Joe Wigfield and Alex Bell emerged victorious at the 2026 Bath Half Marathon on Sunday, earning coveted spots on the Great Britain team for the World Road Running Championships half marathon this September.
The GetPRO Bath Half Marathon once again attracted the top British distance runners, serving as the official British Athletics trial for the World Road Running Championships.
In the men’s race, a gripping contest unfolded over the 13.1 miles between Wigfield, Phil Sesemann, Alfie Manthorpe, and defending champion Jake Smith. Smith launched multiple attacks throughout the race but was unable to break away from the pack. As the runners approached Bath’s iconic Royal Crescent, a thrilling sprint determined the winner.
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Wigfield, who had already met the qualifying standard of 61:30 before the race, showed his strength in the final sprint, crossing the line first in 62:07. Sesemann followed closely in 62:13, Manthorpe was third at 62:14, and Smith finished fourth in 62:31.
In the women’s race, Alex Bell delivered an impressive solo performance. She broke away early from Jess Warner-Judd and powered through to a personal best time of 69:15, comfortably inside the British Athletics qualifying standard of 69:30. This performance ensures her place on the British team heading to Copenhagen.
Warner-Judd finished second with a time of 71:21, and Lauren McNeil took third in 71:50.
Reflecting on his win, Joe Wigfield said, “It was tough but good. The wind made conditions tricky, but Jake [Smith] set a fast pace that suited me. I felt strong in the sprint finish, especially uphill, and held on to claim victory. I came in aiming to earn my place on Team GB, and now I have that to look forward to after the track season—it’s a fantastic feeling.”
Alex Bell added, “I was really happy with my performance. My legs felt tired going into the race, but I surprised myself. My coach was encouraging, and he was right—I kept pushing hard. I hadn’t raced in Bath before, but I’ll definitely be back after getting some more hill training under my belt! My 800-metre speed helped me in the final stages and positioned me well for the finish.”