Mohamed Farah of Great Britain celebrates with his gold medal , Bernard Lagat of the USA the silver and Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia the bronze, during the medal ceremony for the men's 5000 metres final (© Getty Images)
Double Olympic champion Mo Farah has confirmed his participation in the 3000m at the British Athletics Grand Prix in Birmingham on 16 February – an IAAF Indoor Permit Meeting – which will be his only indoor race of the winter.
Great Britain’s 5000m and 10000m gold medallist at the London 2012 Olympic Games is a regular visitor to Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena and set a European Two Miles best of 8:08.07 last year.
"I always love running in Birmingham and have fond memories of celebrating my Olympic success with the British fans at Alexander Stadium last August,'' said Farah on Thursday (17).
"I always run well at the NIA. I won at this meet in 2007, 2009 and 2011 and that's what I'll be aiming to do for next month at the British Athletics Grand Prix."
He could also have in his sites the European 3000m record of 7:32.41, set by Spain’s Sergio Sanchez in 2010. Farah’s British record is 7:34.47, which he ran in Birmingham in 2009.
Farah's main aim this year is the defence of his 5000m World title in Moscow this summer and he believes that his Birmingham run will be perfect preparation.
"The big focus this year is the World Championships in Moscow. I've had a good winter training block and the British Athletics Grand Prix will be the first time that I compete this year, so I'm looking forward to getting back on the track in front of a home crowd,'' added the 29-year-old Farah.
Also competing in Birmingham will be a number of other top British names, including the 2012 Olympic high jump bronze medallist and European champion Robbie Grabarz as well as the 2012 World Indoor Championships Long Jump and Pole Vault bronze medallists Shara Proctor and Holly Bleasdale.
Organisers for the IAAF
