UK ATHLETICS 5K ROAD RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS RETURNS FOR 2024

UK Athletics and The Great Run Company are pleased to announce that the UK Athletics 5k Road Running Championships will once again take place on the evening of the AJ Bell Great North 5k (Friday 6 September), with a total prize pot of £6000.

The event, which kicks off the Great North Run weekend, takes place around Newcastle and Gateshead’s vibrant Quayside and benefits from a fast and flat course with a great atmosphere. As in 2023, the elite races will take place over three laps of approximately one mile, while the mass participation race takes place over one 5km loop.

Last year’s Championship winners – in an event which also doubled as the trials for the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships – were Scott Beattie (Morpeth) in 13:56 and Verity Ockenden (Swansea) in 15:26.

Athletes who have run 14:10 or quicker for men and 16:10 or quicker for women [within the time period 1 April 2024 – 30 August 2024] will be automatically invited to compete in this year’s elite event.

Prize money, which is equal across the men’s and women’s events, will be allocated as follows: 1st – £1200; 2nd – £800; 3rd – £600; 4th – £400.

Jack Buckner, Chief Executive, UK Athletics, said: “When we announced this partnership in 2022 our intention was to make the UK Athletics 5k Road Running Championships a key fixture in the calendar for our British endurance athletes. Last year’s event doubled as the trials for the World Road Running Championships which certainly raised its profile. For 2024, I hope that the opportunity to race in a fast 5k at the end of an incredible sporting summer, with the added incentive of good prize money, will once again attract some of our best endurance athletes to the North East.”

Paul Foster, Chief Executive, The Great Run Company, said: “We’re committed to supporting the development of athletics in the UK through events and partnerships such as this. We have incredible athletics talent in the North East as well as passionate athletics supporters, and we’re delighted to provide this opportunity for them to come together – with athletes from across the country – on the iconic Newcastle and Gateshead Quayside as part of our fantastic Great North Run weekend.”

To find out more about the AJ Bell Great North 5k, or sign up, click here.

Photo credit: The Great Run Company

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