World Championship bronze medallists in pole vault and 110 metres hurdles, Holly Bleasdale and Andy Turner, who are both aiming to add to their accolades at this summer's Olympic Games will compete at the Powerade Great CityGames Manchester.
The local stars will join a star-studded line up including fellow Briton and Games heptathlon gold medal candidate Jessica Ennis for the BBC televised innovative street athletics meeting on May 20.
Bleasdale who showed vast potential for the future when placing third in this year's World Indoor Championships is set to display her talent at the pole vault event - taking place in a specially built arena in Manchester's Albert Square, very close to the purpose built running track on Deansgate.
The Blackburn athlete took part in an official test event at London's Olympic stadium last weekend - in her first outdoor appearance of the season since her World Indoor podium placing in mid-March. She relished the opportunity to compete at the £500 million venue where she is dreaming of earning more glory in three months’ time and was more than satisfied despite finishing second to fellow Briton Kate Dennison.
"It’s just made me more excited to train harder and make sure I am back here in August," the 20-year-old told reporters. "It took me six and a half hours to get down here in a car, so it wasn’t ideal preparation.
"But I’ve really enjoyed the experience and I know where everything is now, so I don’t regret coming down here at all," added Bleasdale whose main opponent in Manchester will be Russian born 2010 European Championships bronze medallist Lisa Ryzih, now representing Germany.
After a triumphant 2010 season where he won both the Commonwealth and European titles, Turner enhanced his reputation even further when he won the bronze medal at the World Championships in Daegu last summer.
Now after a demanding warm weather period of training in the United States, he’ll line up in Manchester against American David Payne, the 2008 Olympic 110m hurdles silver medallist - before going on to defend his 200m hurdles title. Turner, who occasionally shares track sessions with good friend Payne, is totally committed to winning an Olympic medal on home soil in London and sees their clash as an important preparatory race.
"Having a tough early season encounter with him will suit my programme perfectly," said the 31-year-old who runs for Manchester club Sale Harrier. "This will be my fourth appearance at the CityGames and I'll be chasing a third consecutive victory in both the 110 and 200 hurdles.
"Manchester has proved a good starting point at home for me in the past with those wins and I also thoroughly enjoy the concept of street athletics. With David lining up against me in the 110 hurdles and a hatrick in my sights, this promises to be a really hard one to win.
"Hopefully my experience of street racing will help me to produce another good performance."
Joining the pair will be 2007 World champion Ryan Brathwaite from Barbados while German Number One Matthias Buhler will also be in the field.
Turner will pit his skills against 2004 Olympic 400m hurdles gold medallist Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic and Jehue Gordon Trinidad's World junior title holder in the 200 hurdles held on a track with no bends.
