London Ready as Athletics’ Biggest Names Descend on the Capital for Novuna London Athletics Meet

With less than 24 hours to go until the Novuna London Athletics Meet at London Stadium, some of the sport’s biggest names gathered ahead of Saturday’s action, ahead of the biggest one day athletics meet in the world.

World silver medallist Amy Hunt is set for a busy afternoon, lining up in both the women’s relay and the 200m.

The relay remains a particularly special event for the Brit, who will be making her first relay appearance of the season alongside her teammates.

“I absolutely love relay racing. I grew up watching it as a kid and cheering on athletes like Bianca Williams and Desiree Henry. Now it’s really special to be part of that team myself.

“It’ll be our first relay together this season. Over the last couple of years we’ve produced some fantastic performances, so hopefully we can do something special again.”

Hunt will then turn her attention to a world-class women’s 200m field, featuring Olympic champion Julien Alfred, who arrives in London after setting a world-leading mark in Monaco.

Hunt said: “I’m so excited. London always attracts one of the strongest fields of the season, and it’s always a brilliant line-up, so I’m really looking forward to racing here.”

Also returning to the capital is triple 2024 Olympic Champion Gabby Thomas (USA), who won over the distance in London’s Diamond League in 2024.

“It’s a very stacked 200m field. Despite it being a bit of an off year, the competition this year has been incredible. The goal is to fight hard for a win. I love competing in London. I love the crowd and the atmosphere.”

One of the most anticipated events of the meeting will be the Emsley Carr Mile, where World Indoor Champion Josh Kerr will continue his pursuit of the mile world record.

The world champion believes the challenge is as much mental as physical as he prepares to take on a field that includes Yared Nuguse (USA), Hobbs Kessler (USA) and Britain’s Archie Davis, who comes into the line-up following the withdrawal of Neil Gourley.

“My body is capable of the mark, so my job is to have my mind be available to let my body do the job.

“My goal is to get through 1,200 metres as smoothly as possible and then see what I’ve got left for that last 400m.”

Kerr added:”I’m not chasing a record, I’m creating a new experience, creating a new event. This is what I have visualised for a very long time. When you see me out there, it won’t look like a chase, it will look like its own pursuit.”

Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson returns to what she describes as her favourite competition of the year as she headlines a high-quality women’s 800m.

The British star will face a field that includes Tsige Duguma (ETH), Femke Broeders-Bol (NED) and fellow Brit Jemma Reekie, who comes into the field following the withdrawals of Georgia Hunter Bell and Phoebe Gill.

“This is my favourite meet of the year. It’s just as good as winning a global championship.

“The crowd is absolutely incredible, and that’s a big reason you always want to come back and run here. It’s a big reason why we want the World Championships here in 2029.”

Norwegian 400m hurdles star Karsten Warholm will make his first appearance in London for seven years.

The three-time world champion has fond memories of the stadium after claiming the first of his global titles there at the 2017 World Athletics Championships.

“I’m very happy to be back in the stadium, it is giving very good vibes.

“It’s important to me now to win. I want to get a good race in, a fast race in. I want to get some good races in before Birmingham.”

Pole vault world record holder Mondo Duplantis (SWE) is hoping to make a lasting impression on his return to London.

The Olympic, World and European champion has not competed in the British capital since 2018 and is hoping to create a special moment in one of athletics’ most iconic venues.

“I’m really excited. I don’t want to say it’s revenge necessarily, but just to be on the winning end of this track for the first time.

“I feel like I really want to jump high because it feels like such a historic competition in a historic stadium. I would love to leave my mark in the best way possible, which, of course, would be a world record.”

There have also been several late changes to the programme ahead of Saturday’s action. In the women’s high jump, Montenegro’s Marija Vuković replaces Iryna Gerashchenko. Rising British talent Macey Hand comes into the women’s ambulant 100m in place of Alison Smith, while Poppy Malik replaces Laviai Nielsen in the women’s domestic 400m.

In the domestic men’s 800m, Alex Botterill replaces Jake Wightman, while Charlie Dobson has withdrawn from the men’s 400m.

You can see the full start lists here.

The final tickets for the Novuna London Athletics Meet remain available, with another packed crowd set to descend on London Stadium for one of the biggest athletics events of the year. Get them here.