Farah’s sights on fourth straight win

Sir Mo Farah bids to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive Simplyhealth Great North Run when he takes to the start line this Sunday.

Great Britain’s greatest athlete defends his title over the half-marathon course between Newcastle and South Shields.

Farah, 34, retired from the track last month, winning gold and silver at the World Championships in London to add to his four Olympic golds and five World Championship golds, in a track career spanning more than a decade.

He will now concentrate his efforts on the road.

Farah has competed in every Great North Run since 2013, finishing second in his first outing and winning in 2014, 2015 and 2016, last year holding off the challenge of Dathan Sir Mo Farah: excited to be competing again. Ritzenhein to become the first male runner to win three consecutive Great North Runs.

A fourth win for Farah would equal Benson Masya’s record, with the Kenyan winning in 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1996.

Farah said: “I’m excited to be competing in the Great North Run again. It’s one of my favourite races. The support from the crowds is always amazing and I can’t wait to come back to the north-east.

“Winning just one Great North Run was a lifelong ambition but to win four in a row would be unbelievable.”

Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot, returns to defend her women’s title.