best time of 7.43secs to take victory against a stacked international field.

Having recently moved to Formia, Italy, with a new training group, the Müller Indoor Grand Prix Birmingham will play a key part in Pozzi’s 2019 season, with the meeting set to serve as a world-class test ahead of the 26-year-old looking to defend his European title.

“Winning gold at the World Indoors last year was the highlight of my career, and I couldn’t have imagined doing it at a better venue, in front of my home crowd,’’ said Pozzi.

“I know I need a strong start to the year again in 2019, with the Müller Indoor Grand Prix the ideal way to kick off my year. I will be against some of the best sprint hurdlers in the world, which will be tough, but I am confident the home crowd will spur me on and it will be the fantastic event it always is.

“As a pairing, I have amazing memories of both the Müller Indoor Grand Prix as a meeting and the Arena Birmingham as venue, so to have the two things come together once again will hopefully serve to set me up to run really well against some of the best guys in the world.

“I have a busy winter ahead of me training in a new, exciting environment to be ready for a long 2019, but preparations are going well and I know 2019 needs to be my year, so I am ready to give it my all and give the British crowds something to cheer about.”

Tickets to see the world’s best athletes in Birmingham on Saturday 16 February 2019 at the Müller Indoor Grand Prix Birmingham are on sale now via www.britishathletics.org.uk