Kenyan athletes sweep top honours at Great North Run

Kenya enjoyed double victory in the Great North Run on Sunday, 7 September after its athletes took wins in the men’s and women’s races in Newcastle, England.

2024 New York City Marathon winner Sheila Chepkirui led the way in the women’s 21km race, clocking 1:09.32, while former London Marathon champion Alex Mutiso sprinted to the tape in a stiff men’s competition, timing a winning time of 1:00.52.

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Chepkirui, 34, set the pace in the early stages, before out-staging compatriot and two-time race winner Vivian Cheruiyot to the finish line.

Cheruiyot, who finished just five seconds behind this year’s Nagoya Marathon champion, had been looking to add to her 2016 and 2018 titles, but saw her challenge fall short.

Scotland’s Eilish McColgan, taking part in her third Great North Run, finished third, clocking 1:09.42.

Speaking after her race win, Chepkirui, who is expected to defend her New York crown in November, said: “It was really nice but there was a lot of wind.”

A similar close to proceedings was also witnessed in the men’s race, as Mutiso, 28, took it upon himself to dash to the line in the closing meters, leaving second-place finisher Bashir Abdi in his wake.

The Belgian, who is also the European record holder for the marathon, was only six seconds shy of Mutiso, and just three seconds ahead of defending champion Abel Kipchumba, who wrapped up the podium places in 1:01.01.

Home favorite and 2021 champion Ben Connor was the highest-placed Briton in the men's race, as he came in fourth in 1:02.57.

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