2026 Great North Run: Brigid Kosgey leads Kenya to a 1-2 finish as British PM makes history

Kenyan marathoner Brigid Kosgei has made a triumphant final preparation ahead of her upcoming autumn major, crossing the tape first to win the Great North Run in England on Sunday, September 13, 2026.

The two-time London Marathon winner dominated, clocking 1:06:15 to finish nearly two minutes clear of second-place compatriot Sheila Chepkirui (1:08:18).

The victory marked her second Great North Run title, having previously won in 2019 when setting the course record of 1:04:28. Ethiopia’s Melknat Wudu came in third in 1:09:37 to round out the podium.

Mutiso beaten

Kenya’s Alex Mutiso, who was the defending champion in the men’s category, lost to Zouhair Talbi, the 31-year-old who hit the line first in 59:47.

Speaking after the feat, the decorated athlete said she used the United Kingdom fixture to sharpen preparations for next month’s showdown:

“I have come here to test my body and see how it will be for the Chicago Marathon. I want to test my speed and how my body responds. I feel I still need to step up my speed and target a faster time than what I managed today,” she said.

Fresh off shattering the women’s course record with a stunning 2:14:29 victory at the 2026 Tokyo Marathon in March, Kosgei outlined her remaining block:

“I want to gain more mileage, prepare well, and rest adequately. Winning the race while lowering my personal best are my key targets,” she stated.

Looking ahead to Chicago Marathon

As the clock ticks toward October, Kosgei builds on a rich vein of form that includes victory at the November 2025 Shanghai Marathon (2:16:36), second place at the September 2025 Sydney Marathon, and fourth at the 2023 New York City Marathon won by Hellen Obiri.

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon goes down on Sunday, October 11, 2026, marking Kosgey’s return to the Windy City for the first time since her iconic 2019 global record-setting win (2:14:04).

There, she will face fierce competition from compatriot Sharon Lokedi—making her Chicago flat-major debut—and Ethiopia’s defending champion Hawi Feysa (2:14:57 in 2025).

British PM makes history

Prime Minister Andy Burnham becomes the first British Prime Minister to participate in the charity Great North Run marathon to raise funds for a homeless charity that helps more than 14,000 people annually.

Burnham, wearing a Number 10 bib, was running in the half marathon to raise money for Changing Lives, which he visited last month to launch a national drive to end rough sleeping.

Speaking to the BBC before the race on Sunday morning, Burnham said, “People said to me when I became prime minister, ‘Don’t change.'”

“I’ve been doing the Great North Run for a few years, so I thought, ‘Well, I’ll live that now. I won’t change. I’ll come and do it again.’

“And hopefully leading from the front, getting out there. I’m a big believer that everybody should do a bit of activity, whatever it is people can do.”