Manchester Half Marathon 2025 produced a record number of 28,000 runners, with Joe Wigfield delivering a blazing course record (1:02:02) to win the elite men’s race.
Thousands of runners packed the streets of Greater Manchester to combat the 13.1 mile distance, with many helping to contribute more than £1.6m (including Gift Aid) for local and national charities.
The fast course and optimum race conditions on Sunday, with temperatures at 8-10c and only the most gentle of breezes, saw six men break 63 minutes.
Wigfield, who has represented Great Britain at U23 level, displayed his immense range with experience right the way down to the 800m (PB 1:46.11) and 1500m (PB 3:36.09), and he was able to pull away from Jonny Mellor, who is ninth-fastest all-time in Great Britain (2:09:06), in the last 500m.
The 25-year-old savoured a five-second victory while wagging his finger in celebration as he skipped across the finish line near Emirates Old Trafford, home of Lancashire Cricket Club.
Omar Ahmed emerged from a tight pack of four runners behind the two leaders, with the quartet separated by just eight seconds, with Jonathan Escalante-Phillips, Jacob Allen and Blake Moore following.
"I’m really happy with how it went, it went how I wanted it to, it's the first time I've properly raced over 13.1 miles, I wanted to sit in and let the other boys control it and then I could play to my strengths towards the end, as I'm a track runner, 1,500m and 5,000m, I haven't done that level of distance,” Wigfield told the Independent. “I gained confidence after every mile as others dropped off. I waited until the last 500m to push on the pace and win. I wasn't that bothered about the time, but I knew it would come if I raced the race properly.
“I want to go to the Valencia 10k in January, then I’ll probably target the Barcelona Half Marathon to knock down the time again. I think I’ve got more in the tank if I need to, that could be one where I could knock more time off. Going into the summer, with European Championships in Birmingham and Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, England has a strong middle-distance side, but off a good winter and road race, I believe I could make that team. What distance? I don’t know, but I could give it a good crack.”
While Lily Patridge produced a stunning run to break 70 minutes for the first time in her career for a PB, logging a second victory in the event after her maiden win in 2019.
The Puma athlete stretched away from Charlotte Purdue to comfortably win the elite women’s race in 1:09:34, with Charlotte Taylor the third woman across the finish line.
Another course record went down when Sean Frame took the win in the elite men’s wheelchair race.
Away from the elite runners, two Guinness World Records went down with Matthew Athersmith, Eddie Evans, Andrew Cairns and Jimmy Craig part of a four-person team dressed as a caterpillar to secure the ‘Fastest Time in a Four-Person Costume’, with the quartet coming home in a staggering 1:14:10.
While Sophie Godley combatted the 13.1 mile distance distance while carrying 13 golf clubs to claim the ‘Fastest Time Carrying Golf Clubs (Female)’.
Andrew Smith, CEO of Manchester Half event organiser, A.S.O. UK said: “We’ve just delivered the largest half marathon in Manchester ever, and I couldn’t be prouder of everyone who made it happen – especially our incredible volunteers. The atmosphere across Trafford and Greater Manchester has been phenomenal, and it’s inspiring to see so many people come together to celebrate this city and remind us of its resilience.
“Raising over £1.3 million for charity – and counting – is particularly special for our team, but the real credit goes to the participants who’ve trained and fundraised for months to get here. While we are looking forward to the future continued success of this event, today was also a moment to reflect, and for the community to shine through, which they did in full Mancunian spirit”.
For more information on next year’s event, on Sunday 4 October 2026, you can visit www.mcrhalf.co.uk
