Update: Melissah Gibson has withdrawn from this year’s elite women’s race and will no longer be competing.

Manchester is set for a huge sporting Sunday on 19th April, with two major titles on the line as the adidas Manchester Marathon takes over the city alongside the Premier League decider.

While 55,000 fans head to Manchester City v Arsenal, more than 150,000 spectators are expected to line the marathon route for its biggest edition yet. Over 70 elite athletes will line up for the event, which also hosts the 2026 England Athletics English Championships.

From returning champions to GB internationals and standout marathoners, here’s a closer look at the athletes to watch across the women’s, men’s and wheelchair races.

Women’s Elite Field

Naomi Robinson

The 2023 champion returns to Manchester for the first time since her win and arrives in strong form after taking gold for Great Britain at the IAU 50km World Championships.

Melissah Gibson

Last year’s runner-up, Melissa Gibson will be among those challenging at the front having also taken part in the IAU 50km World Championships earlier this year.

Heather Timmins

With a standout qualifying time of 2:32:40 from the Zurich Seville Marathon, Timmins has firmly put herself in contention for a position on the podium.

Men’s Elite Field

Joshua Griffiths

The defending champion returns after securing victory in 2025 with a time of 2:16:56. Griffiths will be aiming to retain his title in what promises to be a competitive field.

Steven Bayton

Lining up alongside Griffiths will be former champion Steven Bayton, returning for the first time since his 2016 victory.

Will Clarke

Olympic triathlete Clarke, who previously competed at the 2022 edition, will also be taking the start line.

Wheelchair Elite Field

Bret Crossley

The 2024 champion, Bret Crossley, returns to defend his title and will be looking to deliver another strong performance on the streets of Greater Manchester.

Josh Hickinbottom

Having secured third place at the Manchester Half Marathon 2025 with a time of 56:03, Josh Hickinbottom will certainly challenge Bret Crossley for the Wheelchair’s win.

Prize money will remain the same across all elite categories, honouring the adidas Manchester Marathon’s commitment to ensuring equal recognition of athletes across the men’s, women’s and wheelchair fields. Alongside this year’s prize money, a £500 time bonus will be awarded to any athlete who records a finishing time of 2:16 in the men’s elite field or under 2:36 in the women’s.

Timings of the day

The wheelchair race will begin at 08:55, followed by the elite men’s and women’s races at 09:00.

The Full Elite Start List can be found here. You can watch the elite race on our live stream 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.