Sotherton challenge

Published on Thursday 18 December 2008 22:34

KELLY Sotherton will take on Olympic heptathlon champion Natalia Dobrynska in a three-event challenge at the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham on 21 February.

Sotherton finished fourth at the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer, missing out on a medal by just 74 points. Ukraine's Dobrynska performed superbly to take the gold medal, and the pair will compete in Birmingham over the 60 metres hurdles, long jump and 400m.

Sotherton will take part in all three major UK Athletics indoor events in 2009, starting with the Aviva International match in Glasgow on 31 January. Then the 2004 Olympic heptathlon bronze medallist will compete at the Aviva European Trials on 14-15 February in Sheffield, before taking on Dobrynska in Birmingham.

Sotherton said: "2008 was a tough year, but I'm looking forward to getting back into competition. With the European Indoor Championships in March and the (outdoor) World Championships in August, I have plenty to focus on."