Mo set for London event after triumph
With four miles to go I was just hanging on, gritting my teeth
BRITAIN’S Mo Farah will compete in next year’s London Marathon after winning the Great North Run for a record- breaking fourth successive year yesterday.
It will be Farah’s third London Marathon after he took part in the event in 2013 and 2014.
“I can’t wait to start a new adventure racing on the roads in 2018, starting with the world’s greatest marathon,” he said.
“The London Marathon is my home race and it is so special to me. The previous times I have taken part were amazing.”
Just hours earlier, Farah, a four-time Olympic champion, saw off a determined challenge from New Zealand’s Jake Robertson in the closing stages of the Great North Run to finish in a time of one hour and six seconds.
The 34-year-old is the first athlete to win the Great North Run four times in a row.
He is now level in terms of most victories with Kenya’s Benson Masya, who was champion four times in the 1990s.
Farah, who finished his glittering track career last month with a thrilling 5 000m victory at the Diamond League final in Zurich, produced his trademark “Mobot” celebration in Newcastle as he crossed the line.
Robertson was six seconds back in second place, with Ethiopia’s Feyisa Lilesa coming third.
Farah said after his season concluding race: “That was really, really tough.
“I’m sore everywhere – I’ve never been this sore!
“With four miles [6.4km] to go I was just hanging on, gritting my teeth.
“As we got closer, I managed to believe in myself and dig, and I was thinking ‘if I can just sit on him [Robertson], at the end I can sprint’.
“I’m so pleased with how the season has gone. I’ll go on a little holiday with the missus and then come back fresh.
“I’m looking forward to sticky toffee pudding and apple pie!”
Farah won the 10 000m at the World Championships in London in August, his sixth world gold, before losing his 5 000m crown to Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris.