Fry and Wigfield Crowned British 10,000m Champions in Loughborough

Izzy Fry and Joe Wigfield are crowned 2026 UK Athletics 10,000m Champions after an exciting day of athletics at the Loughborough International Athletics Meet.

In the women’s 10,000m, the tone in the early stages of the race saw German athlete Eva Dieterich taking the front with the British contingent of Hannah Irwin, Izzy Fry, Poppy Tank and Clara Evans all prominent as the laps wound down. At 12 laps remaining, the race began to take shape as Irwin, Fry and Tank moved clear to form a decisive leading trio.

Tank made a move with seven laps to go, taking control at the front, but Irwin responded in the closing stages, striking for the lead with four laps remaining. As the bell rang, Fry timed her move well, manoeuvring herself in prime position for the final lap.

Keeping her composure over the closing 400 metres, Fry held off her rivals to take the win in 32:12.91, securing the British title. After running the standard for the European Athletics Championships, she qualified a spot on the Novuna GB & NI team by taking the title here. Tank followed home in second, with Irwin completing the British podium in third, both running personal best times at the Paula Radcliffe Stadium.

Fry said: “I had one job to do today and I am really glad to get that ticked off, to get the win and automatic selection.

“To be able to come today and secure that selection just feels unreal, these championships (Birmingham 2026) are a home champs so will be special in front of family and friends.”

In the men’s race, Kadar Omar, who has run for the refugee team and is based in Birmingham, won the race as he lined up alongside British and other international contenders.

An early lead group formed soon after the gun, led by German Nils Voigt. The field gradually stretched out, and by the midway point, the race had broken into smaller packs, with Voigt, Omar, Danish athlete Lileso, and the British duo of James Kingston and Joe Wigfield at the front. As the laps counted down, Omar, Wigfield, and Kingston asserted themselves at the front, alternating the lead opening a small gap on the chasing athletes.

In the closing stages, Omar pulled ahead to pull clear and take victory in 28:29.38. Wigfield impressed on his championship debut to claim the British title with a personal best of 28:56.39, with Kingston second on the UKA 10,000m Championship podium and Max Milarve claiming the bronze.

Wigfield said: “One of the hardest races I have ever done. I am happy to come out as the top Brit.

“I had to keep it smooth and got myself into a rhythm to get around. It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t a fast time, but I was buzzing to come out and take the championship.”

Like Fry in the women’s race, Wigfield had run the standard for the European Athletics Championships earlier this season and upon taking the British title, qualified himself for the Novuna GB & NI team for the Birmingham 2026 event this August.

Full results can be found here.