Addis Ababa, May 7, 2026 (FMC) — Olympic 10,000m champion Selemon Barega of Ethiopia is set to lead the elite men’s field at this year’s AJ Bell Great Manchester Run, with a strong international lineup confirmed for the May 31 event.
Barega, who won the Manchester 10K title last year in a record time of 27:49, returns as one of the leading contenders in the men’s race. The Ethiopian star will line up against Uruguay’s Santiago Catrofe and Kenya’s Vincent Ngetich, both of whom have previously featured among the top finishers in major road races.
The men’s elite field also includes Japan’s Shota Nishiwaki, Australia’s Brett Robinson, and a strong British contingent featuring Ben Connor, Scott Stirling, Nick Griggs, Matthew Clowes, and Jack Gray.
In the women’s elite race, Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui and Sharon Lokedi headline the field, alongside Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen and USA’s Weini Kelati. The British challenge is led by Verity Ockenden, Lily Partridge, Clara Evans, and Jess Piasecki.
The 2026 edition of the Great Manchester Run is expected to attract a high-calibre international field across both men’s and women’s categories, reinforcing its status as one of the UK’s leading road running events.