Streets ahead
Hawkins: I’ll show Mo who’s king of the road in half marathon clash
CALLUM HAWKINS won’t allow Sir Mo Farah to be on easy street when the duo renew their road rivalry in the new year.
The pair will square up at the new Big Half event in London on March 4 in what will be the 25-year-old Scot’s final half marathon before the Commonwealth Games.
It’s set to be the start of regular clashes following Farah’s decision to quit the track and focus exclusively on the road – and Hawkins is determined to show the four-time Olympic champion a clean pair of heels.
He said: “It will be good to race Mo when he’s at full fitness. When I beat him at this year’s Edinburgh XC he wasn’t fully fit so I don’t count that as a win.
“Hopefully I can push him to his limit or even better and beat him. But it’s going to be tough because he’s a world-class athlete, maybe the best in the world.
“At the moment he’s still quicker than me but the marathon is just a completely different event from the track. It’s a gruelling mental challenge as well.”
Farah admits he is looking forward to the new challenge of running exclusively on the roads.
He said: “It’s fantastic for British Athletics that we now have a new generation of runners like Callum coming through who are able to compete at the top.
“I hope my achievements over the years has shown them what is possible.”
Hopefully I can push Mo to his limit or even better beat him. But it’s going to be tough CALLUM HAWKINS