University of Birmingham to host British Junior Open in January 2018

The University of Birmingham is delighted to announce the completion of its new athletics track, which has been built as an international standard training track, and comprises a 400 metre, eight-lane floodlit track with a full range of throws and jumps. Located on the edge of campus on Edgbaston Park Road, the track has been built on land leased from the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham. In addition to being home to the University's Athletics and Cross Country Club , it will also be the new athletics venue for pupils of King Edward's School and King Edward VI High School for Girls , the Birmingham Running & Triathlon Club , and a range of other groups. The University of Birmingham enjoys a proud heritage of attracting talented athletes to study at the University, alongside nurturing athletics talent through an in-house Performance Centre. The track's completion coincides with the selection of Sarah McDonald, a 4th year medical student to represent Team GB in the 1,500m at the World Athletics Championships in London this month. McDonald hopes to emanate the achievements of alumna Hannah England, who won silver in the 1,500m at the 2011 World Championships. The first athletes to test out the new track were the Jamaican Team as part of their preparations for the 2017 World Athletics Championships, which begin in London on Friday 4 August.