Great South Run 2026 elite runners named as Ockenden returns to defend her crown
The line up will see a two time Olympian make his Great South Run debut
The elite runners competing in the AJ Bell Great South Run on Sunday have been named with last year’s champion returning to defend their title.
Verity Ockenden of Swansea Harriers took the women’s elite 10-mile race last year coming home in 56 minutes 37 seconds having finished second and third consecutively in previous years. She comes into Sunday’s race in good form having won a British Silver Medal in the UKA 10K Road Championships at the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run where she finished fourth overall.
Ockenden said: “The Great South Run has always been special for me as a race that ties together family history in Portsmouth, my coach Chris Thompson’s legacy here, as well as marking a lot of turning points in my own career over the years. It’s a real honour to be able to return to defend my title from last year and I’ll be bringing my best effort in order to retain that!”
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However, she will face stern competition from debutant Izzy Fry who competed in this Summer’s Commonwealth Games after winning the British national 10,000 metres title in Loughborough in May.
The elite men’s race will also see some of Britain's best runners pounding the roads of Southsea and Old Portsmouth with a two time Olympian making his debut. Andy Butchart competed in the 5000m in the 2016 and 2020 summer games and has had a successful comeback season following an injury.
He secured silver in the 5000m at the Novuna UK Athletics Championships, and cemented his status as the second-fastest Scottish half-marathoner in history by clocking a personal best time of 61:45 at the Barcelona Half.
Paul Foster, Chief Executive, The Great Run Company, said: “The Great South Run has built an incredible legacy over the last 3 decades with countless incredible moments and achievements on this route. We’re delighted to once again be hosting the best of British running talent at this year’s event at the UKA 10-Mile Championships.
“Spectators lining the route are in for a treat as I for one am looking forward to watching some blistering performances on what we know is widely recognised amongst runners as one of the fastest, flattest 10 mile courses.”
The full list of runners taking to the start line of the AJ Bell Great South Run on Sunday, October 18 can be found below:
Elite Women
- Verity Ockenden - Swansea
- Izzy Fry - Newbury AC
- Daisy Glover - Framlingham Flyers
- Esme Davies - Border Harriers
- Hannah Irwin - Cambridge & Coleridge
- Natasha Philips - Dundee Hawkhill
- Holly Archer - Cambridge & Coleridge
- Cassie Thorp - City of Portsmouth
- Gemma Kersey - Basildon AAC
- Samantha Antell - Bideford
- Caroline Williams - Candy Racing
- Rachel Laurie - Aldershot, Farnham & District
- Maisie Trafford - Brighton Phoenix
- Rachel Gifford - Leamington Cycling & AC
- Stephanie Hutton - Cornwall AC
- Lindsay Skinner - Off That Couch Fitness
- Louise Flynn - Les Croupiers RC
- Georgina Weston - Charnwood AC
- Catherine O'Connor - St Albans Striders
- Fern Kimber - Poole AC
- Lydia Mann - Cornwall AC
- Catherine Hill - Reading AC
- Imogen Matthews - HY Athletics Club
- Felecity Hancock - Belgrave Harriers
- Georgina Revell - Clapham Chasers
Elite Men
- Andy Butchart - Central AC
- Kadar Omar - Birchfield Harriers
- Max Selby - Tonbridge AC
- Alex Durant - Sheffield AC & Dearn
- Lachlan Wellington - City of Portsmouth AC
- Cole Gibbons - Tonbridge AC
- Samuel Gebreselassie - Belgrave Harriers
- Dillon Hobbs - Tunbridge Wells Harriers
- Jack Shayler - Abingdon AC
- Bob Sporle - City of Southend AC
- Jack Woods - Holland Sports AC
- Brandon Barber - Ipswich Harriers
- Nick Bester - Best Athletics
- Matthew Revier - Southampton AC