ONE of the Island’s biggest sporting spectacles will be taking place on Sunday, as over 2,250 runners will be lacing up their trainers for the 21st edition of the Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon, which is set to begin at 9am.
Whether it is the Titan Wealth Relay, the Marathon Mile, sponsored by the Jersey Development Company, or the main event itself, the excitement is palpable.
A strong local field will be challenged by runners hailing from 19 countries – some travelling from as far as Australia and New Zealand.
The grandeur, the scale, the excitement – the Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon really has it all when it comes to sporting events.
The eager anticipation and suspense on the start line, the celebrations at the finish and all the physical and mental battles in between make it a remarkable display of grit, determination and spirit.
Only 300 runners lined up for the inaugural Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon 20 years ago, but the event has evolved greatly through the years to now bear the title as one of Jersey’s biggest occasions
2025’s male winner Simon Kimtai Kwarat (below) is returning to defend his title, after taking the top spot with an impressive time of 2:17:00.
However, with the men’s course record of 2:16:03 still standing – set by 2023’s champion Nathan Kioko – the stakes remain high in his quest to conquer Jersey’s iconic course once again.
There is also great promise for an enthralling duel between old rivals.
Local favourite James Oliver, who finished third in 2024, finds himself pitted against the runner who pipped him to second place that very year in the UK’s Ollie Garrod, setting the stage for an exciting battle.
The drama does not end there in the men’s field, as the French favourite Guillaume Ruel is unable to compete in this year’s edition, opening up the opportunity for local talent to challenge for the podium.
In the women’s field, the quality remains as high as ever, with Gladys Kiptoo of Kenya eyeing up the course record at the top of the billing.
Last year’s event bore witness to a special performance from Alice Braham (right), who smashed the women’s course record by four minutes with her time of 2:40:47.
Unfortunately though, the history maker has been sidelined by injury, but Braham is keen to return to the start line in 2027.
Kiptoo may have the odds in her favour, but the Kenyan will not be without challenge, as she will be joined by Ulrike Maisch.
The German athlete has plenty of talent and experience under her belt, with accolades such as 2006 European Athletics Championship marathon title on her resume proving she has more than enough quality to challenge at the top.
Away from the field’s top talent, the marathon will also welcome Running Channel presenter and Women’s Running Magazine author Anna Harding, who will take on the challenge alongside thousands of other participants.
People may be keen to see who takes the top honours, but the Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon is so much more than just a race.
Behind each bib number lies a personal story, as the thousands of courageous runners are ready to test their limits and push the boundaries, which is what the Jersey Marathon is all about.
It could be runners taking on the challenge of a marathon for the first time, chasing a Personal Best, completing long-term challenges or raising money for charities close to their heart – whatever the reason, these runners will battle with all their might to keep pushing on.
One of these runners is 19-year-old Charles Pallot, who is taking on the marathon to raise money for Cancer Research UK. The Jerseyman has already done wonders to surpass his original target and raise an immense £7,500 for the charity.
UK runner Jon Strong will also be arriving in Jersey with a big challenge in his sights, as the Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon will the final race in his A-Z marathon series, completing marathons beginning with each letter of the alphabet.
Pacers will also be on the course targeting 3:30, 3:45, 4:00, 4:15 and 6:00, helping runners stay on track as they work towards their goal times.
Henry Baye, CEO of Standard Chartered Jersey commented: “We are incredibly proud of what the Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon has become over the past two decades.
“From around 300 runners at the first event in 2006 to more than 2,250 participants expected this year, its growth is testament to the passion of Jersey’s running community, volunteers and supporters.
“We are looking forward to seeing the island come together once again for what promises to be a fantastic race day.”
The Marathon Village at Weighbridge Place will provide a vibrant hub throughout the day, bringing together participants, spectators and race partners as runners will be preparing for their races before then coming through to celebrate hours later.
Action and atmosphere will also be spread across the marathon route, with all four relay stations providing busy and action-packed points for supporters to cheer on runners and watch the relay unfold.
Relay Stations 3 and 4 at Les Quennevais Sports Centre will offer particularly good locations for spectators to soak up the occasion, as relay teams will be making their way through the course.
Thanks to the event’s technology sponsor, Sure, spectators will be able to follow runners wherever they are with on-course predicted tracking, using runners’ predicted times and pace, alongside timing data collected at relay stations, to estimate their location on the course.
To track a runner, please visit: https://track.rtrt.me/e/FRS-JERSEY-26#/dashboard
