THE WHO’S WHO OF OUR ELITES

Almost 70 elite entrants are set to take on the adidas Manchester Marathon 2024. The field includes returners, previous winners and many new faces who will battle it out for the podium finish – and with any luck setting a new PB in the process.

While many great names will be toeing the start line at the 2024 event, we wanted to highlight some of the favourites. There’s no doubt the following athletes will be hot on one another’s heels and make for an interesting competition this year.

Keep your eyes peeled for the following athletes who are crushing it at the moment!

WHEELCHAIR

Bret Crossley, Matthew Clarke and Tiaan Bosch

This year, defending champion Bret Crossley will meet ‘old friends’ Matthew Clarke and Tiaan Bosch, who finished in second and third respectively at the 2023 event. Bret stormed across the line in 01:49:39 last year, followed by Bosch in 01:56:51 and Clarke in 01:59:13.

 

Tiaan Bosch, Bret Crossley and Matthew Clarke at the finish line in 2023.

 

FEMALE

Melissah Gibson

Having recently bagged a new PB of 2:36:39 in Seville, Melissah Gibson is looking like a strong contestant for the podium finish in the women’s category. Melissah will be competing in the adidas Manchester Marathon for the third time.

Aoife Cooke

2020 Tokyo Olympic Games qualifier Aoife Cooke returns to the event this year, having achieved a formidable personal best marathon time of 2:36:44 at the Rotterdam Marathon 2023 – mere seconds off Melissah Gibson’s PB!

Georgie Bruinvels

Georgie Bruinvels is a former adidas Manchester Marathon winner who set her PB of 02:37:03 at the event in 2017. The founder of the Fitr app (which helps female athletes achieve their potential by working with their menstrual cycle) is gearing up to take on the challenge again after placing third at the event last year. 

Georgie Bruinvels (left), winner Naomi Mitchell (centre) and Malin Starfelt (right) at the 2023 event.

 

MALE

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke is in fighting form, having clocked a 61:54 personal best at the Marugame Half Marathon 2024. Clarke’s current marathon personal best is 2:15:35 (Seville 2022).

Alex Teuten

Hotting up the men’s competition is also Great Britain and Northern Ireland cross country international athlete Alex Teuten. Teuten brings a strong personal best time of 02:19:21 which he set in the Abingdon Marathon last year.

Matthew Crehan 

Defending Champion Matthew Crehan is taking to the event once more, having finished in first place in 2021 in a blistering time of 02:18:26. 

Matthew Crehan won the 2021 event in a time of 02:18:26.

 

Timings for the day

The wheelchair elites will be setting off at 08:55 promptly on the day, with the male and female elite categories starting at 09:00.

You can find the Full Elite Start List here

We’ll also be sharing the news of the winners after the podium finish and results will be available after a short wait here.