Veronica Campbell of Jamaica wins the women's 100m at the Sheffield GP (© Getty Images)
Sheffield, UKThree of the biggest names in women’s sprinting will be going head-to-head over 200m at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix, a Grand Prix status meeting as part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour 2007, which takes place in Sheffield on 15 July.
World 200m champion Allyson Felix, Olympic titleholder Veronica Campbell, and World Athlete of the Year Sanya Richards will all line-up in the 200m at the Don Valley Stadium on 15 July.
Felix won the half lap the last time Sheffield staged the Norwich Union Grand Prix, in 2005, a year after she had set the still-standing World Junior record, when finishing second to Campbell at the Athens Olympics.
Campbell, who has recovered from a quadriceps injury which all but ruled her out of last season, took a double at last weekend’s Jamaican nationals running a world lead in the 100m of 10.89 and 22.39 for the 200, while Felix beat Richards on Saturday in a tight race – 22.34 to 22.43 - at the US Championships.
“There is no doubting that things are hotting-up in the sprint field now, with all of us putting in some good performances,” said Felix. “I’m pleased with the way that I’ve been running, having won both the 100m and 400m in Doha in May, and the 200m at the US trials and so I can’t wait to return to the Don Valley because I won there two years ago.”
“The Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Sheffield is going to have a loaded line-up, which is great because I thrive on racing in big competitions. Whether it will provide an insight into what might happen at the World Championships we will have to wait and see, but I can guarantee that nobody will want to lose.”
Zarah Al-Kudcy for the IAAF