mind2023
On Sunday, May 21, Hellen Obiri, a two-time world 5000m champion, will start the 20th AJ Bell Great Manchester Run after recently taking home her first noteworthy marathon victory in just her second effort at the traditional distance.
It’s expected that the Boston Marathon champion, who won the Manchester event in 30:15 last year—four seconds quicker than Eilish McColgan’s British record-breaking time—will duplicate that time on Sunday.
Obiri will have tough opposition in the race for the title even without McColgan, who is currently healing from the knee problem that prevented her from finishing her debut marathon in London.
Peres Jepchirchir, a fellow countrywoman and current Olympic champion who just placed third in the London Marathon, which was won by rookie Sifan Hassan, is anticipated to be her major competition.
The British team, which also features Mollie Williams, Monika Jackiewicz, Lily Partridge, Rose Harvey, and Natasha Cockram among others, is scheduled to compete against the Kenyan squad. Senbere Teferi, the Ethiopian 5000m world champion from 2015, and Steph Twell, the captain of the home team, are likely to battle the Kenyan squad.
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