Pozzi forced to settle for third in chaotic street race

ANDREW Pozzi and Aries Merritt were overshadowed in their street duel at the Arcadis Great CityGames in Manchester on Friday.

The men's 110m hurdles that featured the pair received top billing at the city centre meeting on Deansgate, but Stratford’s world and European indoor champion Pozzi could only finish third in 13.9 seconds.

Merritt, the world record holder from the United States and the 2012 Olympic champion, came in fourth in an error-strewn race won by Poland’s Damian Czykier in 13.67.

“A couple of scratches, a bit of blood but thankfully I’m okay,” said Pozzi, who was having his first race in Britain since winning the world indoor 60m hurdles title in March.

“I was getting really close to nearly all of the hurdles and in the end I nearly wore one.

“I felt I hit a hurdle with my hand, another one with my foot. It was just carnage. It was a strange start to the season but it was good fun.”