World and Olympic Champion Kiprotich to Race at Great North Run

Published by the IAAF on June 6, 2014

Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich is the first major name confirmed for the 2014 Bupa Great North Run. The world and Olympic marathon champion will be making his debut at the IAAF Gold Label Road Race in Newcastle on 7 September.

The 25-year-old, who became a national hero when he won back-to-back global marathon titles at the London 2012 Olympics and 2013 IAAF World Championships, will prepare for the Great North Run by running at the Bupa Great North 10k on 13 July.

For Kiprotich, the 10k event – which finishes on the track in Gateshead International Stadium and takes the 5000-field along Gateshead Quayside – is an ideal opportunity to regain his winning touch after finishing a disappointing 12th in the London Marathon in April.

He also sees it as a chance to get a taste of the big race action on Tyneside before returning for the Great North Run in September.

“The Bupa Great North 10k Gateshead will give Stephen the chance to get his confidence back,” said Pete Riley, elite athlete manager for the event. “Since winning his world and Olympic titles, he’s focused on big city marathons and hasn’t really been ready for them. His management and coaching team just want him to get back into winning ways again.

“It’s also a stepping stone to the Bupa Great North Run for Stephen. He’ll get a feel of the atmosphere he can expect in September and he’ll get an opportunity to see the course.”