TASMANIAN sports fans are in for a treat on February 4 when some of the world's best athletes descend on Hobart's Domain Athletics Centre for the Briggs Athletics Classic in search of Olympic qualification.
The meet will feature a star field in the men's 5000 metres event, including world championship bronze medallist and Australian record-holder Craig Mottram.
It will be Mottram's first time on the track at the Briggs Athletics Classic and victory for the 31-year-old is certainly not assured.
Taking him on will be Australia's second and third fastest men ever at 5000m - Ben St Lawrence and Collis Birmingham.
Both are past victors of the race, renowned worldwide for producing fast early season times.
Olympic finalist Youcef Abdi will also toe the line along with promising Australian juniors Brett Robinson and Harry Summers.
Meet director Brian Roe has also worked hard to attract several international names for the race, including world university games champion Andy Vernon (UK), US college champion Bobby Curtis, European finalist Nick McCormick (UK) and a team of four Japanese runners.
``This field is unquestionably the highest quality middle distance field to be assembled in Tasmania,'' Roe said.
Tickets are on sale through Athletics Tasmania, athletics clubs and Centertainment.
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