Elite Athletes Line Up For the Return of Great Manchester Run

Some of the world’s top athletes are expected in the city this weekend to compete in the Great Manchester Run presented by ExpressTest by Cignpost, on Sunday.

The 10K race is returning to the city’s streets this weekend for the first time in over two years due to a cancellation and a postponement because of the pandemic.

The women’s race looks set to have European winner for the first time since Helen Clitheroe won the race 10 years ago in 2011. Hellen Obiri will not be defending her 2019 title after opting to race earlier this month at the Great North Run in Newcastle.

Heading the field is Eilish McColgan, who made an impressive debut over the half marathon distance at the Great North Run, that saw her become the fastest ever female British debutant over 13.1 miles. She will be looking to go one better on Sunday after her second place finish on Tyneside. 

McColgan may be more suited to this distance than her British rivals, but will still face stiff competition in the form of three fellow British Olympians from Tokyo. 2021 European Indoor 3000m Champion Amy-Eloise Markovc and steeplechaser Aimee Pratt will both make their Manchester debuts this weekend. Jess Piasecki who represented Team GB at the marathon makes up the quartet of Olympians.

There will be strong competition from outside of Britain too with 6 National Champions toeing the line from Europe and Australia, all vying for podium places.

In the men’s race, Marc Scott will be hoping to add the Great Manchester Run champion title to both Great North Run, which he impressively won 2 weeks ago and the Great South Run title which he claimed in 2019. Marc comes into the event full of confidence after his recent victory but will face a serious challenge from Olympic silver medallist Abdi Nageeye of The Netherlands who will also be keen to add this title after an impressive summer at the Tokyo Olympics.

Zane Robertson has the fastest time on paper and he will be keen to show he’s back to his best as we move into the autumn marathon season. Andrew Butchart and Chris Thompson head the further British challenge, with the former winning his last outing over this distance in Stirling earlier this month.

Further European challenges are expected from Spanish duo Eduardo Menacho the European U-23 10000m champion and Juan Antonio Perez the 2021 National 10,000m Champion.