The Alexander Stadium showpiece files in on August 18 as the 11th IAAF Diamond League event of the calendar and just six weeks before the World Championships in Doha (28 September – 6th October).
With the World Championships in place to sharpen athletes’ minds, this Diamond League season is already shaping up as a vintage year, with stellar performances seen from Shanghai to Rabat.
With 50 days until Birmingham, fans can look forward to another exceptional event that saw four meeting records broken in 2018, while para events are also returning since last featuring in 2017.
Highlights from last year included Christian Coleman pipping Reece Prescod to the 100m post, a fitting farewell for Greg Rutherford and meet records in the long jumps for Malaika Mihambo and Luvo Manyonga.
Double-double European Indoors champion Laura Muir is expecting fiercer competition than ever, with a whole host of stars targeting peak condition ahead of Doha.
“It’s really exciting to be coming back to Birmingham – there is a lot of history for me in the city now and the Alexander Stadium crowd always seem to bring the best out of me,” commented the double-double European indoor champion and double world indoor medallist.
“With Doha being in September, this marks the begin of the final run into World Championships so this year, Birmingham is playing an even bigger role in my preparations.
“With so many athletes trying to peak for Doha, this could mean some of the best athletes and best performances in Birmingham in recent years.”
Muir returns to the city where she has won two World Indoors medals, countless British titles and has also broken two British records over 1000m and 1 mile (both indoors).
The six-time British record-holder will confirm which distance she will run in the coming weeks.
Anticipation is also building rapidly with para athletics returning to Muller Grand Prix Birmingham for the first time since Jonnie Peacock and Sophie Hahn memorably claimed 100m wins in 2017.
Toyota (GB) PLC is operating as event sponsor and continues Toyota’s commitment to para sport, having become a Worldwide Paralympic Partner in 2015 and having supported ParalympicsGB to launch the grassroots participation programme “Parasport powered by Toyota” earlier this year.
British Athletics’ Paralympic head coach Paula Dunn MBE commented: “It’s great that once again, our para athletes are headlining a world class weekend of athletics.
“There is no doubt about it that from a performance angle these events give us vital preparation.
“With a World Championships in November this year, and long-term preparations for Tokyo well underway, I know the event will offer a great platform for our World Class programme athletes.”
Tickets are available here: <link https: www.theticketfactory.com british-athletics online _blank>