Britain’s elite to take on US

Britain’s best athletes will take on their American counterparts in a new head-to-head competition in London next summer.

The competition, called “The Meet”, will see leading athletes from the two countries compete across nine events in a two-hour window at the London Stadium on July 21.

Although the exact format will not be released until early next year, it is understood the event will feature “traditional” athletics disciplines rather than following the lead of Athletics Australia’s “Nitro Athletics”, which innovated with elimination miles and javelin targets earlier this year.

Each individual result will score points for their respective countries. Adam Gemili, who won world gold in London as part of Britain’s 4x100m relay team last weekend, by beating the Americans into second place, welcomed the announcement, saying: “This is the head-to-head in world athletics.

“We have a great sporting rivalry with the USA team and we look forward to seeing which nation comes out strongest next summer.

“The event is all about power, speed and excitement. I can’t wait.”

Similar competitions were held during the heyday of British athletics in the Eighties. Promising a “fast-paced format designed to appeal to new audiences”, British Athletics confirmed the event will feature “a blend of running, jumping, hurdles and relay events”.

But Britain’s Olympic bronze hammer medallist, Sophie Hitchon, was not alone in noting the lack of throwing events, writing on Twitter: “I think there is one missing.”