By Spy Uganda
Olympian Jacob Kiplimo became the first Ugandan to win the Great North Run’s elite men’s race with a time of 59:33. on Sunday
The 2000-born half marathon world record-holder put in a dominant display in Tyneside, finishing one minute and three seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega and Kenenisa Bekele in second and third.
Hellen Obiri’s victory in the elite women’s race was much narrower as she saw off fellow Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir by just two seconds.
Obiri’s winning time of 1:07:07 was a minute and a half behind the Great North Run’s current women’s record holder Mary Keitany, also from Kenya.
Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana rounded off the top three, with Charlotte Purdue the highest-finishing Briton in fifth. Marc Scott, winner of last year’s men’s race, was Britain’s fastest finisher, placing sixth with a time of 1:02:28.
Kiplimo won double gold at last month’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and is a rising star in long distance running.
He won bronze in the 10,000 metres at Tokyo 2020.
Eden Rainbow-Cooper won the women’s wheelchair race, meanwhile, and six-time Paralympic gold medallist David Weir won the men’s wheelchair race for an eighth time.
2022 Great North Run standings
Men’s elite race:
- Jacob Kiplimo 59:33
- Selemon Barega 1:00:39
- Kenenisa Bekele 1:01:01
- Suguro Osako 1:01:05
- Brett Robinson 1:02:06
- Marc Scott 1:02:28
- Yohei Ikeda 1:02:42
- William Amponsah 1:03:15
- Calum Johnson 1:03:16
- Kazuya Nishiyama 1:03:57
Women’s elite race:
- Hellen Obiri 1:07:05
- Peres Jepchirchir 1:07:07
- Alwaz Ayana 1:07:10
- Hiwot Gebrekidan 1:07:22
- Charlotte Purdue 1:10:11
- Amy-Eloise Markovc 1:11:12
- Misaki Hayashida 1:12:57
- Yuna Daito 1:13:33
- Lily Partridge 1:14:13
- Verity Ockenden 1:14:30
The races were preceded by a perfect minute’s silence in memory of the Queen and a rendition of God Save The King, while the traditional pre-race Red Arrows flypast did not take place as a mark of respect.
The race is expected to raise around £25million for charity this year, with more than 60,000 runners taking part.
Organisers the Great Run Company said: “The event has traditionally been a celebration of the extraordinary achievements of ordinary people, this year it will be an opportunity for us to come together and express our condolences, while celebrating the life of our extraordinary Queen.
“The thousands of runners taking part are expected to raise an estimated £25m in much needed charitable donations, a fitting tribute to the Queen, who lived her life in the service of our country and its people.”
