The elite athlete line-up of this 12 months’s Nice Manchester Run is stacked with Olympic gold medallists, European champions, previous winners and a defending champion.
Selemon Barega headlines this 12 months’s AJ Bell Nice Manchester Run and returns as defending champion within the elite males’s 10km, off the again of his victory in 2025 in 27:49. Scorching on his heels hoping to grab victory this 12 months might be Uruguay’s Santiago Catrofe, who claimed second place in 2025, with 2024 winner Vincent Ngetich of Kenya additionally that includes in a stellar lineup. British hopes relaxation with former champion Marc Scott, alongside two time Olympian Andy Butchart.
Barega stated: „I’m wanting ahead to returning to defend my title on the Nice Manchester Run. I actually loved the race final 12 months, the competitors seems robust once more so I do know I’ll must be at my greatest to to complete on the prime of the rostrum.“
The elite ladies’s 10km is shaping as much as be as equally as thrilling, with present Nice North Run Champion Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya lining up in opposition to the reigning Boston Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi, US half-marathon record-holder Weini Kelati and 2022 European 5000m champion Konstanze Klosterhalfen. Nice Britain’s Verity Ockenden, Lily Partridge, Clara Evans and Jess Piasecki will battle it for out for house honours and a spot on the rostrum.
Chepkirui added: „After profitable the Nice North Run final 12 months, I hoped we may work Manchester into my schedule for 2026 as I’ve heard many good issues about this race. I’m wanting ahead to testing myself in opposition to among the greatest on this planet, and hope to take my good type this 12 months into this race.“
Final autumn, organisers of the AJ Bell Nice Manchester Run and the Manchester Highway Race in Connecticut, USA introduced a “twinning” of the 2 elite athlete packages. The highest American finishers from 2025 race might be competing over the weekend – Morgan Beadlescomb and Weini Kelati. The primary British elite athletes to complete the Nice Manchester Run will each be invited to compete within the Connecticut street race in November.
The elite wheelchair race will see a conflict of the titans as six-time Nice Manchester Run champion David Weir returns to defend his title as soon as once more. He faces stiff competitors from 2025 Nice North Run winner Sean Body and Paralympic relay silver medallist Nathan Maguire. Double Paralympian and two-time bronze medallist on the 2025 World Para Championships Melanie Woods, headlines the ladies’s line up.
Sir Brendan Foster, President of The Nice Run Firm, stated: „Yr after 12 months we proudly welcome among the best athletes from throughout the globe to the Nice Manchester Run. With the town so steeped in sporting historical past, it’s no shock that the world’s prime athletes return to the streets of Manchester to compete and absorb the unbeatable ambiance. The elite races at all times see a couple of surprises and a nail-biting dash for the end, so it is going to be an ideal watch whether or not you’re right here in particular person or watching at house.“
The elite runners might be adopted by 38,000 contributors taking up the 10km and half marathon distances in what’s shaping up the be the most important Nice Manchester Run weekend thus far.
Beginning on Portland Road, the course passes a few of Manchester’s most iconic landmarks all alongside the route, together with Outdated Trafford, Etihad, Imperial Struggle Museum & Salford Quays, earlier than a grandstand end on Deansgate. Greater than 100,000 spectators will line the streets to help, with the motion additionally broadcast dwell on BBC Two from 11am to 1pm.
