Ugandan Stephen Kiprotich was in Mo Farah’s shadow as the latter became the first Briton in 29 years to win the Great North Run in Newcastle on Sunday.
World and Olympic champion Kiprotich clocked 1:01:35 to complete the 13.1 mile course. He was beaten by Farah, who crossed the finish line in a new personal best of one hour.
Farah’s former training partner Kenyan Mike Kigen came second in the same time.
The event was Kiprotich’s second half-marathon of the year after Paris back in March before the London Marathon.
In Tyneside, Kiprotich was way off the pace in the opening four miles which left just three men up front – Farah, Kigen and another Ugandan Thomas Ayeko.
But Ayeko fell off the pack midway the race and left Farah and Kigen to battle it out. Ayeko finished fifth in 1:01:39.
With three miles to go Kigen turned the screw, and Farah drifted 10 metres behind. Farah reeled him in, only for Kigen to kick again with just under a mile to go.
Even when Farah went clear with 200 metres remaining, Kigen refused to accept his place and nearly caught him on the line – with both men finishing in the same time.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s Mary Keitany set a new course record to win the women’s race ahead of Britain’s Gemma Steel.
The 2012 London Marathon champion who has returned from time off to have a baby, was well clear of the rest of the field and her time of 65 minutes 39 seconds beat Paula Radcliffe’s 2003 mark by one second, while Steel set a new personal best of 68:18.
2014 BUPA GREAT NORTH RUN
MEN’S RESULTS
1. Mo Farah (GBR) 1:00:00
2. Mike Kigen (KEN) 1:00:00
3. Stephen Kiprotich (UGA) 1:01:35
4. Tariku Bekele (ETH) 1:01:39
5. Thomas Ayeko (UGA) 1:02:13