Running News Daily

The AJ Bell Great South Run delivered a thrilling day of road racing, with Kadar Omar and Hannah Irwin claiming impressive victories after two contrasting battles at the front of the field.

Omar produced a powerful display in the men’s race, breaking away early alongside twice Olympian Andy Butchart. The pair quickly established themselves at the head of the field and went through the 10-kilometre mark together in 29:34, setting the stage for a fascinating battle over the closing stages.

But while Butchart remained firmly in contention through the first part of the race, Omar began to turn the screw as the finish approached. The Birchfield Harriers athlete shifted through the gears and opened a 27-second advantage by 15 kilometres, putting himself firmly in control.

The 30-year-old continued to extend his advantage over the final kilometre before crossing the finish line in 47:27 to secure a convincing victory. His ability to maintain his pace and push clear in the closing stages ultimately proved decisive.

Butchart, making his Great South Run debut, finished strongly to take second in 47:49, while Alex Durant of Sheffield AC & Dearn secured third place. City of Portsmouth athlete Lachlan Wellington was sixth, completing the race in 50:27.

Omar’s victory was a testament to his ability to judge a race perfectly. After running conservatively alongside Butchart during the early stages, he found another level when it mattered most and produced the decisive move that separated him from his closest rival.

Speaking after his victory, Omar reflected on the demanding conditions and the effort required to secure the title.

“I pushed myself through the wind. And I gave it all I had,” Omar said. “I’m happy. It’s a great event, you know. Hopefully next year I can come back and race again.”

The women’s race was an entirely different story, with Hannah Irwin and defending champion Verity Ockenden locked in a remarkably close contest for almost the entire distance.

Irwin eventually prevailed in 53:34, with Ockenden finishing just three seconds behind in 53:37. Daisy Glover completed the women’s podium in 54:53 after another strong performance.

The closeness of the battle was reflected in Irwin’s comments after the finish. Rather than being a race dominated by one athlete, the two leaders remained virtually inseparable until the decisive moments.

“It was a really good fun race today. I really enjoyed having a battle with Verity,” Irwin said. “We were literally neck and neck the entire way, I think until like 200 to go.”

The weather added another challenge to the contest, with the athletes having to contend with strong winds for much of the race. Irwin explained that although the wind became a tailwind approaching the finish, that offered little relief after facing a headwind for much of the course.

“The wind was coming from the other direction, so it was a back wind coming into the finish. But that was no easier because it meant the majority of the rest of the race was a headwind,” she explained.

Irwin also revealed how she approached the tactical battle with Ockenden, recognising that the defending champion was having an exceptionally strong day and deciding that working together could benefit both athletes.

“I kind of thought, I think she (Ockenden) is having a really good day today, so we’re just going to have to work together,” Irwin said.

The decisive moment finally arrived in the closing stages, when Irwin found enough strength to hold off Ockenden and secure the victory by the narrowest of margins.

“I was pleased that my legs held on and I managed to come away with the win,” Irwin added.

The contrasting nature of the two elite races made for a memorable edition of the AJ Bell Great South Run. Omar gradually transformed an early breakaway into a commanding victory, while Irwin had to fight until the final moments to deny the defending champion.

With strong performances throughout both races, the event once again provided a compelling showcase of elite road racing, combining tactical battles, challenging conditions and dramatic finishes. For Omar and Irwin, however, the day belonged to them as they emerged victorious on a memorable day in Portsmouth.

Kadar Omar Abdullahi and Eilish McColgan took centre stage at the 2026 Vitality London 10,000 on Sunday, with both athletes producing commanding performances on the streets of the British capital.

Abdullahi capped a memorable September by securing the men’s title in 29:20, pulling clear of British distance-running star Phil Sesemann, who crossed the line second in 29:39. Freddy Richardson completed the podium in 29:53.

The victory continued Abdullahi’s impressive run of form after his breakthrough triumph at the Big Half earlier this month. Having already demonstrated his strength over 13.1 miles, the British athlete returned to the roads of London and produced another controlled performance over 10 kilometres, ultimately creating a 19-second winning margin.

Sesemann remained his closest challenger, but Abdullahi was able to establish the decisive gap and bring the race under control in the closing stages. Richardson followed in third, giving the home crowd a strong British presence across the men’s podium.

For Abdullahi, the victory adds another significant chapter to what has been an outstanding month on the London road-racing scene. His back-to-back victories at the Big Half and Vitality London 10,000 underline both his speed and versatility across the longer road distances.

In the women’s race, Eilish McColgan delivered the headline performance of the day, winning in 31:50 to claim an unprecedented fourth Vitality London 10,000 title.

The Scottish distance star finished comfortably ahead of Jess Warner-Judd, who took second in 33:13, while Kate Estlea-Morris secured third in 33:58.

McColgan’s latest victory moves her clear as the most successful woman in the history of the event. She had previously won the race in 2022, 2024 and 2025, and her latest triumph adds another piece of history to an already remarkable career on the track and road.

The achievement is particularly notable given the twists and turns of McColgan’s 2026 season. After suffering a broken toe during the London Marathon in April and subsequently missing the Commonwealth Games, she returned to racing with a victory at the Big Half before another setback forced her to withdraw from the Great North Run.

Just two weeks later, she was back at the sharp end of competition, producing a composed 31:50 performance to reclaim the London 10,000 crown.

The Vitality London 10,000, one of the capital’s most prominent road races, follows a fast and largely flat route beginning on The Mall and finishing outside Buckingham Palace, providing a spectacular setting for both elite and mass-participation runners.

With Abdullahi extending his remarkable September run and McColgan rewriting the event’s record books, the 2026 edition provided a memorable double triumph for two athletes who arrived in London carrying momentum—and left with another major victory to their names.

The British distance runner is now joint-fifth on the UK 10km all-time list after his run in the Shropshire town

Jack Rowe got the better of Phil Sesemann at the Telford 10km, shaving five seconds off his personal best with a time of 28:02 (December 14).

The Aldershot, Farnham & District athlete’s previous quickest mark was the 28:07 he clocked in Manchester three years ago.

Not only was Rowe’s 28:02 the fastest time by a Brit over 10km this season but it also put him joint-fifth on the UK all-time list over the distance.

This was Rowe’s fourth major win of the autumn road season after victories at the Big Half, Vitality London 10,000 and Manchester Half Marathon.

It’s been quite the season for Rowe, who’s recorded personal bests in the 1500m, 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m.

Sesemann meanwhile clocked 28:08 for second in Telford, just short of his 10km best of 28:26, set at the Corrida Pédestre Internationale de Houilles meet in France five years ago.

Kadar Omar was third in 28:34 with his Birchfield Harriers team-mate fourth Aron Gebremariam in 28:58.

It was Gebremariam’s first ever 10km and the English national cross-country junior champion performed well.

It was a much closer affair in the women’s field, with Amelia Quirk edging out Sarah Astin by just three seconds.

Quirk, who won the English national cross-country crown in 2020 and is a regular on British distance teams, clocked 32:40.

The Bracknell AC athlete races sparingly on the roads and this was only her second outing over 10km, with Quirk’s previous best mark being 31:53 from Valencia last year.

Natasha Phillips ran 32:56 for third place, a mark that put her top of the British under-20 rankings this season and fourth on the all-time junior list, after being pushed by Bournemouth based Ethiopian Atsede Gidey.

Teenager Holly Weedall also set a personal best of 33:21, improving on the 33:58 she clocked in Telford last year.

Jake Smith, Dewi Griffiths and Kadar Omar will head the men’s fields at the Cardiff 5km Race For Victory on Sunday May 5, whereas Clara Evans, Jenny Nesbitt and Innes FitzGerald top the women’s start lists, writes Alex Donald.

The ever popular community event held in the leafy Whitchurch suburb of the Welsh capital incorporates the 2024 Welsh 5km Championships and will host teams from the Midlands, North, South and South West of England, along with a team from North Wales and one representing the UK Armed Forces.

Smith (13:59) dipped under 14 minutes with victory here in 2022 and has competed three times so far in 2024 with his best performance a 29:25 clocking at the 10km Valencia Ibercaja in January.

Griffiths (13:43) and Omar (14:02) faced off a week ago with Omar finishing 14 seconds ahead over 10km in Newport. The former also completed a 2:12 marathon at Seville in February.

Richard Allen (13:51) is a former world duathlon champion and a former record-holder at the popular Podium 5km in Barrowford. More recently the Leeds man won the 2023 Trafford 10km.

Jonathan Hopkins (13:54) returns as a previous winner here, claiming the Welsh title on that occasion in 2018. The Swansea man has dipped under 14 minutes on several occasions in the past and most recently in 2021 at Barrowford.

A further challenge is expected from track man James Heneghan (14:35) and the 2023 Nos Galan 5km winner Ben Reynolds (14:05).

Welsh marathon record-holder Clara Evans (15:49) is the defending champion here and is in great shape, recently proven by a 70:11 clocking on a windy day at the Berlin Half Marathon and with a 31:53 PB in third place at the Trafford 10km.

Evans is joined by training partner and clubmate 2019 UK Inter-Counties cross-country champion Jenny Nesbitt (15:41) who set her PB at the recent Podium 5km Festival in Leicester.

Further Welsh interest sits with Emily Kearney-Haggard, who finished second at the Mid-Cheshire 5km last weekend in a new best of 15:44 and 2023 Cardiff 10km champion Alaw Evans (16:33).

European under-20 cross-country champion Innes FitzGerald overcame Nesbitt at the Cardiff Met Open Meeting over 3000m in January. The Exeter Harrier will make a 5km road race debut in Cardiff but has a parkrun best of 16:02 from January.

Molli Lyons (16:47) is another promising young athlete in action, finishing 15th here last year but since making her Great Britain & Northern Ireland team debut at the European Cross Country Championships in Brussels.

The fastest man in town completed his 10k run in less than 30 minutes

More than 12,000 people ran, walked, laughed and joked as they took part in the Great Birmingham Run 2023 on Sunday May 7. There was a fun atmosphere as the sun shone down on the crowds running and those cheering them on from the side lines.

But, for some, this was a serious event - and they achieved record results. In fact the fastest man in town completed his 10k run in less than 30 minutes. 

Many people ran in aid of charities, such as Birmingham Children's Hospital, and some took part just to better their own personal bests. With two events for children too, there was something for everyone.

Whether you're a regular runner with a club or a newbie looking to improve your fitness levels, today's AJ Bell Great Birmingham 10K and Half Marathon had something for everyone.

Everyone who runs is issued with a run number, which has a timing chip, so that your run time is recorded when you make your way over the finish line. So, how did your results compare with the elite athletes on the day? Well, here are the results...

Chris Thompson did the entire route from Centenary Square, through the Jewellery Quarter and down to the Smithfield site in just 29 minutes and 27 seconds. That's even quicker than last year's fastest male - Jonathan Cornish - who shot through the finish line in 30 minutes and 14 seconds.

Top 3 men in the Great Birmingham 10K run

1 Chris Thompson 29 minutes and 27 seconds

2 Kadar Omar 29 minutes and 34 seconds

3 Dean Williamson 30 minutes and 47 seconds

Top 3 women in the Great Birmingham 10K run

1 Rachel Gifford 36 minutes and 30 seconds

2 Roanna Vickers 36 minutes and 39 seconds

3 Emily Smith 37 minutes and 42 seconds

Top 3 men in the Half Marathon

1 Omar Ahmed one hour, five minutes and 23 seconds

2 Jack Shayler one hour, seven minutes and 50 seconds

3 Edward Diamond one hour, nine minutes and 28 seconds

Top 3 women in the Half Marathon

1 Hayley Carruthers one hour, 21 minutes and 11 seconds

2 Lisa Thomas one hour, 24 minutes and two seconds

3 Natasha Malin one hour, 27 minutes and 59 seconds

Get ready for some quick times on Sunday (Jan 15) when the self-styled “ciudad del running” stages its annual 10km Valencia Ibercaja event on its famously fast roads.

Many of the world’s top distance runners will descend upon the Spanish city this weekend in search of record-breaking performances. These include Yalemzerf Yehualaw, who will attack her own women’s world record of 29:14 set in Castellón 11 months ago.

The 23-year-old impressed over the marathon last year, too, as she clocked what was, at the time, the world’s fastest ever debut by a woman with 2:17:23 in Hamburg before later capturing the London Marathon title in 2:17:26.

British athletes are in Valencia in force too. The Spanish road race clashes with the trial in Perth, Scotland, for the World Cross Country Championships, but many have opted to slip on their super-shoes rather than spikes to chase PBs on the road.

Yehualaw is the star attraction and will wear No.1 on her singlet on Sunday, but she is joined in Valencia by fellow Ethiopian Ejgayehu Taye, who holds the world 5km record with 14:19 from Barcelona in 2021. In addition, Karoline Grøvdal of Norway will attack the European record of 30:05 held by Lonah Salpeter of Israel.

In the men’s field, sub-27min performers Richard Kimunyan Yator and Weldon Kipkirui Langat of Kenya plus Rodrigue Kwizera of Burundi lead the men’s entries in a field of around 11,000 runners which is set to feature about 100 elite athletes from 15 different nations.

Jacob Krop, the world 5000m silver medallist and 12:45.71 runner on the track, is also in the line-up together with Paul Chelimo of the United States, while Morhad Amdouni and Jimmy Gressier of France lead the European challenge.

Their target is Rhonex Kipruto’s world record of 26:24, which was set in this event in 2020.

“We want the men to approach the European record (27:13 by Julien Wanders set in Valencia in 2020) and, with the African armada, to look for sub-27 records and even approach the world record,” said Acuña. “The 2023 race will be the most competitive of all editions. The best European athletes want to run the 10km Valencia Ibercaja – and we have been working for months in that direction.”

He added: “The goal of the race is to become more international year after year and reach more and more countries. We are a world reference for the distance and the best athletes want to run in Valencia.”

Don’t be surprised to see the UK all-time rankings revised on Sunday when a large contingent of British athletes tackle the Valencia 10km.

They are led by Samantha Harrison, who already sits No.5 on the UK all-time rankings with 31:10 from Telford in December.

Calli Thackery, the fifth quickest British woman in history over 5km with 14:58, is also set to compete. Add to this Olympic marathoner Steph Twell, plus Amelia Quirk, Lucy Reid and Sarah Astin.

One week after out-kicking Jake Wightman indoors over 3000m, Phil Sesemann takes to the roads looking to beat his 28:24 PB from 2019.

The Mahamed brothers – Mahamed and Zak – are also in the line-up, plus Olympic 5000m finalist Andy Butchart, Efrem Gidey, Ellis Cross, Calum Elson and Kadar Omar.

The list goes on with Kieran Clements, Jack Gray, Jonathan Hopkins, Alfie Manthorpe, Lewis Jagger, Ronny Wilson, Jonny Davies, Alex Lepetre, Jonathan Escalante, Dan Studley, Norman Shreeve and Corey De’Ath.