Published in Athletics Weekly, January 27
THIS five-way international in Glasgow has become one of the most established fixtures on the indoor circuit which pits Great Britain against the USA, Sweden, Germany and a Commonwealth Select team. Team GB took the spoils last year with 63 points, defeating the USA by three points.
2.02pm – women's pole vault
UK record-holder Kate Dennison opens her indoor account but Germany are favoured for maximum points through Lisa Ryzih. The 22-year-old, who was a precocious youngster with world age-13 and world age-15 bests, has made a successful transition into the senior ranks, taking bronze at the European Championships in Barcelona on her major senior debut.
It will be interesting to see how the world's leading junior Angelica Bengtsson fares against this high calibre field. The 17-year-old Swede is the reigning world youth and world junior champion and already has a 4.42m season's best to her credit.
UK junior record-holder Holly Bleasdale, who won bronze behind Bengtsson at the World Junior Championships, also competes.
2.06pm – men's triple jump
OLYMPIC bronze medallist Leevan Sands should claim maximum points for the Commonwealth select team. The Bahamian record-holder with 17.59m takes on the American veteran Kenta Bell. World youth champion Ben Williams is also in the line-up.
2.11pm – women's 60m hurdles
JESSICA ENNIS stunned world indoor champion Lolo Jones at last year's meeting and the two protagonists will go head-to-head once more. Ennis, who set a national record of 7.95 in last year's race, opened her season at the Northern Indoor Championships in Sheffield with a solid series of performances, including 8.15 in the hurdles.
Jones, who put last year's defeat down to jet-leg, is just ahead of Ennis based on this season's performances as she opened her indoor account with 8.10 in her home-town of Baton Rouge.
Other contenders include new recruit Tiffany Ofili and Germany's Nadine Hildebrand.
2.21pm – men's 60m hurdles
DAVID OLIVER will be chasing his third victory at Kelvin Hall and who can bet against the 28-year-old? Oliver achieved five sub-13 performances outdoors last year including a US record of 12.89 in Paris. The Olympic bronze medallist was undefeated outdoors and he also won a bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships in Doha.
European and Commonwealth Games champion Andy Turner missed last year's indoor season with an injury so will be looking forward to a good debut en route to the European Indoor Championships.
2.30pm – men's 200m
RYAN BAILEY improved significantly in 2010 and will make the first of his two appearances in the one-lap event. The 21-year-old lowered his 200m PB from 20.45 to 20.10 last year which makes him the firm contender for maximum points for the USA. Former world 100m champion Kim Collins would have been a stern threat in his hey-day but the 34-year-old is operating below his best form now.
2.39pm – women's 200m
THIS event lacks a standout name which means Joice Maduaka has a chance of a good showing but last year's surprise US champion Connie Moore will be hard to beat.
2.49pm – women's 1500m
MERCY NJOROGE'S 1500m PB of 4:34.1 doesn't make her look like a particularly distinguished athlete but the Kenyan is a world-class steeplechaser who must be capable of a sub-4:10 showing. The 24-year-old ran inside the 9:30-barrier three times last year capped her season with a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Coached by Liz McColgan, world junior 800m fourth placer Sarah Kelly's 1500m PB of 4:14.15 means she will be competitive.
2.56pm – men's high jump
2.34m performer Jesse Williams from the USA will need to fend off a strong British challenge as well as world bronze medallist Raul Spank from Germany for the full quota of points.
The home contingent is comprised of Commonwealth fourth placer Samson Oni, who improved his indoor PB to 2.31m last year and 2.27m performer Robbie Grabarz.
3pm – men's 3000m
PRIOR to his victory last year, Sammy Mutahi was virtually unknown on the world stage but the Kenyan used this race a springboard for a breakthrough year on the international circuit. The Kenyan, who won a bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships, will be defending his title and the 21-year-old faces world-class steeplechaser Dan Huling from the USA and up-and-coming Brit Ricky Stevenson.
3.14pm – women's 400m
SHAREESE WOODS, 52.32 last year, will start as the pre-race favourite ahead of Kim Wall.
3.24pm – men's 400m
LEJERALD BETTERS might not be the most well-known quarter-miler from the USA but the 22-year-old finished second at his national championships last year and lowered his PB to 44.70. Betters faces Commonwealth bronze medallist Ramon Miller and European under-23 silver medallist Nigel Levine.
3.28pm – women's long jump
IF Shara Proctor produces her best form, the 22-year-old has a good chance of starting her career in a GB vest with maximum points. Olympic finalist Funmi Jimoh from the USA is a threat but despite her 6.96m PB, the 26-year-old is an inconsistent performer.
Ennis, who improved to 6.51m last year, will make her second appearance of the afternoon.
3.34pm – women's 3000m
LAST year's winner Helen Clitheroe's closest opposition will be team-mate Laura Kenney, who clocked 8:50.42 last year.
3.50pm – men's 800m
COMMONWEALTH champion Boaz Lalang is the outstanding entrant in this event. As well as gold in New Delhi, the 21-year-old took silver at the World Indoor Championships and lowered his PB to 1:42.95.
4pm – women's 60m
JEANETTE KWAKYE staged a promising return to form at the South of England Indoor Championships where the Olympic 100m finalist opened her campaign with victory in the 60m in 7.28. The 27-year-old has a much tougher proposition at Kelvin Hall though, as she takes on Alexandria Anderson from the USA, who has posted 7.31 this year.
4.10pm – women's 800m
THE head-to-head between Jenny Meadows and Marilyn Okoro has been a regular feature on the domestic indoor circuit and the world finalists from Berlin are the leading contenders this year. Meadows, who will be making her eighth appearance on this track, is looking for her third victory while Okoro is seeking a return to form after an injury-marred 2010 season.
4.20pm – men's 60m
THE curtain-closer to this year's programme should be a cracker. Ryan Bailey, who lowered his 100m PB from 10.05 to 9.88 last summer, faces Marc Burns from Trinidad & Tobago, who has made the last three world outdoor finals and Mark Lewis-Francis, who will return to Kelvin Hall after a four year hiatus.
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