RACE RECAP: Nike x SportsShoes Podium MCR 2026

For the first time in the history of the race series, on 16th August 2026 SportsShoes Podium headed to Manchester for an afternoon of 5k and mile road races. In collaboration with Nike, the event was held at Tameside Cycle Circuit, providing the fast, flat and traffic free course that SportsShoes Podium is known for. The calibre of racing did not disappoint with multiple time British Champion James West lining up in the Elite Men's 5k and Olympian Neil Gourley in the Mixed Mile.

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In the Elite Women's 5k, fresh off the back of a 15:11 5000m PB, Almaz Nerurkar looked strong in the last kilometre and pulled away from the rest of the field to take the win in 15:53.8. After running as a pack for the majority of the race, Tilly Simpson finished second in 16:05.1, closely followed by Eleanor Curran in 16:05.8.

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A few days after competing at the European Championships 5000m, James West was back racing the Elite Men's 5k at SportsShoes Podium MCR. It was a close race between West and former professional cyclist, Jimmy Whelan. The race came down to a sprint finish, with West taking the win in 13:49.0 and Whelan finishing in 13:50.0. Abdimajid Darood took third place in 13:59.7.

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In the Mixed Mile, Olympian Neil Gourley was the man to beat. You could have thrown a blanket over the top three, with Tom Dodd breaking the tape in 4:17.6, Gourley finishing in second in 4:18.4 and Daniel Bebbington taking the third spot on the podium in 4:18.7. In the women's mile, Holly Dixon stormed away from the rest of the women to take the win in 4:37.6. Hollie Parker finished in second place in 4:46.6, closely followed by Rachel Mccormick in third in 4:48.0.

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