Athletics/Great North Run half-marathon: Chepkirui triumphs as McColgan takes third
Kenyan runners dominated the Great North Run half-marathon, with Sheila Chepkirui claiming the women’s title in 1:09:32. Her compatriot Vivian Cheruiyot finished five seconds behind, while Britain’s Eilish McColgan secured third, ten seconds off the lead. McColgan, competing in her third edition, fell short of matching her mother Liz’s achievement of winning the race.
In the men’s event, another Kenyan, Alex Mutiso, broke away late to win in 1:00:52. Belgium’s Bashir Abdi took second, six seconds behind. British wheelchair athlete Sean Frame controlled the men’s race from the start, finishing in 49:24 for his second win.
Meanwhile, at London’s Big Half, Jack Rowe equaled Mo Farah’s record with his third men’s title in 1:04:08. Jess Warner-Judd, recently diagnosed with epilepsy, delivered an emotional victory in the women’s race in 1:10:35. David Weir, recovering from a training accident, set a new course record of 46:58 in the wheelchair event. Eden Rainbow-Cooper won the women’s wheelchair race in 54:31.
