Run Norwich 2024 - The Race Favourites

Run Norwich is back for 2024 – and so are the title contenders. The later September date this year paves the way for (potentially) cooler race conditions and the opportunity for course records to be broken.

We’ve been taking a deeper dive into the potential title contenders this year – and with returning champions and exciting debutants all taking to the streets of NR1, there guarantees to be no shortage of entertainment.

(Name, bib number, best placed gender finish)

MALE

2023’s runner up Norman Shreeve (#4, 2nd in 2023) has ruled himself out of title contention this year after being selected by England Athletics to represent the country at the Copenhagen Half-Marathon on September 15th. Shreeve will instead be running RN24 with his wife, and is looking forward to soaking in the race atmosphere. Last year’s winner Logan Smith will be an absentee from the start line – he too has opted to focus more on distance running this year, with his sights set on the Frankfurt marathon in October.

There will, however, be one former Run Norwich champion on the start line come September 8th. Michael Kallenberg (#2, winner in 2017) currently has the time that runs closest to the course record set by Nick Earl in 2018 and he will be back in Norfolk looking to re-write the record books. Kallenberg, who competes for the Swansea Royal Air Force, recently ran a 14.53 5k and considers himself to be in fine shape in the build up to race day.

Also returning after a podium finish last year is CONAC’s Luke Alden (#6, 3rd in 2023). Alden told us he was ‘hopeful’ of at least another podium finish in Run Norwich 2024, after two impressive second place finishes in both the Wymondham and Valentine’s 10k earlier this year. A first place finish this year may require the 28-year-old to break his 10k PB however, a feat he achieved only last year in RN23 (31.44)

Also donning the City of Norwich AC vest in this year’s event is Norfolk-based duo Ben Spratling (#19, 2nd in 2019) and Jacob Ocal (#20, 5th in 2022). Spratling makes his return to the event for the first time since 2019, after a strong start to 2024 which has seen him break the 16-minute mark in both the Wroxham 5k and the ‘Flying 5k’.

Ocal will look to push for his first podium finish at the fourth attempt, after previously racing in 2019, 2022 and 2023. Like his CONAC compatriot, Ocal has come out of the blocks strong this year, winning the Trowse 10k and clinching bronze in the Norfolk Cross Country Championships.

There’s also a new name on the books for Run Norwich 2024 – Cambridge & Coleridge AC athlete Jonathan Escalante-Phillips (#1701, debutant) is a close friend of 2023’s runner-up Norman Shreeve and is in the form of his life. With a 10k personal best of 29.19, Escalante-Phillips knows that if he is to match this time, on what is a tricky race route, he will beat the course record set by Nick Earl in 2018. A sub-30 minute 10k will also all but confirm the 32-year-old an England call-up.

Representing CONAC, Run-Norwich-regular James Senior (#33, 3rd in 2018) will be returning to the streets of Norwich for the sixth time, once again eyeing up a spot on the podium. Having previously coached Logan Smith and Ben Spratling, as well as claiming a top three finish himself six years ago, Senior will know exactly what it takes to work your way into medal contention.

One of our age-category record holders will be back in NR1 in September too. Adrian Mussett (#9, 3rd in 2015 & 2017) currently holds our 45-49 and 50-54 category records, with his best time of 32.17 coming in last year’s event. There’s no sign that Mussett is slowing down either – he ran a 31.40 at the Chichester 10k in February.

Ones to watch: Michael Eccles (#34, 4th in 2017), Tommy Power (#21, debutant), Dominic Blake (#23, 6th in 2017)

FEMALE

There will be no course-record holder racing in 2024 – 2022’s winner and last year’s runner-up Anya Culling has opted to head up north for the Great North Run instead. This paves the way for Mabel Beckett (#1, winner in 2023) to potentially regain her crown at this year’s event – with the CONAC athlete running a 35.18 in February in the Valentines 10k.

However she definitely won’t be unchallenged – leading the way in terms of competition is Team GB athlete Holly Archer (#31, debutant). Despite this being her first ever Run Norwich, the Cambridge & Coleridge runner brings with her an impressive CV of past achievements and times. Archer won silver for Great Britain at the European Indoor Championships 1500m in 2021 and has this year run a 34.15 at the Valentine’s 10k. Archer says she is treating the race as a ‘training run’ but would like the win and a go at the course record too.

The fore-mentioned Archer won’t be the only national athlete in Run Norwich this year – previous race champion Iona Lake (#3, winner in 2019) will be returning to Norwich for the third time. Lake represented England in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and will perhaps have half an eye on a podium finish at this year’s event, despite entering this time round ‘just for fun’.

There will also be an exciting debutant looking to have an impact on this year’s race. Fresh back from the Under-20 World Athletics Championships in Peru is 18-year-old Lizzie Wellsted (#1702, debutant). Wellsted has entered this year’s race with one target in mind – to break the course record currently held by Anya Culling. If the Essex-based athlete’s times are anything to go off, this could be within her capabilities – with a current 10k PB of 32.58, Culling’s time of 34.43 could well be under threat.

Seasoned Run Norwich pair Leanne Finch (#5, 2nd in 2018) and Jo Andrews (#10, 3rd in 2018) will also both be returning for RN24 after securing top five finishes in last year’s event. Finch secured a comfortable third place in 2023’s race, and will be looking to go one better or more this time round, after some strong races earlier this year.

Andrews will be seeking her first podium finish since 2018, after narrowly missing out in recent years. Record holder in the 45-49 age category, she has already picked up a win in the Mike Groves 10k and a second in the Trowse 10k earlier this year.

Also flirting with a podium finish will be CONAC’s Ellie Grubb (#7, 5th in 2022). The 39-year-old won her age-group at the Wroxham 5k in July with a seriously impressive time of 16.54. This time was Grubb’s first PB over that distance in ten years, after having two children and working herself back to full fitness again. She told us she ‘considers herself a challenger’ for RN24, and is hoping to run a sub 36-minute race.

Ones to watch: Juliette Watkinson (#165, 5th in 2022), Amy Beck (#193, 13th in 2019) Rosanna Andrews (#212, 11th in 2022 and 2023)

As a reminder, the main top 3 prizes are allocated on gun time.

Official results listings will be ranked by chip time, with age category prizes allocated this way.

Click here to see the course records