Olympic medallists Josh Kerr, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Georgia Hunter Bell will be among those in action at the UK Championships, which for the first time since 2019 are returning to Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.
It will be the biggest event at the venue since the Commonwealth Games three years ago, with more than 10,000 tickets already sold across the two days of competition.
Local athletes aiming to impress include Staffordshire long jumper Jazmin Sawyers, who recently returned to action after missing more than a year with a ruptured Achilles.
Shropshire’s Charlie Carvell competes in the 400 metres, though Wolverhampton’s Olympic silver medallist Matt Hudson-Smith is among the most notable absentees.
Hudson-Smith is already guaranteed a spot at September’s World Championships in Tokyo thanks to his performance last year in Paris, when he ran the sixth-fastest time in history.
Selection is also guaranteed for individual medal winners at the last Worlds two years ago and those who have been awarded a World Athletics wildcard – providing they have demonstrated “current form that gives confidence in their ability to fulfil the performance objectives of the championships”.
Olympic 800m champion Keeley Hodgkinson is another to miss out, having not competed since winning gold in Paris a year ago.
The 23-year-old, who suffered a hamstring tear in February, still has to prove her fitness before the GB squad is announced on August 27.
Those athletes not yet guaranteed a place in Tokyo will target a top-two finish in their respective event this weekend which, provided they have achieved the World Athletics entry standard, will confirm their place.
Matthew Hudson-Smith
Wolverhampton AC’s Miguel Francis, who competed for GB at the Worlds in 2019, is entered into the sprint events, where Jeremiah Azu and Zharnel Hughes and reigning 100m champion Louie Hinchliffe are among the favourites.
Halesowen AC’s Joseph Rogers will compete in the 800m. Earlier this year, the 27-year-old became the first athlete in the club’s history to run a sub-four minute mile.
The middle distance events in particular promise to be highly competitive, with Hunter Bell racing in both the women’s 800 and 1500m events.
Jemma Reekie is also in the 800m, while the 1500m also features Laura Muir, Revee Walcott-Nolan and Katie Snowden.
Max Burgin and Ben Pattison, meanwhile, headline the men’s 800m, and Jake Wightman and Neil Gourley among the 1500m contenders.
The event is a big one for the Alexander Stadium, which will also host next summer’s European Championships.
“It’s wonderful that we have the British Champs back here in Birmingham,” said former Birchfield Harrier and world bronze medallist, Katharine Merry, who will be working at the event as stadium announcer.
“I have friends who are coming because it is the biggest event since the Commonwealth Games three years ago.
“It’s my home track. I started running here at 12-years-old. It is a wonderful place to compete at and I hope the Midlands public will respond this week and then again next year. I genuinely think they will.
“When you have the events here it raises the profile of the sport and hopefully it becomes more visible and accessible as well.”