Emile Michael John Cairess (born 27 December 1997)[2] is a British long-distance runner. He won the bronze medal in the 10,000 metres at the 2019 European Under-23 Championships and a silver for the men's race at the 2022 European Cross Country Championships. Cairess is the European record holder for the road 10 miles. He finished 4th in Marathon in the 2024 Paris Olympics, the highest position for a British runner for over 20 years.

Emile Cairess
Personal information
Full nameEmile Michael John Cairess[1]
Born (1997-12-27) 27 December 1997 (age 26)
Bradford, England
EducationSt Mary's University, Twickenham
Sport
CountryGreat Britain
England
SportAthletics
EventLong-distance running
ClubLeeds City AC
Coached byRenato Canova
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals2024 Marathon, 4th
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Great Britain
European U23 Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Gävle 10,000 m
European Cross Country Championships
Silver medal – second place 2018 Tilburg U23 team
Silver medal – second place 2022 Turin Senior race
World Marathon Majors
Bronze medal – third place 2024 London Marathon

Early life

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Cairess was born in Bradford and grew up in Saltaire. He won a bursary to attend Bradford Grammar School, completing his A Levels in 2016. He then studied at St Mary's University, Twickenham.[3]

Career

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During the under-23 race at the 2018 European Cross Country Championships, Emile Cairess fell over at half-mile stage but managed to move up 59 places for eighth position and a team silver medal.[4]

In January 2022 at the Valencia Ibercaja, he tied Mo Farah's over 10-year-old British 10 kilometres record with his time of 27:44.[5][6] The 24-year-old set five other personal bests that year (3000 m, 5000 m, 10,000 m, 5 km, half marathon).[2] At the European Cross Country Championships held in Turin, Italy in December, Cairess achieved his best performance up to that point, with silver medal in the men's senior race behind only reigning world 5000 m champion and European record holder in the event Jakob Ingebrigtsen.[7][8]

On 4 March 2023, Cairess broke Richard Nerurkar's 30-year European 10-mile record (46:02) with a time of 45:57 at the 'Breaking 10' in Barrowford.[9][10] Later that year, he finished sixth on debut in the London Marathon in a time of 02:08:07.[11]

On 21 April 2024, Cairess finished third in the London Marathon, qualifying for the Paris Olympics [12][13] where he finished fourth.[14][15][16]

Statistics

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Cairess at age 14 at the Inter-counties Cross Country (2012).

International competitions

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Year Competition Venue Position Event Result
Representing   Great Britain /   England
2018 European Cross Country Championships Tilburg, Netherlands 8th XC 8.3 km U23 24:07
2nd U23 team 30 pts
2019 European U23 Championships Gävle, Sweden 3rd 10,000 m 28:50.21
European Cross Country Championships Lisbon, Portugal 60th XC 8.3 km U23 26:34
2021 European 10,000m Cup Birmingham, United Kingdom 10th 10000 m 27:53.19 PB
2nd Team 1:23:33.77
2022 European Championships Munich, Germany 11th 10,000 m 28:07.37
European Cross Country Championships Turin, Italy 2nd XC 9.572 km 29:42
6th Team 46 pts
2024 Olympic Games Paris, France 4th Marathon 2:07:29

Personal bests

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Road

References

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  1. ^ "Emile Michael John TAYLOR - Track and Field (129)". John Taylor Forum. Retrieved 18 April 2024.[dead link]
  2. ^ a b "Emile CAIRESS – Athlete Profile". World Athletics. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  3. ^ Leeson, Lucy. "Who is Emile Cairess? Meet the Yorkshire runner who overtook Sir Mo Farah in the London Marathon". Yorkshire Examiner. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  4. ^ May, Adam (26 January 2019). "Emile Cairess plotting cross-country route to middle-distance elite". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  5. ^ Calvert, Howard (10 January 2022). "This Yorkshireman just matched Mo Farah's British 10km record – but who is he?". Runner's World. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  6. ^ Barden, Katy (16 April 2022). "Patience is a virtue for Emile Cairess". AW. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  7. ^ "GB's Cairess claims European cross country silver". BBC Sport. 11 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  8. ^ Henderson, Jason (11 December 2022). "Ingebrigtsen reigns supreme at Euro Cross in Turin". AW. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  9. ^ Henderson, Jason (4 March 2023). "Emile Cairess breaks European record for 10 miles". AW. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  10. ^ "McColgan sets new British 10,000m record". BBC Sport. 5 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Cairess and Harrison shine at the London Marathon". British Athletics. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Britain's Emile Cairess finishes third at London Marathon to book Olympic spot". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Emile Cairess claims third at the 2024 London Marathon". Runners World. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  14. ^ "GB's Cairess fourth as Tola wins Olympic marathon". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Great Britain's Emile Cairess impresses in marathon as Ethiopia win first gold". The Independent. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  16. ^ "Emile Cairess records GB & NI's best marathon finish since Athens 2004". British Athletics. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
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