Ennis confirms Birmingham

2012 gold medal hopeful to compete in Birmingham this month

By Emma Bird. Last Updated: February 8, 2012 10:30am

Jessica Ennis: Will compete at the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham on February 18th.

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Jessica Ennis has confirmed she will contest the 60 metres and long jump at the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham later this month.

The 26-year-old will compete at the NIA on February 18 before heading to Istanbul for the defence of her pentathlon crown at the World Indoor Championships.

The 2012 hopeful said: "The Aviva Grand Prix always attracts a strong field of athletes and it will be good to line up against a really competitive field before the World Indoor Championships."

The Sheffield athlete is one of Team GB's most promising contenders for Olympic gold in the heptathlon in London this summer, despite having to settle for silver at last year's World Championships in Daegu.

"I'm feeling in really good shape after the winter, everything has gone well and I feel strong and ready to get out there and compete."
Jessica Ennis Quotes of the week

The psychology graduate added: "Every competition is important in the build-up to the champs in March and then I have to re-focus on the outdoor season in what is a huge year for me and all of my fellow athletes.

Focus

"I'm planning to compete at the World Indoor Championships next month, that's my focus before the summer and that's definitely how I'm looking at this year.

"I don't want to focus on the Olympics too soon. It's great to know that it's 2012 but I'm really just trying to take it one meet at a time and keep training hard.

"I'm feeling in really good shape after the winter, everything has gone well and I feel strong and ready to get out there and compete.

"I'd love to repeat the success I had in Doha and defend my World Indoor title and I will give it my best shot.

"There are some really good girls competing in the heptathlon at the moment and any one of them could step up their game at any time. But I'm happy with the way I'm training."

Ennis will compete in the high jump, long jump, shot put and 60m hurdles at the Aviva Indoor UK Trials and Championships in Sheffield this weekend.