Double victory for Kenya in soggy Great North Run

It was a great Sunday morning for Kenyan athletes as they made their marks and dominated the Great North Run - a World Athletics Label Road Race - in Tyneside.

In the soggy race in Newcastle, Kenya's duo of Mary Ngugi Cooper and Abel Kipchumba were crowned champions, following brave fights in contrasting fashion.

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Ngugi living the dream

Six women dominated from start to finish: Kenya’s Ngugi, Sheila Chepkirui and Vivian Cheruiyot, plus Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi and Megertu Alemu and Britain’s Eilish McColgan.

Ngugi and Chepkirui led from Teferi and Alemu, with former winner Cheruiyot and McColgan forming the lead pack across the Tyne Bridge and through the first mile in 5:05.

The sextet maintained that pace for the entire race, passing 5km in 16:03, 10km in 32:20 and 15km in 48:20. All looked comfortable as they swung downhill on to the coast road and the final mile.

The experienced Cheruiyot, who is now 40, moved up, but then was the first to drop when the others responded.

Five were in contention with 200m to go, then it turned into a fight between Ngugi-Cooper and the Ethiopian pairing.

The win went to the 35-year-old Kenyan, who clocked 64.33, and said it was a dream come true to race at the Great North Run.

She told BBC post-race: "It was amazing. It has always been a dream to come and race here. For me to come here, do it and win it is a dream come true."

Chepkirui was fourth timing 67.44, while Cheruiyot came home sixth in 67.54.

Kipchumba cruises to easy win

And while there was a crazy finish in the women's race, none of that was evident in the men's event, as Kenya's Kipchumba asserted his dominance early on, winning in under an hour.

Kipchumba was all alone at the mile ,and crossed the 5km mark in a snappy 13:37.

The Kenyan, who only arrived in town on Saturday due to a two-day visa delay, pulled clear in the third mile with Sondre Nordstad Moen giving chase.

At 10km, Kipchumba was 25 seconds up (28:01 vs 28:26), but both Moen and 2021 winner Marc Scott (28:51) weren’t losing too much more ground.

That picture was only temporary as Kipchumba surged again past halfway. After that, the most significant development was that Scott caught Moen in the 12th mile.

Up front, Kipchumba looked more like a middle-distance runner with the finish in sight, and clearly knew that a sub-one hour was in prospect.

He covered the last 176m from 13 miles in 24 seconds to clock 59:52.

His compatriot Evans Chebet was fifth, timing 62.21.