Eilish McColgan to join Sir Mo Farah at The Big Half

Commonwealth Games star Eilish McColgan will make her debut at The Big Half 2022

Following her heroic success at the Commonwealth Games, Eilish McColgan will look to continue her memorable year when she takes on The Big Half for the first time on Sunday 4 September 2022.

The Scot had a Commonwealth Games she will never forget – winning the gold medal in stunning fashion in the 10,000m and then following that up with a silver medal in the 5,000m.

McColgan will be chasing further track success at the European Championships in Munich next week before turning her attention to the roads, starting with The Big Half on Sunday 4 September which she will use as preparation for her TCS London Marathon debut on Sunday 2 October.

McColgan said: “I’m so excited to be coming back to London to run in The Big Half after a wonderful summer of sport for me. To be making my debut in The Big Half after winning a gold and silver at the Commonwealth Games is a dream come true. The TCS London Marathon isn’t too far around the corner, so it’ll be great to test my legs and see where I am before taking on the full marathon distance in October.”

McColgan is among a stellar list of British talent competing alongside Sir Mo Farah at London’s community half marathon, which will once again be screened live on the BBC.

Aug 9, 2022 ·

4 mins read

Competition for McColgan

Challenging McColgan in the women’s race will be reigning champion Charlotte Purdue, who secured her third win at The Big Half last year and set a new women’s course record of 69:51 in the process.

Purdue, who had to pull out of the 2022 World Championships marathon due to a bout of Covid-19, is another athlete looking to test her fitness ahead of this year’s TCS London Marathon.

Other leading names in the elite women’s field include Samantha Harrison, a two-time runner up at The Big Half who placed sixth in the 2022 Commonwealth Games 10,000m final. Steph Twell, another former runner-up at the event, will also be on the Start Line of The Big Half this year.

Elite men's showdown

In the elite men’s race, Sir Mo Farah, who announced he was running The Big Half last month, will be joined by an extremely strong domestic field that includes two former champions: last year’s winner Jake Smith and 2020 victor Chris Thompson.

Andy Butchart, who placed seventh in the 2022 Commonwealth Games 10,000m final, will make his first appearance at The Big Half this year. This will be only his second race over the half marathon distance. Jack Rowe, runner-up in The Big Half 2021, will also be returning to the Start Line.

There will also be a London reunion for Farah and Ellis Cross. Aldershot, Farnham & District AC athlete Cross made headlines in May when he shocked the four-time Olympic champion to win the Vitality London 10,000.

Returning wheelchair winners

The elite men's wheelchair field will be headed by Paralympian David Weir, who returns to The Big Half for the fourth time. Weir will also be looking to celebrate 10 years since he won his four Paralympic gold medals at the 2012 London Games.

He said: “The Big Half weekend falls on the 10-year anniversary of winning two of my four gold medals at London 2012 – the highlight of my career. To still be racing on the streets of London with the crowd cheering you on is something you never quite get used to. I’m looking forward to being back and I hope the crowds will be inspired by the memories of 2012.”

Weir will be hoping to bounce back from the disappointment of puncturing while leading the Commonwealth Games marathon final in Birmingham.

Joining Weir on the Start Line will be both the winner and runner-up in that Commonwealth Games marathon: champion JohnBoy Smith and second-placed Sean Frame.

The elite women’s wheelchair race will feature two-time London Marathon champion and The Big Half 2020 winner Shelly Woods, alongside 2022 Commonwealth Games marathon silver-medallist Eden Rainbow-Cooper.

The Big Half will be shown live on the BBC and on The Big Half Facebook page on Sunday 4 September.

Elite men's field*

Mo Farah (59:07)
Jake Smith (60:31)
Chris Thompson (61:00)
Jack Rowe (62:11)
Ross Millington (62:33)
Philip Sesemann (62:47)
Matt Leach (62:57)
Adam Craig (63:12)
Omar Ahmed (63:33)
Weynay Ghebresilasie (64:06)
Paul Martelletti (64:18)
Nicholas Torry (64:23)
Joshua Grace (64:27)
Charlie Hulson (64:28)
Andy Butchart (70:03)
Ellis Cross (Debut)

Elite women's field*

Eilish McColgan (66:26)
Charlotte Purdue (68:10)
Samantha Harrison (68:12)
Steph Twell (68:55)
Clara Evans (70:17)
Calli Thackery (72:16)
Louise Small (73:47)
Dani Nimmock (74:13)
Emma Styles (75:08)
Helen Gaunt (77:46)

Elite men's wheelchair field*

David Weir (41.19)
JohnBoy Smith (43.34)
Danny Sidbury (51.34)
Sam Kolek (51.50)
Tiaan Bosch (51.51)
Moatez Jomni (52.52)
Michael McCabe (54.17)
Matthew Clarke (57.25)
Jamie Edwards (68.30)
Steve Montgomery (69.10)

Elite women's wheelchair field**

Eden Rainbow Cooper (62.37)
Martyna Snopek (POL, 63.02)
Liz McTernan (70.11)
Claudia Burrough (75.67)
Claire Danson (82.11)
Ella Bouvard (90.35)

_{* All GBR; PBs in brackets

** All GBR unless stated; PBs in brackets}

A half marathon for the community

Behind the elite races, an estimated 15,000 participants are due to take part in the mass participation half marathon, which starts close to Tower Bridge and finishes beside the historic Cutty Sark in Greenwich. The event celebrates the diversity of London, particularly the four boroughs the route passes through: Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lewisham and Greenwich.

Also taking place on the day is The New Balance Big Relay, which follows the same course as The Big Half, and The Big Mile. Beginning at 14:30 in Greenwich, The Big Mile is an event for people of all ages and abilities and also finishes beside the famous Cutty Sark.