Everything you need to know about Sunday’s 10-miler in Portsmouth and Southsea
Chris Thompson will finish his professional career at this weekend’s Great South Run (October 20).
The double Olympian and 2010 European 10,000m silver medallist announced his retirement from elite running last month.
Since then, Thompson has won the 5km at the Great North Run, claimed victory over 10km at the Great Scottish Run and also represented his club Aldershot, Farnham & District AC at the Southern six-stage road relays.
The 43-year-old will compete over both the 5km on Saturday and the main 10-miler on the Sunday in Portsmouth and Southsea.
It will be an emotional weekend and Thompson is set to do a lap of honour after his final race, with a VT showing some of the best moments of his career on a big screen in the background.
He will also be presented with a framed picture from Brendan Foster and will have ‘number one’ on his race vest.
Chris Thompson (Mark Shearman)
Thompson represented Great Britain at two Olympics, firstly over 10,000m at London 2012 and then in the marathon at Tokyo 2020.
Making his debut at a Games on home soil, Thompson clocked 29:06.12 for 25th in the 10,000m.
Incredibly, nine years later, Thompson qualified for the Tokyo Olympics with a personal marathon best of 2:10:52 at the age of 39, just five days after he became a father to son Theo.
He also claimed a medal for Great Britain on the international stage in 2010, securing 10,000m silver behind compatriot Mo Farah at the European Championships.
Thompson made his international debut in 1998 and has represented his country over cross-country, track and the roads.
Jack Rowe (Jerry Sun)
One of the standout names in the men’s field at the Great South Run is Jack Rowe, who has had an incredible last couple of months.
The 28-year-old recently retained his title at the Manchester Half and ran an amazing 62:12 to take the victory.
It was Rowe’s second half-marathon in as many months, after triumphing at the Big Half in 62:35
The Brit then spent some time on holiday in Greece and returned to the UK to claim victory at the Vitality London 10,000 with a time of 29:14.
Rowe finished 17th over 5000m at the European Championships and then placed third over the distance at the UK Athletics Championships.
He had the 5000m qualifying standard for the Olympics but wasn’t selected for the Games and the three who went were George Mills, Sam Atkin and Patrick Dever.
Ben Connor (David Hewitson)
Ben Connor, who…
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