Some of the world's best athletes are arriving in Newcastle this week ahead of taking part in the Great North Run and defending champion Hellen Obiri is among those who can't wait to spring into action.
Obiri, a two-time Olympic silver medallist and three-time world champion, ran the 2021 half-marathon in the remarkable time of 1:07:42 - with Scotland's Eilish McColgan hot on her heels crossing the finish line just six seconds later. The elite men's race was won by Marc Scott with an even faster time of 1:01:22 and he too will be back this year to defend his title in what is described as the best ever men's line-up.
Obiri has told of her excitement about returning to the Great North Run following last year's debut, which saw her continue the record of a Kenyan winning the Great North Run every year since 2013. This time she will face stiff competition from her compatriot Peres Jepchirchir who is the current Olympic Marathon champion - and the women’s only world record-holder - as well as the Ethiopian duo of Ayana Almaz, previous winner of a Olympic 10,000m title, and Hiwot Gebrekidan.
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Obiri said: “I’m very excited to be coming back to the UK and competing at the Great North Run. The competition as always will be tough but I like the challenge and hope the crowd will come to support us and see a good race." Brit Charlotte Purdue - who last year took third place with a time of 01:08:49 - will be back too.
Other rivals in the the 13.1 mile race include Jess Piasecki, who competed in the Olympic Marathon in Tokyo, and European medallists Verity Ockenden and Brit Amy Eloise-Markovc, who will be making her Great North Run debut. Meanwhile Scott, who was born in Northallerton in Yorkshire, will be kept on his toes by the likes of Olympians Selemon Barega and Joshua Cheptegei.
The Great Run Company, which has just announced that former BP managing director Peter Mather will taking over as chairman from race founder Sir Brendan Foster, who will move into a new role as president, says this September's event has had a whopping 60,000 entrants.
The run celebrated its 40-year anniversary in 2021 and now, with that milestone behind it, the focus is now very much upon the future and looking ahead to its 50th. Here are some of the elite runners to look out this Sunday and their achievements.
Elite runners taking part in the 2022 Great North Run
Selemon Barega - Ethiopia
This will be the Great North Run debut for Olympic 10,000m champion who is also world 3,000m indoor champion and twice world silver medallist indoor and out.
Joshua Cheptegei - Uganda
An Olympic 5,000m champion and three-times world champion; Olympic silver medalist over 1,0000m and a world record holder at 5,000m, 5k, 1,0000m and 10k.
Jacob Kiplimo - Uganda
With a 57.31 world record personal best, Kiplimo is a world half-marathon champion; Olympic and World Championship bronze medallist; a silver medaliist at world cross-country Commonwealth 5,000 and 1,0000m champion.
Marc Scott - Great Britain
The defending Great North Run champion is a 2022 national 5,000m champion with a 2022 world indoor bronze at 3,000m.
Hellen Obiri - Kenya
The defending Great North Run women's champion is a two-times Olympic silver medallist and three-times world champion.
Peres Jepchirchir - Kenya
An Olympic Marathon champion and women only world record holder.
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