Sheila Chepkirui wins Great North Run as Eilish McColgan finishes third

Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui won the women's race at the Great North Run on Sunday, with Britain's Eilish McColgan finishing third after being unable to overhaul the leading pair in the closing stages.

Chepkirui, 34, crossed the line in 1:09:32, with compatriot Vivian Cheruiyot five seconds back in second. McColgan, also 34 and taking part in her third Great North Run, finished 10 seconds adrift of the winner after a late push failed to bridge the gap.

"It was really nice but there was a lot of wind," Chepkirui said after the race. McColgan said conditions had been difficult, describing a strong headwind for much of the course and noting that times were slower than last year. "It was tough conditions today. We had a headwind pretty much the whole race until that final mile, so times were sort of out of the window early doors," she said. McColgan had hoped to emulate her mother, Liz, by winning the event for the first time.

In the men's race, Kenya's Alex Mutiso surged clear in the latter stages to take victory in 1:00:52. Belgium's Bashir Abdi finished six seconds behind in second, while last year's champion, Kenya's Abel Kipchumba, was third, nine seconds off the winner. Briton Ben Connor was the highest-placed home athlete in the men's field, finishing fourth in 1:02:57.

Britain's Sean Frame dominated the men's wheelchair race, taking the lead early and crossing the line in 49:24 to add to his 2021 victory. Simon Lawson was second in 52:38 and Anton Shepherd third in 54:21. "A bit of a headwind all the way but it was an amazing race," Frame said, adding that he had focused on using his strengths after finishing second last year.

Mel Nicholls won the women's wheelchair race in 1:05:24, with Italy's Rita Curuccu second in 1:22:22. "It was so much fun, I loved it," Nicholls said, citing strong winds and a course that felt persistently uphill.

Separately in London, The Big Half — a standalone half-marathon event — produced wins for Jack Rowe, Jess Warner-Judd, David Weir and Eden Rainbow-Cooper. Rowe equalled Mo Farah's record by claiming the event for a third time, finishing in 1:04:08. Mo Aadan was second in 1:04:46 and Weynay Ghebresilasie third in 1:04:53. Rowe said the race was made tactical by windy conditions that kept large groups together for much of the distance.

Warner-Judd won the women's race in 1:10:35. She has been diagnosed with epilepsy after collapsing during the 10,000 metres final at the European Championships in Rome in 2024 and said she has begun trauma therapy, which she hopes will help a return to track competition. "It has been a really hard year," Warner-Judd said. "I wanted to have a track season but, basically, every time I go on to the track it's like I can't remember the race, so I've started trauma therapy and that seems to be really helping. I am hoping with the therapy and stuff that I can come back to the track, but to be honest I am really enjoying the road and it's a fresh start."

David Weir won the men's wheelchair race for a record fourth time, setting a course best of 46:58, 20 seconds faster than his previous mark. Weir, who was involved in a collision with a vehicle during training just over six weeks earlier, said he had been left "a bit rusty" but was pleased to set the new record. "I've not raced for a while after the accident in July and have been left a bit rusty, so I am very happy to have set a course record — but I still think there is more in the tank," he said. Eden Rainbow-Cooper won the women's wheelchair race in 54:31.

Organisers and competitors at both events cited windy conditions as a significant factor shaping tactics and slowing times compared with previous years. Crowds were reported to be strong along the routes, and athletes noted that spectator support contributed to the atmosphere despite the adverse weather.

The results add to a busy autumn of road racing in Britain, with athletes using high-profile domestic events to prepare for international competitions later in the season and to build momentum after challenging seasons marked by injury and illness for several contenders.