Athletics

Eilish McColgan leads Nice North Run elite line-ups

September 1, 2024
Ibrahim

Berihu Aregawi, Sisay Lemma and former winner Marc Scott are a part of a powerful males’s subject for the September 8 occasion

Eilish McColgan’s autumn street racing steps up a gear on September 8 when she tackles the AJ Bell Nice North Run.

The 33-year-old holds the British data on the roads at 5km, 10km, 10 miles and half-marathon however has not but gained the enduring 13.1-mile race throughout her profession. She has, nonetheless, gained a number of different Nice Run occasions and in 2021 completed runner-up to Hellen Obiri on the Nice North Run.

After an injury-hit 2023, McColgan returned this summer season to make the Olympic group in Paris, ending fifteenth within the 10,000m. However after a number of extra weeks of coaching she is predicted to be stronger as she tackles the Huge Half in London on September 1 adopted by the Nice North Run seven days later after which the Vitality London 10,000 on the roads of London once more on September 22.

On the Nice North Run she’s going to face, amongst others, Vivian Cheruiyot, the Nice North Run winner in 2016 and 2018, plus Sheila Chepkirui, the Kenyan who was third behind McColgan when the Scot gained the Commonwealth 10,000m title in 2022.

Cheruiyot, who’s now 40, additionally gained the London Marathon in 2018 and the Olympic 5000m gold in 2016.

There’s additionally Senbere Teferi, the previous women-only 5km world record-holder and 65:32 runner within the half-marathon, plus two-time London Marathon podium placer Mergetu Alemu and British-based Kenyan Mary Ngugi-Cooper.

Within the males’s race Marc Scott returns to attempt to retain the title he gained in 2021. However he faces powerful opposition from Berihu Aregawi, the Ethiopian who gained Olympic 10,000m silver shut behind Joshua Cheptegei in Paris.

Marc Scott (North Information)

Final weekend Aregawi additionally went No.3 on the world all-time rankings for 3000m behind Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s world document in Poland.

Additionally racing on Tyneside are 2024 Boston Marathon and 2021 London Marathon winner Sisay Lemma, 2023 Boston Marathon winner Evans Chebet and Kenya’s NYC Half winner from earlier this 12 months, Abel Kipchumba.

Berihu Aregawi (Getty)

McColgan stated: “I’ve unimaginable reminiscences of competing in Newcastle and collaborating within the Junior Nice North Run occasions over 20 years in the past, and we’ve a household historical past on the Nice North Run, with mum being a three-time winner, so this 12 months’s Nice North Run shall be a particular one for me to lastly observe in my mum’s footsteps and since as I’ve but to run the unique route from Newcastle to South Shields.”

She added: “Coming back from this 12 months’s Paris Olympics and on the street again from damage, I’m particularly wanting ahead to the 1000’s of spectators lining the streets of the North East, in addition to the 60,000 inspirational runners participating in their very own journey.”

McColgan’s greatest half-marathon time is 65:43 set in Berlin final 12 months. Paula Radcliffe has run three seconds faster – on the Nice North Run in 2003 – however the course isn’t eligible for data.

Eilish McColgan (Bobby Gavin)

This 12 months’s run can even welcome again the elite males’s and girls’s wheelchair races, held to the backdrop of this 12 months’s Paralympic Video games closing ceremony in Paris.  Notable rivals embrace JohnBoy Smith, Sean Body, Michel McCabe and Jade Corridor.

Sir Brendan Foster, founding father of the Nice North Run, stated: “Our unbelievable spectators are as soon as once more in for an amazing day because of our spectacular elite subject on the prime finish of our Nice North Run Sunday.

“It’s an honour for the North East to welcome elite athletes to our world famend half marathon, in a 12 months the place the Nice North Run has been awarded the distinguished World Athletics Heritage Plaque, a recognition for its contribution to street operating, and it’s additionally an award for the individuals who assist make the Nice North Run so particular and displays how a lot the occasion means to so many.

“So, we’re more than happy to welcome as soon as once more such inspirational athletes from internationally to battle it out for a brand new world document, or a win – it’s all the time thrilling to see the continued improvement of athletics within the UK and to welcome unimaginable athletics expertise within the North East in addition to passionate athletics supporters.”

Two days earlier than the half-marathon, the Nice Run Firm can even assist organise the UK Athletics 5km Street Working Championships on Friday (Sept 6).

READ MORE: Eilish McColgan interview

The occasion, which kicks off the Nice North Run weekend with the elite races happening over three laps of roughly one mile, whereas the mass participation race takes place over one 5km loop.

Final 12 months’s championship winners – in an occasion which additionally doubled because the trials for the inaugural World Street Working Championships – have been Scott Beattie in 13:56 and Verity Ockenden in 15:26.

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