On Sunday, Joe Wigfield and Alex Bell emerged victorious at the 2026 Bath Half Marathon, securing their places on Great Britain’s squad for the World Road Running Championships half marathon scheduled for September.
The GetPRO Bath Half Marathon, which for the second year in a row served as the official British Athletics trial for the World Championships, attracted top-tier British distance runners eager to claim their spots on the national team.
The men’s race unfolded as a gripping contest among four athletes: Wigfield, Phil Sesemann, Alfie Manthorpe, and defending champion Jake Smith. Smith initiated numerous attacks throughout the 13.1-mile course but was unable to break away from the chasing pack. Ultimately, the race culminated in a thrilling sprint finish near Bath’s iconic Royal Crescent.
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Wigfield, already having met the qualifying standard of 61:30 before the race, demonstrated superior strength in the final sprint, finishing first in 62:07. Close behind, Sesemann came second with 62:13, Manthorpe third in 62:14, and Smith 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 to a personal best time of 69:15—comfortably within the British Athletics qualifying standard of 69:30 for the World Championships. This accomplishment secures Bell’s place on the British team heading to Copenhagen. Warner-Judd finished second in 71:21, followed by Lauren McNeil in third at 71:50.
Reflecting on his victory, Joe Wigfield said, “It was good but hard. The wind was a factor, but manageable. Jake [Smith] set a fast pace, and we all knew it would come down to a sprint finish. Thankfully, I had the strength to pull ahead on the hill. I wasn’t expecting such a fast race, but it went exactly as planned. Securing my spot on Team GB gives me something to look forward to after the track season.”
Alex Bell expressed satisfaction with her performance: “I was happy with how I ran today. Despite feeling tired leading into the race, I surprised myself. My coach was confident, even when I wasn’t. I didn’t ease up and used my 800-metre speed to strong effect in the final stages. This was my first time racing in Bath, but I’ll definitely be back after some hill training!”
The 2026 Bath Half Marathon once again proved to be a crucial battleground for Britain’s top distance runners aiming for international glory.