Keni Harrison, the world record-holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, has joined the star-studded line-up for the Müller British Grand Prix at Gateshead International Stadium on Tuesday 13th July.
The 28-year-old set the world record of 12.20 at the Anniversary Games in the London Stadium five years ago and she will travel to Gateshead next month in great shape following victory earlier this week in the US Olympic Team Trials in Eugene.
Harrison said: “I always enjoy competing in England – the fans are knowledgeable and I usually race pretty well there too! My world record came at the Anniversary Games in London in 2016. Then a couple of years later I won the world indoor title in Birmingham and enjoyed another win at the Anniversary Games in London that summer.
“I was really pleased to win the US Olympic trials this week and am now looking forward to finalising my preparations for the Tokyo Games. The Müller British Grand Prix in Gateshead next month will be a great place to do it too and I’m excited about the competition.”
The Müller British Grand Prix is part of the Wanda Diamond League. The event was originally set to be staged in London – the scene of Harrison’s world record five years ago – but earlier this summer it was moved to the North East of England.
When Harrison set the mark in London in 2016 there was a brief delay with the result as she had dipped so low at the finish line that her torso was under the beam. But moments later the world record time flashed up on the screens in the stadium and the arena erupted in noise.
She did not make the US Olympic team that year for the Rio Games despite breaking the world record that summer. But this year she goes to the Tokyo Olympics as world record-holder and American champion.
In Gateshead she will face British No.1 Cindy Ofili, among others.
Elsewhere British star Dina Asher-Smith will be racing over 200m and Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands will compete in the women’s mile.
Hassan said: “I’ve raced several times in the past at events in the UK – at the Anniversary Games in London, meetings in Birmingham and Glasgow and of course the 2017 World Championships and 2018 World Indoor Championships. There is always a warm welcome, a great atmosphere and the fans have good knowledge of the sport.
“Running over one mile in Gateshead on 13th July gives me a chance to test my speed ahead of the Olympic Games. Maybe I can run a good time too although much will depend on the weather. Hopefully it will be warmer and drier than it was for the Diamond League in Gateshead last month!”
After hosting Sam Kendricks' victory over Mondo Duplantis at the season opener in May, Gateshead will this time see an equally world-class field in the women's pole vault.
Four-time Diamond League Champion and current title holder Katerina Stefanidi will be out to get her first win of the season against world champion Anzhelika Sidorova and US star Katie Nageotte.