Best of Brits are ready for The Big Half
Elite field announced for London's community half marathon
There are just over three weeks to go before The Big Half returns to the streets of London on Sunday 4 September and a stellar line-up has been confirmed by London Marathon Events.
Double Commonwealth Games medallist Eilish McColgan makes her Big Half debut to lead the elite women's entries. The Scot had a superb Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, winning gold in stunning fashion in the 10,000m and an equally hard-fought silver a few days later in the 5000m.
McColgan will be hoping for further track success at the European Championships in Munich next week before turning her attention to the roads starting with The Big Half, which she will use as preparation for her eagerly awaited TCS London Marathon debut on Sunday 2 October.
McColgan said: “I’m so excited to be coming back to London to run in The Big Half after a wonderful summer of sport for me. To be making my debut in The Big Half after winning a gold and silver at the Commonwealth Games is a dream come true. The TCS London Marathon isn’t too far around the corner, so it’ll be great to test my legs and see where I am before taking on the full marathon distance in October.”
Challenging McColgan in the women’s race will be the reigning champion and 69:51 course record holder Charlotte Purdue who secured her third win at the event last year. Purdue, who had to pull out of the World Championships marathon after not recovering fully from Covid-19, is also looking to test her fitness ahead of this year’s TCS London Marathon. Other leading names in the elite women’s field include twice second-placed Samantha Harrison and another runner-up in the event, Steph Twell.
In the elite men’s race the 2018 and 2019 winner, Sir Mo Farah, will be joined by an extremely strong domestic field that includes two former champions: last year’s winner Jake Smith and the 2020 victor Chris Thompson. Andy Butchart, seventh in the 2022 Commonwealth Games 10,000m final, will make his first appearance at The Big Half in only his second race over the half marathon distance. Jack Rowe, the runner-up in 2021, is also entered.
There will be a fascinating London reunion for Farah and Ellis Cross, the Aldershot athlete who made headlines in May when he shocked the four-time Olympic champion to win the Vitality London 10,000.
The Big Half will be shown live on the BBC on Sunday 4 September. An estimated 15,000 participants are due to take part in London’s community half marathon. The event celebrates the diversity of London and the boroughs on the route, namely Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lewisham, and Greenwich.
Full details of The Big Half and supporting event The Big Mile at the official website here
Previous results and stories at runABC race listing here
Image of Eilish McColgan by Jed Leicester courtesy London Marathon Events Media