Ethiopia Dominates the 2025 Great Manchester Run with Barega and Eisa Victories

The 2025 AJ Bell Great Manchester Run was a showcase of Ethiopian excellence, as Selemon Barega and Medina Eisa stormed to decisive wins in the men’s and women’s 10km races. With elite competition from around the world, both athletes demonstrated not just physical dominance but tactical precision, making a clear statement on the global road running scene.

Ethiopian distance stars Selemon Barega and Medina Eisa claimed commanding victories at the 2025 Great Manchester Run, turning the event into a celebration of their nation's long-distance running prowess.

Barega, the Olympic 10,000m champion from Tokyo 2020, showed his road racing potential with a well-timed sprint finish to win the men’s 10km in 27:49. He held back until the final 400 meters before kicking past his competitors to secure a decisive win. “I'm really happy with that run,” Barega said. “But the marathon is very different from 10km, so let's see,” hinting at future ambitions beyond the distance.

Hot on his heels was Uruguay’s Santiago Catrofe, finishing in 27:52, followed by Kenya’s Vincent Ngetich Kipkemoi, last year’s winner, who clocked 27:58. Ethiopia’s Mosinet Geremew placed fourth (28:21), while England’s Alfie Manthorpe impressed in fifth (28:22), narrowly beating Australian Brett Robinson. Britain’s Dewi Griffiths rounded out the top eight with a solid 29:10.

In the women’s race, 20-year-old Medina Eisa, already a world under-20 champion and Olympic finalist, blew past a stacked field to finish in 30:42. The Ethiopian led from early on and never let up, establishing a clear gap that held through to the finish line.

American Emily Sisson surged in the final stages to claim second in 31:03—a personal best—after overtaking several big names including Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia (31:11) and Kenya’s Hellen Obiri (31:16). Australia’s Issy Batt-Doyle (31:30) and Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot (31:35) followed closely.

Amy-Eloise Neale was the first British woman to cross the line in 31:37, ahead of South Africa’s Dominique Scott and Britain’s Verity Ockenden, who placed ninth in 32:21.

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TOP RESULTS MEN 10KM

1. Selemon Barega (Ethiopia) – 27:49
2. Santiago Catrofe (Uruguay) – 27:52
3. Vincent Ngetich (Kenya) – 27:58
4. Mule Wasihun Geremew (Ethiopia) – 28:21
5. Adam Manthorpe (Great Britain) – 28:22
6. Brett Robinson (Australia) – 28:27
7. Kenya Sonota (Japan) – 29:02
8. Dewi Griffiths (Great Britain) – 29:10
9. Filmon Tesfu (Netherlands) – 29:16
10. Soshiro Nishiwaki (Japan) – 29:18

TOP RESULTS WOKMEN 10KM

1. Medina Eisa (Ethiopia) – 30:42
2. Emily Sisson (USA) – 31:03
3. Gotytom Gebreslase (Ethiopia) – 31:11
4. Hellen Obiri (Kenya) – 31:16
5. Isobel Batt-Doyle (Australia) – 31:30
6. Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya) – 31:35
7. Abbie Neale (Great Britain) – 31:37
8. D. Scott (South Africa) – 32:05
9. Verity Ockenden (Great Britain) – 32:21
10. Ruth Wanjiru (Kenya) – 33:14