Hellen Obiri and Mo Farah headline Sunday's Manchester 10km contests

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ATHLETICS Hellen Obiri and Mo Farah headline Sunday's Manchester 10km contests

Abigael Wafula 08:30 - 19.05.2023

During last year’s edition, Obiri displayed a brilliant show to win the 10km race in 30:15 ahead of Great Britain’s Eilish McColgan who clocked 30:19.

Reigning Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri will return to the streets of Manchester on Sunday, May 21 in a quest to defend her AJ Bell Great Manchester Run.

During last year’s edition, Obiri displayed a brilliant show to win the 10km race in 30:15 ahead of Great Britain’s Eilish McColgan who clocked 30:19. Ruth Chepng’etich sealed the podium in 30:29.

Obiri has had a great start to her season and will be looking to maintain the hist streak. She has won all her three races competed in so far. She opened her season with a win at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon before reigning supreme at the New York City Half Marathon.

Her greatest achievement so far is when she surprised the oldies to win the Boston Marathon, her second marathon in her career since she made her debut at last year’s New York City Marathon.

However, the race will not be a walk in the part for the two-time world 5000m champion. The strongest challenge is set to come from compatriot Peres Jepchirchir, the reigning Olympic marathon champion who was third in London, and Ethiopia’s 2015 5000m world championships silver medallist Senbere Teferi.

In the men’s race Sir Mo Farah will tackle what is set to be the penultimate competitive race of his storied career but it won’t just be the multiple global track champion who will be attracting attention on the city streets.

On paper, the fastest man in the men’s field is Callum Hawkins, though how close he can come to his 10km road PB of 28:02 remains to be seen following his injury problems in recent years.

The Scot, who has twice finished fourth over the marathon at the World Championships, will be looking to make more progress back towards top form.

Fellow Brit Marc Scott, the winner of this event in 2021, has a PB of 28:03 and will want to make his mark in his first outing since coming 12th in the Istanbul Half Marathon at the end of last month.

Farah can expect plenty of support again, having last been seen in action when coming ninth in the London Marathon, where he confirmed his intention to retire at the end of this year. The four-time Olympic champion also clocked 30:41 for 10km in Gabon last month.

The home athletes will be up against the Australian duo of Jack Rayner – runner-up in Manchester last year and the current national 10km record holder – plus Stewart McSweyn, the national 1500m and 3000m record-holder who has an identical road PB to Scott.

Last year’s Osaka Marathon champion, Japan’s Gaku Hoshi, plus Uganda’s Commonwealth marathon champion Victor Kaplangat, add to the strength of the international field.

As well as the popular 10km, the event schedule also features a half marathon plus the Mini and Junior Great Manchester Run.

The women’s 10km sets off at 1:15pm with the men under starter’s orders at 1:30pm. The action will also be broadcast on BBC One from 1:00pm.

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