Bolt to be joined by Ohuruogu at City Games race

Olympic champion Usain Bolt is to be joined by another Beijing gold medallist, Britain's Christine Ohuruogu at next month's City Games road race organisers said here on Monday.

Ohuruogu, the Olympic 400 metres champion, will be taking part in the women's 150m race in Deansgate on May 17, with Jamaican sprint star Bolt, who won gold in both the 100m and 200m in China last year, competing in the men's event.

"Hopefully this event will be the start of many more similar events all over the world and inspire kids to take up athletics," said Bolt.

Ohuruogu may well be outpaced by sprinters more used to shorter distances but the Londoner, who will use the race as part of her build-up to August's World Championships in Berlin, said: "I am excited about the concept of taking athletics and sprinting to the streets.

She added: "I was delighted to get the invitation to race in Manchester and compete in this unique event.

"One hundred and fifty metres is much shorter than my normal 400m distance but it will be good preparation for the outdoor season."

Ohuruogu, who celebrates her 25th birthday on May 17, will be up against Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie in the city where the Bahamian star won the Commonwealth Games 100m and 200m titles seven years ago.

"With Debbie still a force to reckon with, it's going to be a testing outing for Christine but she's determined she will do herself justice despite stepping down from the 400m," said Andy Caine the event's elite athletes manager.

Caine added: "Obviously we are planning to bring in a few other overseas competitors for both races and of course we are planning to attract the best domestic athletes to the event."