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Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui and Vivian Cheruiyot went 1-2 at the Great North Run, while Scot Eilish McColgan took third place in Newcastle upon Tyne on Sunday morning.

McColgan trailed Chepkirui and Cheruiyot but put in a late surge during the final stages, looking to threaten for second; however, she was unable to catch the two Kenyan athletes.

The half-marathon race finish was close enough as Chepkirui clocked in at 1:09:32, and five seconds back was Cheruiyot in 1:09:37, and another five seconds trailing was McColgan in 1:09:42.

American Emily Sisson finished fourth in 1:10:17. She was followed by three Japanese runners, Mitsu Ozaki, K. Kawamura and Rie Kawachi.

“It was really nice, but there was a lot of wind,” Chepkirui told the BBC.

Taking part in her third Great North Run, McColgan was aiming to emulate her mother Liz by winning the race for the first time.

“It was tough conditions today,” said the 34-year-old. “We had a headwind pretty much the whole race until that final mile, so times were sort of out of the window.

“We were a lot slower than we set off last year. There was no rain compared to last year and the crowds were out in force so it was a special day.”

Chepkirui’s personal best over the distance is 1:04:36 at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. Last year, she placed fourth in the Great North Run in 1:07:44.

Men’s race

In the men’s race, Kenyan Alex Mutiso, 28, won in a time of 1:00.52. Meanwhile, Belgium’s Bashir Abdi was six seconds back in second place, with Kenya’s Abel Kipchumba — who won last year — nine seconds behind Mutiso to take third.

Ben Connor was the fastest British runner, finishing fourth in 1:02.57.

More than 60,000 runners signed up to race the 44th annual event that runs from Newcastle to South Shields. Another 100,000 spectators were watching along the course.

Results

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