Thousands cross the line in Brighton Marathon

Thousands of Brighton Marathon runners set off from Preston Park on Sunday morning [Jed Leicester/London Marathon Events] Thousands of runners have taken part in the Brighton Marathon, organisers have said. More than 14,000 participants were due to get under way in the city's Preston Park on Sunday, with Rugby World Cup winner Jess Breach as the official starter. The event followed the Brighton & Hove 10K, which started earlier that morning.

Sam Cook, of Horsham in West Sussex, won the men's marathon for the second year running, while the women's race was won by Amy Harris. Amy Harris was the first woman across the line at the 2026 marathon [BBC] Cook completed the course in two hours and 25 minutes, while Harris took two hours and 49 minutes. Harris, Brighton, told the BBC that she felt "very proud" and "really, really pleased" with her result.

"It felt like we had support the whole way," she said. "It really gives such a boost when you have your name cheered and everyone's yelling for you, it's an unbelievable feeling and really lovely. " Sam Cook completed the marathon in two hours and 25 minutes, winning for the second year in a row [BBC] Cook, who is due to get married in August, said that he "didn't know how it was going to go today, but it went well".

"Last year it was so loud, so many people, and this year it's tenfold, it's even better," he told the BBC. "It's nice having my mates and family, my fiancee here, it's unreal. " Jack Penfold and Emma Kruszynski were supporting friends in the marathon [BBC] Emma Kruszynski and Jack Penfold, who ran the marathon in 2025, were in Brighton supporting three of their friends as they competed this year.