The cream of American track and field athletics have arrived in Birmingham for a training camp.
Stars including double Olympic medallist Dawn Harper-Nelson, hurdler Aries Merritt and sprinter Justin Gatlin will be based at the Alexander Stadium and the High Performance Centre at Sutton Park ahead of the IAAF World Championships in London next month.
Harper-Nelson, who won 100m hurdles gold at the 2008 Olympics and silver four years later, said she was delighted to be in Brum.
“I do love coming here,” she said. “I don’t have to worry about not having things – Birmingham have done it right.
“You have the perfect facilities with for indoor and outdoor here. I don’t have to worry how the weather will be – the track is great, the hurdles are here and the blocks.
“Birmingham have done it right.”
The USA’s arrival follows that of the Jamaican team who will be based at the University of Birmingham.
Councillor Ian Ward, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council said: “We are delighted to welcome the USA team back to Birmingham, as they prepare for the IAAF World Championships in London.
“We’ll be providing the team with excellent training facilities and ongoing support throughout their stay.
“Many of the American athletes are regular visitors to the city because of the number of international athletics events that Birmingham regularly stages, so I’m sure the city feels like a second home to many.”
