Sweet victory as Obiri defends Great North Run title in UK

Kenya's Hellen Obiri wins the elite women's race during the Great North Run through Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead and South Shields on Sept. 11, 2022. [AP]

Make no mistake. Two-time Olympic 5,000m silver medallist Hellen Obiri is transitioning into the road races in style, holding off big guns.

On Sunday, Obiri cruised into a stunning victory at the 41st edition of the Great North Run half marathon and consequently defended her 2021 title in a race where the double world 5,000m champion clashed with Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir.

The 2022 edition of the Great North Run happened in its traditional route; from Newcastle to South Shields in the north of England after adjustments occasioned by Covid-19 restrictions.

Obiri and Jepchirchir edged Ethiopia's Almaz Ayana who came in third in the race staged at a time when the United Kingdom is in the middle of mourning Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on September 8.

She won the race in 1:07:05 with Jepchirchir - the 2020 Tokyo marathon champion coming in second in a time of 1:07:07 and Ayana, the world and Olympic 10,000m champion closing the podium finish in 1:07:10.

Buoyed by favourable weather conditions, the podium finishers broke away from the field early.

But it was until the last final stretch that Obiri unleashed a decisive kick, a surge that helped her lower her 2021 time by 37 seconds as Jepchirchir sustained a fight for the title, coming in two seconds behind her.

"It is good for me because I won the race last year and I have managed to be victorious again this year in two different courses. I am even feeling more happy and great because the race gave me the opportunity to run faster than last year," Obiri told the media after the win.

In last year's race, Obiri timed 1:07:42 to finish top ahead of Scottish Eilish McColgan who came second in a time of 1:07:48.

Half marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda proved his might in the distance, beating Olympic champions Selemon Barega and Kenenisa Bekele to win his first Great North Run title.

It was an easy win for the fast-rising Ugandan star, Kiplimo, who appeared to be in a class of his own as he went ahead to cement his status in the half marathon, cutting the tape in 59:33.

Kiplimo edged out Ethiopian Olympic champions Selemon Barega and Kenenisa Bekele who settled on the second and third places respectively.

The Ugandan easily left a world-class field gasping for breath as he made his maiden appearance at the event, where he produced a 32-second lead.

"I came here to win this race and I am happy about it. I can say that I enjoyed the race. I was not worried about the strong field because I was focused on winning," Kiplimo told reporters at the finish.

Barega, who was running his debut on the road, recorded 1:00:39 as his compatriot (Bekele) ran 1:01:01.

Meanwhile, the mood in Newcastle was sorrowful. Hundreds of participants stood together to pay their tribute to the departed Queen Elizabeth II, with a one-minute silence at the Great North Run start line before the UK National Anthem was sung.

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