Team London South have confirmed a number of top British athletes in their team ahead of the McCain Indoor City Challenge (ICC) semi final on Saturday 24th January at London’s Lee Valley Athletics Centre, writes Emma Pickles.

London South will go into the first meeting confident that they will progress to the final with the help of a strong team.

Team London South’s Samson Oni (Belgrave Harriers), who won gold in the high jump at last year’s UK Indoor Championships and went on to finish 12th at the World indoor Championships in Valencia, Spain, will face a fascinating match-up with Great Britain & Northern Ireland teammate and Olympic finalist Tom Parsons (Team Birmingham).

It promises to be one of the contest of the day as both athletes finished 2008 with personal bests of 2.30m and will be preparing for the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships in Sheffield on 14 & 15 February.

Also in Team London South’s line-up is sprint hurdler Alex Al-Ameen (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC), who reached the semi-finals at last year’s World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Al-Ameen will be makes his ICC and Team London South debut as he competes in the 60m hurdles.

Other London South athletes include GB & NI internationals Conrad Williams (Kent AC) and Tosin Oke (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies), who will compete in the 400m and triple jump respectively.

Team Bristol, Team London North, Team London South, Team Birmingham, Team Oxford & Team Belfast will compete at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre in the first semi-final of the competition. The second semi will take place at Sheffield on 8th February.

Each match will comprise of a full timetable of events for indoor track and field and will conclude with a Medley relay. The top three scoring teams in each of the semi-finals will be invited to compete at the ICC Final in Cardiff on 28th February, plus the two best runners up to make 8 teams at the final.

The McCain ICC Trophy will be presented to the overall winning team and prize money paid to all athletes in the 1st placed team at the Semi-Finals & 1st, 2nd & 3rd placed teams at the Final. A total prize fund of £20,000 is up for grabs.

ICC Competition Manager Paul Aldridge said: “This years McCain Indoor City Challenge promises to give athletes a chance to strive to a new level of performance. With additional performance related prizes, those athletes who prepare meticulously for the series will be rewarded if they can deliver on the day.

“Each year sees the event attract all levels of athletes, from seasoned Great Britain and Northern Ireland athletes to those who are striving to perform at the highest domestic level. Each team has its stars and future stars giving the series a unique mix. With London 2012 now coming clearly into focus for the UK’s athletes, many will be using the series to continue their countdown. ”