More than 5,000 runners celebrated the return to its traditional spring date of the ABP Southampton Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K and Kid's Fun Run on Sunday 24th April. That was 50% up on the number of competitors in the postponed 2021 event held in September.

The revised courses received a big thumbs up from participants and the crowds were out in force to cheer everyone home in one of the south coast’s best supported marathon festivals.

The new ABP Southampton Marathon champions are Chris McGurk (Kent AC, 2:30:17) - pictured above - and Victoria Walls (South Cheshire, 3:04:35). There were 834 finishers inside 6:30:00 and the top 20 broke three hours, despite the multiple crossings of the hilly Itchen Bridge.

Sean Hogan (Poole Runners, 1:11:17) was a swift winner of ABP Southampton Half Marathon with Anne-Marie Bayliss (City of Salisbury, 1:24:49) taking the women’s title. This was the most popular distance with 2,334 finishing in less than four hours. There was quality evident as well as 75 runners ducked under 90 minutes.

ABP Southampton 10K saw another 1,578 racers in action and victories for defending champion Isaac Farnworth (Reading, 33:27) and Christine Halls (Basingstoke & Mid Hants, 41:34). 

ABP Southampton 5K was a new addition to the programme this year and the inaugural champions are M50 Amin Koikai (Ilford AC, 17:38) and third-placed Alice Rudd (19:35) as 194 took part.

Also on the card was ABP Southampton Fun Run with 10-11 years competitors Jacob Baylis (4:57.2) and Katharina Hoppe (5:05.8) the fastest youngsters in a field of 176 runners.  

This YouTube video by 408 Photography captures the superb atmosphere of the main race:

Results and previous stories on ABP Southampton Marathon are at runABC South race listing 

Image courtesy ABP Southampton Marathon on Facebook