SUPER 8
Venue: Cardiff International Athletics Stadium, Cardiff Date: Wednesday, 10 June May Start: 1900 BST
 Christian Malcolm came fifth in last year's Olympic 200m race in Beijing |
Olympian Christian Malcolm hopes the new Super 8 concept will represent the future of British athletics. The Welsh sprinter is one of 13 Olympic heroes that will star in Cardiff when Super 8 makes its debut on Wednesday. Malcolm will lead the Cardiff team against rivals from London South, London North, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle and Sheffield. "It's a great idea," said Malcolm. "It's something different, it's something club athletics really needs." Olympic star Christine Ohuruogu, 400m champion at the 2008 Beijing Games, was due to run but she pulled out of the event due to a schedule mix-up. While the place of Birmingham captain Kelly Sotherton, the bronze medalist heptathlete at the 2004 Athens Games, is also in doubt. Three-time Olympian Malcolm - who finished fifth behind sprint sensation Usain Bolt in the 200m at the Beijing Olympics - is one of the big names. The Super 8 will be a rare chance for the Welsh public to see their athletics stars up close and personal in a new two-hour, quick-fire contest modelled on Twenty20 cricket.  | You don't get to represent Wales on a regular basis in athletics. It's going to be very challenging and we always like to stick one over on the English! Olympic sprinter Christian Malcolm |
Malcolm will line-up alongside 2003 European champion Matt Elias and Rhys Williams, the 2006 European Championship silver medalist, in the Cardiff team that also includes promising athletes such as 1500m runner Stephen Davies. "In the modern day, people don't like things which are dragged out," said Malcolm. "Club athletics on a daily basis is a long day. You get there at 10am and you don't leave until 6pm. "So what they are doing with the Super 8 and the clubs is a great idea. It lasts two hours. It is a condensed timetable. It will be fun. It will be intense and I think the spectators will really enjoy it. "If you are going to compete with other sports like rugby and football you have to really try to match them on a timetable basis. I think this Super 8 will actually do that." Malcolm, the 1998 Commonwealth Games silver medalist, will lead the Welsh charge against the seven English clubs. "It really is an honour to be asked to captain Cardiff at the first Super 8 competition, not only to lead the Welsh athletes but also to do so on home turf is going to be very special," added Malcolm. "It's a great feeling. You don't get to represent Wales on a regular basis in athletics. It's only every four years that we get to go to the Commonwealth Gales and represent Wales. "To have this meet a lot of the athletes are very excited about it. It's going to be very challenging and we always like to stick one over on the English!" Long jump rivals Chris Tomlinson, the 2008 World indoor silver medalist, and 2006 European silver medalist Greg Rutherford, who will represent Newcastle, will also go head-to-head in a potentially explosive battle. | 606: DEBATE |
London North's Rutherford admits: "This type of competition really appeals to me, it's fast, exciting. "I'm looking forward to a good competition against Chris. We have a healthy rivalry which can bring out the best in each other. We'll both be giving everything we can to get one over the other." The event is being used as the final selection event for the GB team for the European Team Championships. Olympic 400m hurdles bronze medallist Tasha Danvers skippers London South and UK Indoor 800m champion Jenny Meadows will lead the Manchester team. Super 8 will consist of 10 individual events - 100m, 110m hurdles, 400m, 800m, 1500m, pole vault, high jump, long jump, javelin and shot. There are also four medley relays.
Cardiff Team: Men:
100m: Christian Malcolm
400m: Matt Elias
800m: Joe Thomas
1500m: Stephen Davies
110m hurdles: Marcel van der Westen
Long jump: Richardo Childs
Pole Vault: Egryn Jones
High Jump: Rob Mitchell
Shot Put: Ryan Spencer-Jones
Javelin: Lee Doran
Medley Relay: Christian Malcolm, Tim Abeyie, Rhys Williams, Joe Maynard Women:
100m: Lucy Evans
400m: Caryl Granville
800m: Amanda Pritchard
1500m: Jade Williams
110m hurdles: Heather Jones
Long jump: Imogen Miles
Pole Vault: Bryony Raine
High Jump: Julie Crane
Shot Put: Tesni Ward
Javelin: Lianne Clarke
Medley Relay: Lucy Evans, Rebecca Williams, Bryony Turnbull, Anwen Rees
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