World’s high-flying athletes hit the city
MANCHESTER city centre is being turned into an athletics arena this week as the Arcadis Great CityGames returns.
Some of the world’s top sporting talent will descend on the city to compete in front of thousands of spectators at the urban track and field event on Friday May 18.
A four lane sprint track stretching along Deansgate will be built over the coming days. It will set the scene for a schedule of 100m, 150m and 200m races and hurdling competitions.
Albert Square will form the other half of the arena, where athletes will compete in pole vaulting and hurdling against the dramatic backdrop of the town hall.
Now in its ninth year, the event has brought some of the biggest names in international sport to the city over the years and 2018 is no different.
Record-breaker Allyson Felix the joint most decorated female in Olympic history - will return to the scene of two fantastic victories when she competes in the 150m race.
The 32-year-old Californian has held the record for the fastest 150m in Manchester ever since she clocked 16.36 in 2013 – which was then a world best time.
The 17-time world and Olympic champion also set the 200m CityGames record in Manchester back in 2011, recording a then-world leading time for a nobend 200m race.
Commonwealth Games gold medalists Richard Kilty and Harry Aikines Aryeetey - part of England’s winning 4x100m relay team at the Gold Coast last month - are also among the star athletes taking part, competing in the 150m and 100m events respectively.
Reigning British 100m hurdles champion Alicia Barrett, who made her Commonwealth Games debut last month and qualified for the 100m hurdles final on the Gold Coast, will also be competing on Deansgate.
Some of the world’s most decorated para-athletes will also be heading to Manchester to compete in the games.
Included is nine-time Paralympic and World champion Jason Smyth who will be the leading light in the men’s T13 150m race. The free-to-watch event kicks off a huge weekend of sporty, culminating in the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run on Sunday May 20.
Four-time Olympic champion and British marathon record holder Sir Mo Farah will head the elite athletes, joined by more than 30,000 runners. Both the Great CityGames and Great Manchester Run will be televised on BBC2.