Great North Run: Eilish McColgan third as Sheila Chepkirui wins women’s race

“It was tough conditions today,” said the 34-year-old. “We had a headwind pretty much the whole race until that final mile, so times were sort of out of the window early doors.

“We were a lot slower than we set off last year. There was no rain compared to last year and the crowds were out in force so it was a special day.”

In the men’s race, Kenya’s Alex Mutiso, 28, raced away in the latter stages to win in 1:00.52.

Belgium’s Bashir Abdi was six seconds behind in second place, with Kenya’s Abel Kipchumba – who won last year’s race – nine seconds off the winner in third.

Ben Connor was the highest-placed Briton in the men’s race as he came in fourth in 1:02.57.

Fellow Briton Sean Frame took control of the men’s wheelchair race early on and claimed victory in 49:24 as he added to his win in 2021.

Simon Lawson finished second in 52:38 and another Briton, Anton Shepherd, was third in 54:21.

“A bit of a headwind all the way but it was an amazing race,” said Frame.

“I was second last year, it didn’t bother me that much. I just focused on this year – putting on the best performance I could and just use my strengths – and it paid off.”

Great Britain’s Mel Nicholls won the women’s wheelchair race in 1:05.24, with Rita Curuccu, of Italy, second in 1:22.22.

“It was so much fun, I loved it,” said Nicholls. “The wind was crazy.

“A lot of it is uphill but it certainly felt it was all uphill.”