SIR MO FARAH won the Great North Run for a record-breaking sixth time in a row with a new personal best.
The British athletics legend, 36, crossed the line in Newcastle in 59min 6sec after pulling clear of Ethiopian Tamirat Tola in the final mile.
Tola, seven seconds behind Farah, crossed the line 42 seconds ahead of Holland’s third-placed Abdi Nageeye, with Britain’s Callum Hawkins coming home fourth.
The win takes the former 5,000m and 10,000m champ past Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson haul of five consecutive wheelchair titles.
But Farah is hoping to build on his success on Tyneside at the Chicago Marathon on October 13.
But of course he also has one eye on next summer’s race at Tokyo 2020.
He told the BBC: “I’ve really enjoyed it but the past couple of years has been in the middle of marathon preparation. It was good to test myself.
“Things are looking good and I’m happy with the win.
“Tokyo is definitely on the cards – as an athlete you always want to represent your country.
“You just have to take it one year at a time. Hopefully, come Tokyo time, we will be in the mix.”
In the women’s elite race, Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei set a new course record and and broke the world half marathon record by finishing in a time of 1hr 4min 28sec.
Kosgei finished more than three minutes ahead of second-placed Magdalyne Masai, with Linet Masai third and three-time winner Mary Keitany fourth as Kenya dominated the top four spots.
Britain’s Charlotte Purdue finished fifth and – like Hawkins – her good form will give her a boost ahead of the World Championships in Doha later this month.
British men finished first and third in the men’s wheelchair race as David Weir came home first in 43min 31sec ahead of second-placed Canadian Brent Lakatos and fellow Briton Simon Lawson.
In the women’s wheelchair race, Jade Hall triumphed ahead of fellow Brit Shelly Woods and third-placed Pole Martyna Snopek.
Source: Athletics - thesun.co.uk
