Mo’S Manchester Victory As Dibaba Retains Crown
SIR Mo Farah claimed a memorable victory on a day when Tirunesh Dibaba retained her crown as the queen of the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run.
Farah had not competed in the city centre race since 2007, long before he went on to win ten Olympic and world titles – but the 35-year-old has shown he is a winner on the road as well as the track, and in doing so became the first British man to win the 10K.
He was made to work hard for his victory as Moses Kipsiro and Abel Kirui provided stiff opposition, but Farah executed one of his trademark sprint finishes to ease home in 28:27, with Kipsiro second in 28:28 and Kirui third clocking 28:52.
Farah said of his victory: "That was tough. I’m not in top, top shape. After the marathon I had a couple of weeks off and have been getting back into training so I was obviously a bit slower but it was good to get a win here – it wasn’t about getting a time, here, it was all about the win.”
Dibaba, meanwhile, was a late addition to the women's field that already featured the world's fastest woman over 10KM in Joyciline Jepkosgei alongside British marathon champion Lily Partridge and Kenyan Olympian Betsy Saina.
Dibaba, the triple Olympic champion, previously took victory on Deansgate in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017 and made it five wins inside six years with a suitably imperious run in Manchester, clocking 31:08 with Jepkosgei second in 31.57 and Saina third in 32:25.
Jepkosgei led through the first 5K but Dibaba reeled in her opponent, scratching off a nine second deficit to leave Jepkosgei, who had clocked an unbeaten 29:43 in Prague last year, trailing in her wake.
Earlier, David Weir won the men's wheelchair race in 21:28, with Johnboy Smith second in 21:43 and Simon Lawson third in 22:30, while Liz McTernan won the women's race in 34:20, with Helen Gilham and Lucy Keyworth second and third in 40:51 and 45:28 respectively.
In the morning, Craig Pilsbury won the second Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run half marathon in 73.58, with Luca Volta second in 76:04 and Craig Bradshaw third in 76:08.
Carly Needham won the women's race in 79.30, ahead of Luljeta Shala in 84.16 and Helen Ibbotson third in 85.13.
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