World Class athletics at the Great CityGames Manchester

It's a Saturday afternoon in early May in Manchester.....the silver lining to the weather outlook of heavy showers is the world class athletes who lined up to take part in this year's Great CityGames.  (That and a neoprene sleeve for my camera and lens, a microtowel for me, and the thought of a steaming hot cup of tea on the train back to Sheffield!)

Melissa Gergel (USA) clears 4.10m at the third attempt

 Yarisley Silva (Cuba) clears 4.30m at the third attempt

 Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) wins the Women's 150m in 16.82 seconds ahead of Dafne Schippers (NL)

Meghan Beesley (GBR) wins the Women's 200m hurdles in 25.28 just ahead of  Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR)

 Michael Rodgers (USA) takes teh Men's 100m in 10.25 seconds ahead of Richard Kilty (GBR), Kim Collins (StKitts) and Chijindu Ujah (GBR)

Jessica Young (USA) takes the Women's 100m in 11.33 seconds just ahead of English Gardner (USA), Ashleigh Nelson (GBR) and Bianca Williams (GBR)

Richard Browne (USA) storms the Men's 100m T44 in 10.99 ahead of Michail Seitis (Greece), Ronald Hertog (NL) and Emanuele di Marino (Italy)

 Curtis Mitchell (USA) pulls up in the Men's 150m

 Churandy Martina (NL) dips in 15.21 seconds just ahead of Danny Talbot (GBR) in the Men's 150m

 David Oliver (USA) clips the last hurdle in the Men's 110m hurdles

 Daniel Ortega (Cuba) wins the Men's 110m hurdles in 13.32seconds

 Jessica Ennis-Hill on the big screen as the runners in the Women's 100m hurdles get set

Tiffany Porter (GBR) attacks the final sprint in the Women's 100m hurdles

Tiffany Porter (GBR) wins the Women's 100m hurdles in 12.86 seconds ahead of Lucy Hatton, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Serita Solomon (all GBR)

 Where the race can be won and lost in the changeover in the 2x100m - Jessica Young and Michael Rodgers (both USa and who both won their races earlier in the day) mis-time the changeover

 Chijindu Ujah (GBR) crosses the line in 20.30 seconds ahead of Richard Kilty (GBR)

 Chijindu Ujah and Dina Asher-Smith (both GBR) look to confirm their time of 20.30 seconds in the 2x100m

 Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) and Dafne Schippers (NL) check the scoreboard in the Women's 150m

Meghan Beesley (GBR) wins the Women's 200m hurdles ahead of Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR), Yadisleidy Pedroso (Italy) and Eilidh Child (GBR)

Press Day at the Great CityGames Manchester 2015

The Great CityGames Manchester will once again bring world class athletics to the city's streets on Saturday 9th May2015.

The events will take place on a specially raised track (four lanes wide) on Deansgate and at a purpose built arena in Albert Square just outside the Town Hall.

Today was Press Day - the chance for a photo opportunity on the track with some of the athletes and then interviews at the local hotel base.

Non-one knew in advance who would be there from those athletes who were due to compete, so it was an amazing line-up of Jessica Ennis-Hill, Greg Rutherford, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Haile Gebrselassie, Jo Pavey and Richard Kilty who were there for photos and who were then joined by Gemma Steel for the interviews.

Wow - talk about like being in a sweet shop...the chance to photograph such superstars at something less than the 25mph they usually zip by at...and then chat to them over coffee and biscuits.....unbelievable.

Some photos from the day...the clues for the names are mostly on the front of the vests!