farah to lead aviva GB & NI team at great north city games

12 September 2011

World 5000m Champion Mo Farah (coach: Alberto Salazar) leads a trio of World Championships medallists in the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland team to take on the USA in the 2011 Great North CityGames (Newcastle-Gateshead Quayside, Saturday 17 September).

Farah, who opened his campaign with 10,000m silver at the IAAF World Athletics Championships before securing his outstanding global title, is backed up by 1500m runner-up Hannah England (coach: Bud Baldaro) and 110mH bronze medallist Andy Turner (coach: Lloyd Cowan) in the ten-event competition.

The World Championships podium finishers are joined by a number of Aviva GB & NI World Championships representatives including individual Daegu finalist William Sharman (coach: Malcolm Arnold) in the 110mH, in addition to World University Games 5000m champion Andy Vernon (coach: Nick Anderson).

“I’m looking forward to returning to Newcastle for the Great City Games," said double World medallist Farah following his epic displays in Korea. "I won races there in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and will look to another victory on the quayside this year.
 
"I’m always happy to run for my country and even though I now live in the US, I’ll be trying my best to make sure we beat them in the team competition.
 
"I've had a great reception since coming back from Daegu and I hope the crowds come out to cheer us on next Saturday.”

Aviva GB & NI Team Leader Ian Stewart added: “This match really has potential to grow; I think it’s important for the athletes that were in Daegu to come back to the UK to compete and it’s a brilliant chance for spectators to get out and watch them in action. It’s also a great development opportunity for some of the less experienced athletes on the team.”

Now in its third year, the Great North CityGames - which is a free event based around a purpose-built running track in front of The Sage Gateshead and set against the spectacular backdrop of the iconic Tyne Bridge and Gateshead Millennium Bridge - has evolved from an Ashes-inspired England versus Australia match, to play out one of the greatest rivalries in international sport.

All the action will be televised live on BBC.

AVIVA GB & NI TEAM

MEN

100m: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Michael Khmel) - Sutton & District; Christian Malcolm (Dan Pfaff) - Cardiff; 110mH: William Sharman (Malcolm Arnold) - Belgrave; Andy Turner (Lloyd Cowan) - Sale Harriers Manchester; 150m: Marlon Devonish (Dan Pfaff) - Coventry; James Ellington (John Powell) - Newham & Essex Beagles; 1 Mile: Andrew Osagie (Craig Winrow) - Harlow AC; Bruce Raeside (Trevor Muxlow) - Notts AC; TBC; 2 Mile: Mo Farah (Alberto Salazar) - Newham & Essex Beagles; Jonny Mellor (David Evans) - Liverpool Harriers; Andy Vernon (Nick Anderson) - Aldershot, Farnham & District; James Wilkinson (Phil Townsend) - Leeds; Long Jump: Ezekiel Ewulo (John Herbert) - Woodford Green with Essex Ladies); JJ Jegede (Peter Stanley) - Newham & Essex Beagles

WOMEN

100mH: Ashley Helsby (Malcolm Arnold) - Liverpool Harriers; Sara McGreavy (Roger Walters) - Sale Harriers Manchester; 150m: Anyika Onuora (Lloyd Cowan) - Liverpool Harriers; Abi Oyepitan (Tony Lester) - Shaftesbury Barnet; 1 Mile: Hannah England (Bud Baldaro) - Oxford City; Jenny Meadows (Trevor Painter) - Wigan; Emma Pallant (Mick Woods) - Aldershot, Farnham & District; Pole Vault: Holly Bleasdale (Julien Raffalli) - Blackburn; Lucy Bryan (Neil Winter) - Bristol & West