AJ Bell Great Manchester Run 2025 Elite Field Announced

As the clock ticks ever closer to this year’s AJ Bell Great Manchester Run on Sunday 18^th May, the line up for the elite field races are unveiled with both 2024 Men’s and Women’s Champions returning to defend their titles.

Vincent Ngetich of Kenya set a P.B of 27.25 last year, narrowly missing the Course Record by just 1 second. He recently came third at the 2025 Tokyo Marathon so looks likely to put on a strong defence of his Great Manchester Run crown. Gotytom Gebreslase, from Ethiopia, also returns to defend her title after setting a P.B here in 2024 with a time of 30.32.

Defending champion Vincent Ngetich said: “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.”

Joining the men’s field is Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic 10000m Gold Medalist and 2022 World Indoor Champion. Competing in his first Great Manchester Run he said. “This is actually my first 10k road race outside of Ethiopia, which is actually quite hard to believe. I’ve competed all over the world over 10,000m on the track but it’s strange to think that this is my debut on the roads outside of home. I’m excited to compete in Manchester in such a big race with a great history”.

May 18^th will also see the exciting debut by his fellow countryman Deresa Geleta who finished second in February’s Tokyo Marathon. 

In the women’s field, Gebreslase will face stiff competition from the likes of Hellen Obiri (Kenya) the 2024 Olympic Marathon Bronze Medalist and three-time Great Manchester Run champion. Medina Eisa (Ethiopia), who holds the fastest time in world this year posting 29:25 in Castellón, Spain, will be one athlete to watch closely too. Also racing is 2024 runner up Rosemary Wanjiru from Kenya alongside another former champion Vivian Cheruiyot.

Speaking from her training base in Addis Ababa, Gotytom said “I really enjoyed racing in Manchester last year so it was an easy decision to come back and try to and make it two in a row. I can see many good girls here this weekend so I know it will be tough, but I am ready.”

Whilst Hellen Obiri added: “I enjoy racing in Manchester and coming off a tough Boston Marathon it presents a different challenge which I am looking forward to. I have recovered well and will be giving it my all to get another victory here in the UK.”

Leading the British challenge will be Verity Ockenden who is coming off an impressive PB of 31.35 and Alex Bell, who finished 7^th at the 2020 Olympics over 800m.

Sir Brendan Foster, President of The Great Run Company, said: “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 as there is very little between the elite line-up. It really could be anyone’s race this year!”

This year’s event will once again feature elite men’s and women’s wheelchair races. Leading the field in the Men’s race are defending champion JohnBoy Smith, and 2023 winner Sean Frame. Also returning to the streets of Manchester is Olympian David Weir CBE who is looking to add a sixth Great Manchester Run win to his tally. Headlining the Women’s field is 2024 Great North Run Champion, Jade Hall who is looking to repeat her Great Manchester Run success of 2023.

The full list of elite athletes competing is available at the end of the release.

Elite athletes will line up alongside 35,000 participants on the Sunday morning taking on either the 10K or half marathon distance, making this the biggest Great Manchester Run in a decade. Starting on Portland Street, the course passes some of Manchester’s most iconic landmarks all along the route Old Trafford, the Imperial War Museum at Salford Quays and The Lowry before a grandstand finish on Deansgate.

Stephen Vowles, Chief Marketing Officer, AJ Bell added: “We’re incredibly proud to be title partner of the AJ Bell Great Run Series for a third year. Manchester is home to AJ Bell’s head office, which makes it all the more exciting to welcome some of the world’s most accomplished elite runners to the city we know and love. Seeing some of the sport’s top talent hit the streets of Manchester will no doubt inspire everyday people to lace up their running shoes and give it a go, myself included. I’m looking forward to soaking up the atmosphere in amongst the 35,000 runners taking part.” 

The Great Manchester Run will be broadcast live on BBC One from 11am until 1pm.

08:10                   Elite Wheelchair Start

08:15                   Half Marathon Start

11:30                   10K Elite Women Start

11:45                   10K Elite Men and Masses Start

With the Half Marathon now sold out, remaining places for the 10K are expected to sell out shortly so enter now to secure your spot on the famous start line.  Find out more and enter at greatrun.org/manchester.

The full list of competing athletes is as follows:

AJ Bell Great Manchester Run 2026 Elite Men’s 10K

AJ Bell Great Manchester Run 2026 Elite Women’s 10K

AJ Bell Great Manchester Run 2026 Elite Wheelchair 10K

Check out the Great Run RIA Member profile here  .