Sir Mo Farah Gets Ready For His Last Race on the Streets of Manchester

Farah joins a competitive lineup in the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run

Sir Mo Farah is getting ready to take on his last ever event on the streets of Manchester, ahead of his planned retirement from professional racing in September. Sir Mo will join a competitive line up when he takes on the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run in the city centre this Sunday.

The 40-year-old legendary British athlete last took part in the event in 2018, when he triumphed over Ugandan Moses Kipsiro in a memorable sprint finish with 100 metres to go, winning in a time of 28 minutes 27 seconds.

With four Olympic golds, six World Championship titles, and six European golds, Farah has earned his place in the history books of British sport and Sunday will be the last opportunity for North West fans to cheer him on, on the city’s streets.

He’ll be up against 29-year-old Marc Scott, who memorably became the first Brit to beat Sir Mo in 10 years when he outsprinted him at the British 10,000m Championships in 2021. That year he went on to win both the Great Manchester Run and the Great North Run for the first time.

They will be joined on the start line by Scotland’s Callum Hawkins who has been a solid contender at the World Championship Marathon, placing fourth twice.

Australians, Jack Rayner and Stewart McSweyn are set to give the Brits some strong competition. Rayner, who holds the national 10k records on both road and track, clocked a personal best of 28.16 at last year’s Great Manchester Run where he was the runner-up. McSweyn holds the Australian records in the 1500m and 3000m and recently contributed to Australia’s team bronze medal at the 2023 World Cross Country Championships relay.

Leading the line-up in the women’s race is Kenya’s Hellen Obiri. The defending champion is a two-time Olympic silver medallist in the 5000m and has three World titles to her name. She was also the 2022 Great North Run Champion and recently crowned 2023 Boston Marathon champion.

She’ll be joined by compatriot Peres Jepchirchir, whose accolades include an Olympic Marathon Gold and being a two-time World Champion in the Half Marathon.

Representing Ethiopia, Senbere Teferi is another top contender. She has been a silver medallist at the World Championships three times and is a four-time national champion.

The British charge will be led by Steph Twell, aged 33, the seasoned GB athlete, who has a personal best 10K time of 31.55.

In the wheelchair race Sean Frame, the 2021 Great North Run Champion will take on Simon Lawson, the 2018 Commonwealth Marathon bronze medallist and Spanish national record holder Rafa Botello Jimenez. In the women’s wheelchairs, 2022 Brighton Half Marathon Winner Jade Hall will take on Joanna Robertson of Aberdeen.

2023 marks the 20th Great Manchester Run. 25,000 runners will line up on the iconic Portland Street start line for their own 10k or half marathon challenges on Sunday 21 May. All the action will be televised live on BBC One from 11 am.

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