Sir Mo Farah is targeting the Tokyo Olympics after bursting clear to win the men's elite race at the Great North Run for a record sixth successive year.
Four-time Olympic champion Farah was pushed hard by Tamirat Tola, but proved too strong in the final mile for the Ethiopian to finish the 13.1-mile half-marathon course in 59 minutes and six seconds.
Tola, seven seconds behind Farah, crossed the line 42 seconds ahead of Holland's third-placed Abdi Nageeye, with Britain's Callum Hawkins coming home fourth in one hour and 39 seconds.
Another stellar win from @Mo_Farah at the Simplyhealth #GreatNorthRun pic.twitter.com/JuzmWIRDEE — Simplyhealth (@SimplyhealthUK) September 8, 2019
Farah opted to miss next month's World Athletics Championships as he prepares to defend his Chicago Marathon title – but indicated that he is intent on a marathon bid at the 2020 Olympics.
The 36-year-old told BBC sport: "Things are looking good and I'm happy with the win. Tokyo is definitely on the cards – as an athlete you always want to represent your country.
"You just have to take it one year at a time. Hopefully, come Tokyo time, we will be in the mix."
In the women's elite race, Kenya's Brigid Kosgei set a new course record and and broke the world half-marathon record by finishing in a time of 1:04:28.
Kenya's women filled the top four places, but Kosgei finished over three minutes ahead of second-placed Magdalyne Masai (1:07:36), with Linet Masai third and three-time winner Mary Keitany fourth.
Britain's Charlotte Purdue finished fifth in 1:08:10 and, like Hawkins, will be buoyed by her form ahead of the World Championships in Doha later this month.
What an amazing finish from Brigid Kosgei!! #GreatNorthRun pic.twitter.com/b3mmNjqy9J — Simplyhealth (@SimplyhealthUK) September 8, 2019
British men finished first and third in the men's wheelchair race as David Weir came home first in 43:31 ahead of second-placed Canadian Brent Lakatos (43:36) and fellow Briton Simon Lawson (45:58).
In the women's wheelchair race, Britain's Jade Jones-Hall triumphed in 50:15 ahead of compatriot Shelly Woods (51:41) and third-placed Pole Martyna Snopek (1:06:38).
