Marion Jones

Who would wish to miss the great Haile Gebrselassie in action as he chases his two-mile record at Birmingham on February 20, 200,  Of the record - which he set at last year’s Norwich Union Grand Prix - Gebrselassie said of this latest challenge, "I'm still hungry to chase records - even if they are my own. Birmingham is a great venue and one I always receive a lot of support at, so the conditions are good for fast times. I will be attempting to break my own record for the two mile distance."

He will be joined at the Norwich Union Grand Prix by a familiar face in the shape of Kenenisa Bekele, the man expected to inherit his title as the king of Ethiopian distance running. The 21-year-old, who defeated his elder rival in a thrilling 10,000m final at last year’s World Championships in Paris, will make his first ever appearance at an indoor meeting. Like many other athletes, Bekele will begin his build up to possible Olympic medals at Birmingham.

Gebrselassie has also announced that this will be his last ever indoor race in Britain. The Ethiopian double Olympic champion will step up to marathon running after this year's Games in Athens, a distance he says is incompatible with indoor competition. But the four-times world indoor gold medallist has pledged to go out with a bang by targeting his own world two-mile record on Friday. "I'm not getting old but I am losing speed. That is normal. If you lose speed you have to move up to a longer distance. Otherwise the youngsters can beat you easily."

Gebrselassie set his world two mile record of 8:04.69 at the same meeting last year before going on to claim world indoor gold over 3000m at the same venue. This will be his fifth outing at the NIA. Prior to last year he had raced there twice - in 1998 and 1999 - and on both occasions set a world record. Gebrselassie said of  this year’s Norwich Union Grand Prix, "There is no question of how important it would be if I can break the world record."

As every worldclass athlete focuses on Athens in August - the biggest sporting event of them all - they still must qualify.  For the British team, never an easy task given the strength in depth of athletics in this country, Birmingham is the perfect build-up to The Norwich Union Olympic Trials & AAA Championships which provides many British athletes with the chance to book their place in Greece.

Similarly, Olympic sprint Champion, Marion Jones makes her return to European track action at the Norwich Union Grand Prix.  Jones has not competed in Europe since winning at the World Cup in Madrid in September 2002. In June she gave birth to a baby boy Tim, the son of World 100m record holder Tim Montgomery.  She will now compete over 60m at the National Indoor Arena as she begins the start of her build up to the Olympic Games.

Marion Jones will also face a rival .  In this instance it is Zhanna Block.  Block, the woman who denied Jones the 2001 World 100m title, over 60m at the Norwich Union Grand Prix is hungry for success.  She has consistently proved herself to be Jones’ leading challenger on the track and also has a strong indoor pedigree after her World Indoor win - also in Birmingham - last year.

Block said: "I always seem to do well in Birmingham. I won the Norwich Union Grand Prix there last year and then won World Indoor Gold on the same track just a few weeks later.  I think everyone in the sport is delighted to see Marion Jones back on the track and it will be great for the British crowd to see her in Birmingham. She is an excellent athlete. It is up to the rest of the leading sprinters to rise to her challenge. I think this year's Olympic sprint final could be one of the highlights of the Games.”

Block has yet to run this season. In contrast, Jones started her Olympic build up with a win at the recent Millrose Games in New York.   Although she is not expected to run again before Birmingham, the meeting will also be her first ever indoor long jump competition.

So don't miss the action in this all important Olympic year!

Programme of Events as at February 12, 2004 - liable to change

Doors Open 16.00

Ticket Prices and Contact Details

Limited restricted view tickets at discounted prices will be available once standard tickets sell out - please call the venue direct on +44121 782 3555.

ヽopyright:BBB WorldWide 2006 -
All rights reserved.
Disclaimer