Berihu Aregawi, Sisai Lemma and former winner Mark Scott are part of a strong men’s field for the September 8 event.
Eilish McColgan’s autumn road race kicks into high gear as she tackles the AJ Bell Great North Run on September 8.
The 33-year-old holds British road records for 5km, 10km, 10 miles and a half marathon, but is yet to win the iconic 13.1 mile race in her career. However, she has won several other Great Runs and was runner-up to Helen Obiri in the Great North Run in 2021.
After an injury-plagued 2023, McColgan returned this summer to make the Paris Olympic team, finishing 15th in the 10,000m. But after a few more weeks of training, he is expected to be stronger as he tackles the Big Half in London on September 1, followed by the Great Northern Run seven days later and then the Vitality London 10,000 again on London’s roads on September on the 22nd.
In the Great North, she will face, among others, Vivian Cheruiyot, winner of the 2016 and 2018 Great North, plus Sheila Chepkiru, the Kenyan who was third behind McColgan when the Scot won the Commonwealth 10,000m title in 2022.
Cheruiyot, now 40, also won the London Marathon in 2018 and Olympic 5,000m gold in 2016.
There is also Senbere Teferi, the former women’s only 5km world record holder and 65:32 half marathon runner, plus two-time London Marathon podium finisher Mergetu Alemu and British Kenyan Mary Ngugi-Cooper.
In the men’s race, Mark Scott returns to try to maintain the title he won in 2021. But he faces stiff opposition from Berihu Aregawi, the Ethiopian who won Olympic 10,000m silver in Paris behind Joshua Cheptegei.
Mark Scott (Northern News)
Aregavi also finished third in the all-time world standings 3000m behind last weekend. Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s world record in Poland.
Also competing on Tyneside are 2024 Boston Marathon and 2021 London Marathon winner Sisay Lemma, 2023 Boston Marathon winner Evans Chebet and Kenya’s NYC Half winner from earlier this year, Abel Kipchumba.
Berihu Aregavi (Getty)
McColgan said: “I have incredible memories of racing in Newcastle and taking part in the Junior Great North Run events over 20 years ago and we have a family history in the Great North Run with mum being a three-time winner, so this year’s Great North Run for me It will be special to finally follow in my mum’s footsteps and as I still have to run the original route from Newcastle to South Shields.”
He added: “Coming back from this year’s Paris Olympics and on my way back from injury, I’m particularly looking forward to the thousands of spectators lining the streets of the North East, as well as the 60,000 inspiring runners who will be taking part in their own journey. “.
McColgan’s best half marathon time is 65:43, set last year in Berlin. Paula Radcliffe ran three seconds faster at the Great North Run in 2003, but the course has no record rights.
Elish McColgan (Bobby Gavin)
This year’s race will also welcome the men’s and women’s elite wheelchair races, which are being held against the backdrop of the closing ceremony of this year’s Paralympic Games in Paris. Notable competitors include John Boy Smith, Sean Frame, Michelle McCabe and Jade Hall.
Sir Brendan Foster, founder of the Great North Run, said: “Our fantastic spectators are in for another great day thanks to our impressive elite field at the top end of our Great North Run on Sunday.
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“It’s an honor for the North East to welcome elite athletes to our world-famous half marathon, in a year where the North Run has been awarded the prestigious World Heritage Athletics Plaque, which recognizes its contribution to road running, and is also an award for the people who help the Great North Run make it so special and reflects how much the event means to so many.
“So we are very happy to once again welcome such inspiring athletes from around the world to fight for a new world record or victory; it’s always exciting to see the continued development of athletics in the UK and to welcome the incredible. athletics talent in the North East as well as passionate athletics fans.”
Two days before the half marathon, the Great Run Company will also be helping to organize the UK Athletics 5km Road Championships on Friday (September 6).
The event that starts Excellent North Run on weekends with elite races that take place over three laps of approximately one mile, while mass participation races take place over one 5 km node
Last year’s championship winners, in an event that doubled as trials for the inaugural World Road Race Championships, were; Scott Beattie in 13:56 and Verity Ockenden in 15:26.
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