Hawkins Announced For Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run
To join Callum on the start line of the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run 10K, click here.
RECORD-BREAKER Callum Hawkins will bid to become the first British man to win the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run when he takes on the 10k this May.
The 24-year-old Scotsman has announced his participation in Europe's biggest 10k as part of his preparations for the IAAF World Athletics Championships this summer.
Now in its 15th year, the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run has never boasted a British male winner – but Hawkins, in irresistible form at present, is aiming to change that as he makes his debut in front of the BBC Sport cameras on the streets of Manchester on Sunday, 28 May.
Hawkins, who finished ninth in the 2016 Olympic Marathon in Rio de Janeiro, has been pre-selected for the 26.2 mile distance at the World Championships in London in August, and has begun his preparations in style.
In February, Hawkins smashed the Scottish half marathon record with victory in the Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon with a time of 60.00, and in March he ran the fastest half marathon by a European athlete on US soil, beating Mo Farah's record of 60.23 as he finished second in the United Airlines New York Half Marathon in a time of 60.08.
Last October, Hawkins became the first Scottish winner in the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run, beating 2015 winner Moses Kipsiro.
Hawkins bids to win a race which has been graced by some of distance running's greats, with Haile Gebrselassie winning five times along with Kenenisa Bekele and Paul Tergat.
The last British winner of the 10k was Helen Clitheroe in 2011, and Hawkins will be bidding to rewrite the history books in 2017.
He said: “I'm looking forward to Manchester as I build on my preparations towards the World Championships in London. 10km is a distance I don't get the chance to race much and my time is certainly due a revision.
“Of course a win would be great in a home race like this but I'm sure there will be some quality international athletes too.
“One thing is for certain – I'll put everything on the line come Sunday, 28 May.”
The Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run is celebrating its 15th anniversary by adding a half marathon for 2017, with 8,500 runners quickly signing up for the 13.1mile event.
The 10k welcomed its 300,000th finisher during last year's event, which was won by Bekele in the men's race and Tirunesh Dibaba in the women's race.
The Great Manchester Run was first staged in 2003 as a legacy event following the Commonwealth Games, held in Manchester the previous year and has grown to be the largest of its kind in Europe.
The 6.2mile route takes runners from the city centre out to Old Trafford on a fast and flat course, with the finish line on Deansgate alongside the iconic Beetham Tower.
While the half marathon is sold out, there is still time to join Callum on the start line of the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run 10K, to enter, click here.
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