Nationwide titles have been up for grabs on the south coast as Marc Scott and Verity Ockenden led the cost in Portsmouth.
After final yr’s storm-enforced cancellation, the much-loved Nice South Run got here again larger and higher for its thirty fifth anniversary, with over 25,000 runners taking to the flat and quick streets of Portsmouth.
Among the many weekend of occasions, the headline 10-mile race on Sunday performed host to the UK Athletics 10-Mile Championships, attracting a few of Britain’s high road-running expertise.
Within the males’s elite race, Marc Scott confirmed his class over the rarely-run distance to say nationwide title honours in a formidable 47:21, holding off the problem of Jake Smith, who crossed the road in 47:53. Charlie Brisley accomplished the rostrum in 48:47, rounding out a aggressive high three.
Scott, who has a powerful pedigree on the roads and monitor, regarded composed all through, pushing the tempo from the halfway level. His win improves on his seventh place end on the Nice North Run in September.
Within the girls’s race, Verity Ockenden stormed to a hard-fought victory, clocking 56:37 to seal her first nationwide title over the gap. Simply behind her in an exhilarating dash end have been Kate Estlea-Morris, who took silver in 56:46, and Beth Kidger, simply two seconds additional again in 56:48.
Ockenden, a European indoor bronze medallist over 3000m, had completed second and third within the occasion in earlier years and was capable of full her medal assortment this yr.
This yr’s occasion additionally marked a celebration of the Nice South Run’s wealthy heritage, with the 2025 version commemorating 35 years since its inception.
From Liz McColgan’s victories in 1995 and 1997, to Eilish McColgan’s course report and European greatest of fifty:43 set in 2021, the race has lengthy been a proving floor for British endurance expertise. Earlier winners additionally embrace Paula Radcliffe, Sir Mo Farah, and Chris Thompson, a three-time champion and native favorite.
Paul Foster, Chief Govt of The Nice Run Firm, mentioned: “Congratulations to Marc and Verity on their performances immediately. It was an excellent line up of athletic expertise which made for an exhilarating race.
“The Nice South Run has constructed an unbelievable legacy with numerous unbelievable moments and achievements, and British and European data damaged alongside the route. Our winners be a part of a veritable roll name of British earlier winners.
“It was nice to be again after final yr’s cancellation because of the storm, and immediately didn’t disappoint. It was an actual showcase of one of the best of British athletic expertise.”
