A robust Novuna GB & NI squad of 12 has been named for the 2026 IAU 100km World Championships, set for 20 September in Spain, a race that increasingly resembles Britain’s unofficial annual audit of national pain tolerance.
The team arrives with receipts. At the 2024 edition in Bengaluru, the women’s squad claimed team silver, the men took bronze, and Sarah Webster pocketed an individual bronze for good measure. Two years on, the British contingent returns not merely competitive but decorated to the point of being slightly impolite.
Three reigning world champions headline the roster. Alex Milne (Hercules Wimbledon) and Naomi Robinson (BRAT), fresh off their individual golds at the 2026 World 50km Championships, bring both momentum and hardware. Milne now owns the European record for the distance, which is the sort of detail that makes selection panels breathe easier. Henry Hart (Belgrave Harriers) and Melissah Gibson (100 Marathon Club) also return as members of the title‑winning squads from India.
Webster, meanwhile, continues to operate in her own gravitational field. The Lewes AC athlete — the reigning 24‑hour world champion — set a world record of 278.622 km (173.127 miles) in 2025, then casually matched her European 100km record this spring with a 7:03:48 in Italy. She remains Britain’s most reliable argument that sleep is optional.
Jarlath McKenna (Bristol & West AC) and Hugh Tibbs (Cambridge Harriers) complete the men’s lineup after strong showings at the British Championships and Trial. Jacqueline Wilson (Scottish Athletics), long a stalwart for Scotland, earns her first senior vest for Great Britain.
They join four athletes pre‑selected in March: Thomas Almond (Reigate Priory AC) and Dave Barratt (Salford Harriers) for the men, and Nicole Funnell (Springfield Striders RC) and Katie Young (Fulham Running Club) for the women.
2026 Novuna GB & NI Team
Women
Melissah Gibson (100 Marathon Club)
Nicole Funnell (Springfield Striders RC, Edwina Sutton)
Naomi Robinson (BRAT, Daniel Robinson)
Jacqueline Wilson (Scottish Athletics, Robbie Simpson)
Sarah Webster (Lewes AC)
Katie Young (Fulham Running Club, Neil Bryant)
Men
Thomas Almond (Reigate Priory AC, Robbie Britton)
David Barratt (Salford Harriers)
Henry Hart (Belgrave Harriers)
Alex Milne (Hercules Wimbledon)
Jarlath McKenna (Bristol & West AC)
Hugh Tibbs (Cambridge Harriers)
