Obiri misses out on podium as Ethiopians dominate Great Manchester Run

Kenya’s double-Olympic silver medalist Hellen Obiri could not add to her three Great Manchester Run crowns as she settled for a fourth-place finish in the 10km race on Sunday 18 May.

Obiri, who was making her return to the road since finishing second at this year’s Boston Marathon, was among a group of nine leaders at the halfway stage, but could not find a final touch as she faded to cross the line just outside the podium places in a time of 31:16.

Emerging Ethiopian star Medina Eisa was the dominant figure however, as she took the women’s crown clocking 30:42.

2024 champion Gotytom Gebreslase, who at some point was in a battle for second place with Obiri, also faded late to finish third (31:11), behind USA’s Emily Sisson (31:03).

After passing the 5km mark in 15:36, Eisa let rip with a 2:59 sixth kilometre that put some distance between her and the closing pack, before pulling away with a 15:08 second half down Manchester United’s football ground Old Trafford.

Former champion Vivian Cheruiyot was sixth in 31:35, with fellow Kenyan Rosemary Wanjiru crossing the line tenth clocking 33:14.

In the men’s race, Kenya’s Vincent Ngetich relinquished the title he won last year after finishing third in a time of 27:58.

The race was won by Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega, who waited until just over 400m to go before unleashing his sprint, coming home in 27:49.

Santiago Catrofe of Uruguay was runner-up in 27:52.

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"I'm really happy with that run," Barega, who is now stepping on to the roads after a successful track career that included winning Olympic 10,000m gold in 2021, told Athletics Weekly post-race. "But the marathon is very different from 10km, so let's see."