Mo still turning heads as he’s great up north

MO FARAH won a record sixth straight Great North Run yesterday with a new personal best.

The Olympic gold track medallist raced ahead of Ethiopian rival Tamirat Tola in the final mile of the half marathon to cross the line in 59 mins 6 secs.

Farah, double Olympic champion at both 5,000 and 10,000 metres, said the race was ideal preparation for next month’s Chicago Marathon, with his sights set firmly on running at the Tokyo Olympics next year.

“The crowd was so loud I didn’t know if he was closing the gap so I kept looking behind,” said Farah 36, right.

“I’ve really enjoyed it but the past couple of years it has come in the middle of marathon preparation.

“It was good to test myself. Things are looking good and I’m happy with the win.

“Tokyo is definitely on the cards – as an athlete you always want to represent your country.

“You just have to take it one year at a time. Hopefully come Tokyo time we will be in the mix.”

The women’s course record was beaten by Kenyan Brigid Kosgei, who finished with a time of 1:04:28, five months after winning the London Marathon.

Kosgei set a new course record and broke the world half marathon record to boot.

Kenya’s women filled the top four places, but Kosgei finished more than three minutes ahead of second-placed Magdalyne Masai (1:07:36), with Linet Masai third and three-time winner Mary Keitany fourth. Britain’s Charlotte Purdue finished fifth in 1:08:10.

Britons finished first and third in the men’s wheelchair race as David Weir came home first in 43:31 ahead of second-placed Canadian Brent Lakatos (43:36) and fellow-Briton Simon Lawson (45:58).

In the women’s wheelchair race, Jade Hall triumphed in 50:15 ahead of fellow-Brit Shelly Woods (51:41) and third-placed Pole Martyna Snopek (1:06:38).