Lokedi, Chepkirui set to clash at Manchester 10km
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 09.05.26. | 13:45
2024 winner Vincent Ngetich of Kenya is part of an elite men's field featuring a stellar lineup
Reigning Boston Marathon and back-to-back champion Sharon Lokedi will face 2024 New York City Marathon winner Sheila Chepkirui at the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run set for, Sunday, 31 May.
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In an elite women's 10km shaping up to be exciting, Lokedi, who on Monday, 20 April lifted the Boston Marathon title in 2:18:51, has a 10km best of 30:52 from New York.
She makes a return to the same field she recorded 31:06 in 2022, where she placed fourth.
Meanwhile Chepkirui clocked 29:46 in Valencia, but that was back in 2020. She last raced the distance in 2025 in Boston, clocking 32:17 for seventh place.
Her most recent action came on 8 March when winning the Nagoya Women's Marathon 2:21:54.
"After winning the Great North Run last year, I hoped we could work Manchester into my schedule for 2026 as I have heard many good things about this race. I’m looking forward to testing myself against some of the best in the world, and hope to take my good form this year into this race," Chepkirui says.
The duo will face competition from US half-marathon record-holder Weini Kelati and 2022 European 5000m champion Konstanze Klosterhalfen.
Great Britain’s Verity Ockenden, Lily Partridge, Clara Evans and Jess Piasecki will battle it out for home honours and a spot on the podium.
Elsewhere, the men's race is headlined by Ethiopia's Selemon Barega who is hoping to defend his title, off the back of his victory in 2025 in 27:49.
Hot on his heels hoping to snatch victory this year will be Uruguay's Santiago Catrofe, who claimed second place in 2025, with 2024 winner Vincent Ngetich of Kenya also featuring in a stellar lineup.
British hopes rest with former champion Marc Scott, alongside two time Olympian Andy Butchart.