KATARINA JOHNSON-THOMPSON will be one of the star attractions when the Great North CityGames switches from Tyneside to Teesside next month.

The street athletics meeting on the eve of the Great North Run has become an established part of the North-East’s sporting calendar, having built up a popular following in its various stagings at Newcastle-Gateshead.

However, this year, the event is moving south on Saturday, September 7 to a specially-constructed track on the High Street at Stockton-on-Tees.

Johnson-Thompson is sure to be one of the most popular competitors, with the Commonwealth heptathlon champion keen to use the CityGames as a key part of her preparations for this autumn’s World Championships in Doha.

The British number one proved her wellbeing last weekend when she posted a mark of 6.85m in the long jump at the Diamond League meeting in Birmingham, and will be doubling up in Stockton as she competes in the long jump and 150m sprint.

“I can’t wait to compete at the Great North CityGames next month,” said Johnson-Thompson, who is set to renew her heptathlon rivalry with Belgian World champion Nafissatou Thiam at this year’s Worlds. “I love street athletics meetings, and especially when it’s in a location we’ve never been to before. Hopefully, there’ll be a big crowd there, and we can maybe inspire some future Olympians.”