News04 Jul 2016


Farah to face Edris in London – IAAF Diamond League

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Mo Farah in action at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in London (© Getty Images)

Organisers of the Müller Anniversary Games have confirmed that five-time world champion Mo Farah will return to the scene of his Olympic victories to take on many of his main Rio-bound rivals at the IAAF Diamond League meeting on 22-23 July.

Farah will compete in the 5000m on the second day of the two-day meeting and will face Diamond Race leader and world leader Muktar Edris, Olympic bronze medallist Thomas Longosiwa, 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Edwin Soi and Yenew Alamirew.

Staged on 22-23 July, just two weeks before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Rio, the Müller Anniversary Games will feature many of the world’s best athletes and is being dubbed by organisers as ‘Rio in a weekend’.

This will be the first time that Farah has raced over 5000m at the Olympic Stadium since he won a memorable gold at the London 2012 Olympics, and Farah believes that the Müller Anniversary Games will be vital to his Olympic defence.

“Racing in the Olympic Stadium is always amazing and I can’t wait to get back to London for the Müller Anniversary Games,” he said. “This will be my final race before the Rio Olympics and I want to give my home fans a day to remember.

“I always get amazing support in London, and with a really tough race ahead I will need the crowd to make as much noise as they can,” he added. “There are so many world class athletes competing this year and I’m sure it’s going to be a fantastic weekend of athletics.”

Andrew Butchart will join Farah in the 5000m in London. The 24-year-old broke the Scottish record earlier this year with a time of 13:13.30 and went on to win the British title to secure his spot on the Olympic team.

Organisers for the IAAF

2016 IAAF Diamond League calendar
6 May – Doha, QAT
14 May – Shanghai, CHN
22 May – Rabat, MAR
28 May – Eugene, USA
2 Jun – Rome, ITA
5 Jun – Birmingham, GBR
9 Jun – Oslo, NOR
16 Jun – Stockholm, SWE
15 Jul – Monaco, MON
22-23 Jul – London, GBR
25 Aug – Lausanne, SUI
27 Aug – Paris, FRA
1 Sep – Zurich, SUI
9 Sep – Brussels, BEL

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