World indoor record-holder and world indoor champion go head to head at Müller Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham on February 19

Twenty-four hours after a social media discussion unfolded online regarding a fantasy hurdles race between Grant Holloway and Karsten Warholm, the organisers of next month’s Müller Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham announced a real-life clash between Holloway and Andrew Pozzi over 60m hurdles.

Holloway holds the world indoor record at the distance, whereas Pozzi is the reigning world indoor champion. Add to the fact Pozzi will be racing in front of a home British crowd and it is a head-to-head to savour.

The pair last met over 60m hurdles in Madrid in February 2021, their only meeting to date, with Holloway victorious in 7.29 ahead of Pozzi in second in 7.51. Outdoors at 110m hurdles, Holloway won Olympic silver in Tokyo while Pozzi finished a disappointed seventh.

Italy-based Pozzi has endured a challenging 12 months, but with a pending return to the UK and a new coaching set-up, 2022 offers hope and opportunity. “Last year was really tough,” said the 29-year-old, who has a PB of 7.43. “Everything that could have gone wrong in my preparation for Tokyo did go wrong, but I’m excited about the year ahead and opening my season in Birmingham where I have so many great memories.

“I have big goals for this year and I hope that with the backing of a fantastic crowd I can get this season off to a really positive start.”

Holloway, who clocked the second fastest 110m hurdles time in history with 12.81 at the 2021 US Olympic Trials, opens his indoor season at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in New York on February 6 before travelling to Europe to compete in Lievin (Feb 17), followed by the Müller Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham two days later.

“I learned a lot in 2021 and it’s important for me to keep learning, keep growing and to become a better and faster athlete,” said Holloway. “This will be the first time I’ve competed in Birmingham and it’s my final race before the US Indoor Trials, so in terms of experience and opportunity, it’s going to play a huge part in my preparation for the World Indoor Championships.”

World 110m hurdles champion Holloway was unbeaten throughout the 2021 indoor season and his campaign concluded with a world indoor 60m hurdles record of 7.29, bettering the mark that had been held by Colin Jackson since 1994.

The Müller Indoor Grand Prix next month is the fifth meeting of the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Tour (Gold). There are seven ‘Gold’ level meetings across the series, starting with Karlsruhe on 28 January 28 and culminating in Madrid on March 2.

In addition to Pozzi and Holloway, Swedish pole vault star Mondo Duplantis and British 800m runner Keely Hodgkinson have already signed up to the Birmingham event at the Utilita Arena.

Throughout the series, each athlete’s best three results will count towards their overall point score. The athlete with the most points in each scoring discipline at the end of the tour will be declared the winner and will be awarded a USD$10,000 bonus along with a wild card entry for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade (March 2022).

There are only a few tickets left for the Birmingham meeting, which you can buy here.