Kenyan aims to defend his men's title while McColgan looks to follow in footsteps of her mum with first GNR victory

Abel Kipchumba will defend his men's crown in the AJ Bell Great North Run on Sunday (Sept 7) with Eilish McColgan leading the women's line-up.

Kipchumba, who won 12 months ago on Tyneside in 59:52, will face competition from fellow Kenyan Alex Mutiso Munyao, the 2024 London Marathon winner.

Bashir Abdi, the European record holder for the marathon from Belgium, and 2021 Great North Run champion Marc Scott are also in the men's elite field.

Kipchumba said: “I’m very happy to return to the Great North Run again this year. It was a great honour to win one of the biggest half marathons in the world at my first attempt. I know I have tough competition this year but am ready for challenge."

In the women’s event, McColgan will go head to head with Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui, who finished third behind McColgan in the 2022 Commonwealth Games 10,000m and was victorious at the 2024 New York City Marathon.

They will be joined in the start line by Great North Run champion from 2016 and 2018, Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya.

After her blistering run at the 2024 event which saw her compete in a six-way fight for the finish, only winning will count for McColgan in 2025 to join her mum Liz on the honours board.

“I can’t wait to return to the AJ Bell Great North Run this year," says Eilish. "It’s an event that holds fond memories for me.

"I’ve always loved competing in Newcastle and of course we have a proud family history at the Great North Run. I’ve had a great season this year, I’m feeling really strong especially off the back of London Marathon so hopefully 2025 is third time lucky, when I can match mum’s success and win this year’s race.

"The crowds are always amazing all along the route – the buzz I get from hearing them will definitely spur me on!”

Men's wheelchair entries include last year’s runner-up Sean Frame, Commonwealth medallist Simon Lawson and Rafa Botello of Spain, while in the women’s race Mel Nicholls and Rita Curucca of Italy are among the contenders competing for their first Great North win.

READ MORE: Flashback to our 2024 Great North Run coverage

Over 100 invited elite athletes from across the globe from the United States, Ethiopia, Kenya, Japan, South Africa and Europe will take part in the annual AJ Bell Great North Run, completing the 13.1-mile course from Newcastle to South Shields.

Sir Brendan Foster, founder of the Great North Run and president of The Great Run Company, said: “It’s always an honour for the North East to welcome world class athletes from across the globe to the Great North Run each year, and nothing fills me more with pride than seeing a starting line up like the one we reveal today. Our spectators both on the streets and at home are in for some great sporting action once again!”

The Great North Run will be live on BBC1 from 10am-2pm on September 7.

The elite wheelchair races start at 10.20am with the elite women at 10.25am, the visually impaired athletes at 10.27am and elite men and masses at 10.50am.

Elite athletes will line up alongside 60,000 runners at the 44th Great North Run, cheered on by over 200,000 supporters lining the iconic course route from Newcastle city centre to the coastal town of South Shields.

Many runners will be taking part to support worthy causes, raising an estimated £25 million for charity.

The 2025 AJ Bell Great North Run concludes a weekend festival of running with starts with the Great North 5km on Friday before the Junior and Mini Great North Runs on Saturday.