Johnson-Thompson excited to make Great CityGames Manchester debut

Johnson-Thompson confirmed her status as the world's leading current all-round female athlete last week as she claimed her first senior international title, smashing Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill's British record on the way to the pentathlon gold medal at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Prague.

Now she has set her sights on a double challenge, when she makes her first appearance at the Great CityGames Manchester, in front of the live BBC cameras in her native North West.

Johnson-Thompson intends to contest the 200m hurdles on the purpose built temporary track that runs down the middle of Deansgate and also the long jump in the specially constructed field arena in Albert Square.

In doing so, the 22-year-old will be following in the footsteps of Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Ennis-Hill and Greg Rutherford, who have all starred in front of 20,000-strong crowds in the six-year history of the hugely popular city centre event in the heart of Manchester.

"I've haven’t taken part in either of the Great CityGames events before so I'm really looking forward to making my debut in Manchester in May," said Johnson-Thompson.

“I've seen the events on television before and love the idea of competing so close to the public. I can't wait to experience it first-hand for the first time.

“It will also be great to compete on home soil in front of a British crowd - all the more so, close to home in the North-West.

“My main aim this summer is the World Championships in Beijing in August and competing in the two events in the Great CityGames Manchester will be great preparation for my first heptathlon of the year at Gotzis at the end of May."

© Sportsbeat 2015