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National pride up for grabs at the Manchester InternationalPublished by
National pride up for grabs at the Manchester InternationalJunior champions, Paralympic winners and senior British athletes come together at Sportcity for the 2019 Manchester International on Wednesday 14th August, which will be live on RunnerSpace from 10.55am Eastern time USA.
The competition will see head-to-heads between teams from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Great Britain Juniors, and the British Athletics League club competition. Alongside this, 'All Star' guests include Jazmin Sawyers along with contingents from Canada and Botswana.
Young 800m runners Oliver Dustin and Isabelle Boffey compete in their first races since winning European under-20 gold. Boffey faces Katie Kirk, who ran for Ireland at the recent European Team Championships, European 4x400m winner Seren Bundy-Davies and much-improved England champion Kirsty Fraser.
The men's mile should be hotly-contested, with three athletes who have all tasted European under-18 gold, Thomas Keen (GB Juniors), George Mills (England) and Kane Elliott (Scotland) alongside Northern Ireland's Conall Kirk.
Canadian fans should note that Noelle Montcalm and Kelsey Balkwill line up in the 400m hurdles, with the former having competed at the Olympics and World Championships and won medals at the Jeux de la Francophonie. Balkwill was first at the Manchester International last year. 51.97s 400m runner Micha Powell, daughter of long jump world record holder Mike Powell is also involved, along with University of Memphis javelin thrower Ashley Pryke who is from Ontario.
Elsewhere, six-time England senior gold medallist Kimbely Baptiste competes at her third Manchester International, stepping up for England in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m. She faces good competition from European Youth finalist Cassie-Ann Pemberton, with European U20 finalist Immanuela Aliu pulling on the GB Junior vest.
World Championships competitor Alicia Barrett is another who will hope to follow up her England victory on the same track and so will Kyle De Escofet, who takes on Commonwealth medallist Andy Robertson, British indoor silver medallist Adam Thomas of Scotland and Welsh champion Sam Gordon.
Paralympians Jonnie Peacock and Sophie Hahn are set to star in the men's and women's ambulant 100m, as they continue to build up to the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai in November. Hahn broke the T38 world record at the Loughborough International earlier this year and is aiming for a fourth successive world title as she competes at the Manchester International for the first time. Peacock looks to be in good form, running his third fastest time ever at this year's Anniversary Games as he prepares for his T44 world title defence.
The field also sees a host of international athletes, particularly in the long jump with Commonwealth and European finalist Dan Bramble being a favourite on the men's side. 6.86m jumper Jazmin Sawyers could have a gripping contest against young talent Alice Hopkins, with 8cm separating their bests this year. IPC World and European champion Stef Reid also features.
Nathan Fox competes for England in the men's triple jump, facing a tough outing against European medallist Julian Reid and Commonwealth and African gold medallist Tosin Oke. Young shot put talent Lewis Byng was the first Briton to make a European under-20 final in three decades and he will will represent GB Juniors, while England U23 women's shot put champion Divine Oladipo participates against Welsh champion Adele Nicoll. Chris Bennett and Taylor Campbell also battle in the hammer, with James Tomlinson and Nick Percy entered in the discus.
Full entries for the event can be viewed here, with live coverage of the event being available from 10.55am on Wednesday 14th August on RunnerSpace.
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