SOUTH SHIELDS, England (AP) – Mo Farah pulled clear of Kenya’s Mike Kigen in the final 200 metres to become the first British man to win the Great North Run in 29 years yesterday.
The victory for the double Olympic and world gold medallist at 5 000 and 10 000 metres made up for the disappointment of last year’s race, when he was edged into second place by Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele in a sprint finish.
After pulling away early with Farah in the popular half-marathon on Tyneside, Kigen tried to drop the home favourite. Farah dug in and had the quicker finish, crossing the line in exactly one hour – a British record for the distance.
Mary Keitany of Kenya won the women’s race, equalling Paula Radcliffe’s course record of one hour, five minutes, 39 seconds.
