The Kenyan star headlines a world-class women's field announced by the race organisers. Brendan Foster, President of The Great Run Company, promises fireworks on the streets of Manchester.
“Year after year, the Great Manchester Run proudly welcomes world-class athletes from across the globe."
"Manchester
is a city steeped in sporting heritage, with some of the world’s most
prolific sports fans calling the city home, so it’s no surprise that the
world’s fastest runners return to its streets to compete and soak up
the atmosphere."
"Spectators are once again in for a great show and a nail-biting sprint for the finish," he said.
Obiri
clinched her maiden Manchester 10km title in 2022 with a 30:15 win over
Eilish McColgan (30:19) and Ruth Chepng’etich (30:29).
She will be looking to reset after her Boston Marathon heartbreak on April 21. The 35-year-old was outkicked in the final stretch by Sharon Lokedi, settling for second in 2:17:41 to Lokedi's 2:17:22.
“I
enjoy racing in Manchester and coming off a tough Boston Marathon, it
presents a different challenge which I am looking forward to," Obiri
told the organisers. Obiri is fired up to get back to winning ways in London.
"I have recovered well and will be giving it my all to get another victory here in the UK.”
However,
Obiri will have to overcome a loaded Ethiopian contingent led by
Gotytom Gebreslase, the 2022 world marathon champion and African 5,000m
champion Medina Eisa.
Gebreslase
is the defending champion, having clocked 30:32 to win last year’s
edition ahead of Britain’s Calli Hauger-Thackery (31:02) and Amane
Beriso (31:23).
Joining Obiri
on the streets of London is the 2016 Olympic 5,000m champion Vivian
Cheruiyot and 2015 African 5,000m silver medallist Rosemary Wanjiru.
The
men’s race promises equal drama, with defending champion Vincent
Ng’etich returning to the streets of Manchester in pursuit of
back-to-back titles—and the course record of 27:24, which he narrowly
missed last year.
Ng’etich
surged to victory in 2024 with a 27:25 finish, fending off Australia’s
Jack Rayner (27:44) and Olympic marathon silver medallist Bashir Abdi
(27:46).
“I’m happy to be
returning to Manchester to defend my title. I’m coming off another
third-place finish in Tokyo, so I’m in similar shape to 2024.
"I was so close to the course record last year, so that will be at the back of my mind," Ng'etich said.
The
26-year-old is coming off a strong start to the season, having finished
second at the Santa Pola Half Marathon (1:00:00) and third at the Tokyo
Marathon (2:04:00).
However, Ng'etich will not have it easy with the 2020 Olympic 10,000m champion Selemon Barega of Ethiopia, also in contention.
