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Hellen Obiri ready for "different challenge" in weekend's Great Manchester Run
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 13.05.25. | 15:15
The 35-year-old will come up against fellow Kenyans Vivian Cheruiyot and last year's runner-up Rosemary Wanjiru
Two-time Olympic silver-medalist Hellen Obiri will make her return on the roads at the 2025 AJ Bell Great Manchester Run, scheduled for Sunday, 18 May in England.
Obiri, who, late in April, failed in her bid to clinch a Boston Marathon three-peat, was announced as part of a deep field which will compete in the 10-kilometre race, answering any questions surrounding her next stop.
The 35-year-old will come up against established names including: former champion Vivian Cheruiyot, Ethiopian youngster Medina Eisa, 2024 runner-up Rosemary Wanjiru, and reigning champion Gotytom Gebreslase.
The race will not be a first for Obiri, who already boasts of three wins there (2019, 2022, 2023).
“I enjoy racing in Manchester and coming off a tough Boston Marathon, it presents a different challenge which I am looking forward to,” Obiri said.
“I have recovered well and will be giving it my all to get another victory here in the UK.”
Speaking to Mozzart Sport in April, Obiri said "my body failed” during the Boston Marathon, in which she finished second in a personal best time of 2:17.41.
Her course-record time of 30:15 will be under huge threat from Gebreslase and Eisa, who recently ran a blistering 29:25 in Castellon this year.
On a potential title defense, Gebreslase said: “I really enjoyed racing in Manchester last year, so it was an easy decision to come back and try to make it two in a row.
I can see many good girls this weekend, so I know it will be tough, but I am ready.”
In the men’s race, Kenya’s Vincent Ngetich will look to defend his title from last year against a field that will include Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Selemon Barega and Ethiopian debutant Deresa Geleta.
“I’m happy to be returning to Macheter and defend my title,” Ngetich said. “I’m coming off another third-place finish in Tokyo, so I’m in similar shape to 2024.
I was so close to the course record last year, so that will be at the back of my mind.”
