Following a successful launch, the Ultimate Racenight League returns on Thursday night for its second meet, featuring even more new faces and competitive action.
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Though the international flavour will be missing this time around with Doha Athletic Club absent, the event will continue to focus on the wide range of talent on the local scene at Dubai Sports City.
Up-and-coming youngsters will once again put their athleticism on display and be joined for the first time by teams from Victoria International School of Sharjah and Lycee Francais International Georges Pompidou.
“We’ve got loads of new competitors signed up,” said Lisa Campbell, creator of Ultimate Racenight League and founder of Ultimate Athletics Club.
“Because it’s a league, I assumed it would be the same people from Racenight 1 and maybe a few more, but there’s probably 50 per cent newcomers this time so that’s quite pleasing.”
An athletics league, modeled after the Diamond League, kicked off in Dubai yesterday. Find out more here: https://t.co/QMsiHWKZol
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) October 23, 2015
The men’s senior 100m will be one of the events to watch, with Darrell Elliot squaring-off against rival Mousa Khalfan.
Elliot claimed victory in Racenight 1, but was beaten over 100m by Khalfan at the Etisalat Fitness Fest two weekends ago at Dubai Autodrome.
“The show is now on between those two,” Campbell said. “Darrell wants revenge because he didn’t get a good start at the Autodrome and it was on concrete and he said he performs much better on the track.”
In the same vein, Harriet Stewart, winner of the women’s senior 100m in Racenight 1 and the 100m at the Etisalat Fitness Fest, will be challenged by talented newcomer Sarah Ellis from Abu Dhabi.
Ultimate Athletics’ sponsored athlete Adil Amin will also be one to keep an eye on as the 15-year-old returns from injury to take part in the men’s senior 1500m.
Registration is still open, up to the night of the event, and can done online at www.ultimateathletics-uae.com. The entry fee is Dh50 for track members and Dh80 for non- members. Juniors will compete from 17:00 to 18:30, followed by the seniors from 19:00 to 20:30. Even for those who attend and don’t compete, it will be a family-friendly environment.
Campbell said: “We’ve got a bouncy castle for the juniors, who compete first before the seniors. There’s also a barbecue and a bar area upstairs for adults.”
