American 100m Hurdler Nicole Denby has expressed her delight to be part of the first-ever International track and field meet in Ghana, the Ghana Athletics 2011 rLG Grand Prix. The 26 year old, who was a member of the 2008 US Olympic team, is one of the foreign athletes invited by the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) for the August 6th meet at the Baba Yara stadium in Kumasi. GAA is using the competition to provide a platform for local athletes to compete with their international counterparts and to also boost the sport’s image in Ghana. But for Nicole Denby, the competition provides her with a unique opportunity to come to Africa for the first time and she is excited at the prospects of the visit. “I have never been to Africa before,” she said adding that, “I have enjoyed the people that I have spoken with from Ghana so far. “They have really been a delightful people and they have been really nice.” “I’m looking forward to meeting them at the first ever Ghana Grand Prix. It will be pretty fun and pretty cool.” The Ghana Grand Prix would also bring together international track & field champions from USA, Jamaica, Kenya, Canada, Ethiopia, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Uganda, Nigeria and Ghana. Nicole, who won the 2004 NCAA 100m Hurdles in the USA, feels the competition would bring lots of benefits for local athletes in the country. “I think it is good for smaller countries to have a good exposure and a chance to compete in International competitions against athletes they will not normally compete against.” “So I think it is good for the light to shine on smaller countries like Ghana. “So it (the Grand Prix) will be good for the athletes of Ghana and the other athletes in Africa, and also for me to compete against them. “That is why I want to be part of it (Ghana Grand Prix) Nicole Denby’s run an impressive personal best outdoor time of 12.54 seconds at a meet in Eugene, OR on 6th July, 2008.