MO WINS LONDON HALF AS THE BIG ONE LOOMS

Four months after losing to a club runner, Sir Mo Farah avoided succumbing to a similar surprise by taking a comfortable win at the Big Half in London yesterday. In warming up for next month’s London Marathon, which could yet serve as the four-time olympic champion’s farewell to competitive athletics, Farah ticked off the 13 miles in 1hr 1min 49sec. The 39-year-old, racing for the first time since he was beaten by Ellis Cross in May, finished 15 seconds ahead of Jack rowe, with Jake Smith third.

In the women’s event, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Eilish McColgan, 31, took more than two minutes off the course record in 1hr 7min 34sec.