7:26PM, Sun Sep 16, 2012

Kipsang And Dibaba Take Elite Race Honours In Great North Run 2012

By Phil Forster Location: Tyne and Wear

While thousands of fun runners raised millions of pounds for charity in the Great North Run, some of the world's leading distance runners were competing for the title in one of the world's most prestigious half marathons.

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The elite men's race was won by Kenya's Wilson Kipsang in a dramatic sprint finish.

Kipsang, who won the London marathon earlier this year and claimed bronze over the same distance at the Olympic Games, pipped countryman Micah Kogo to the line in a time of 59 minutes and six seconds.

Britain's Chris Thompson finished in sixth.

Kipsang said: "The finish was quite fantastic. I decided to sprint.

"Towards the last part I believed in myself and I got the feeling that I could sprint.

"For me winning this race is really good for me. It was my first time running in the GNR and I really enjoyed the race. There were a lot of people cheering and it was fantastic."

Ethiopia's Olympic 10,000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba won the women's race on her half marathon debut ahead of world marathon champion Edna Kiplagat and 2012 Olympic marathon champion Tiki Gelana.

Dibaba, who won with a time of 67 minutes 35 seconds, hailed rival Kiplagat who she beat in a sprint to the line.

"Edna is a very good runner," Dibaba said.

"She has experience on the roads and I knew I was going to get a good challenge there. It is my first experience of running a road race but still it was a good competition.

"It was a good race. The course was good for me. It's my first time running in the Great North Run and I enjoyed it. At the last moment there was rain but it was a very good race.

"Hopefully next time I will get a better time. For me it was a good run and the experience for me today was good. I am thinking of running a marathon maybe next year."

Jo Pavey was satisfied with her fifth place finish in the women's race, and believes it has been the perfect transition back into road racing.

The British long distance runner, who finished in seventh place in both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres at this summer's Olympic Games, crossed the line in a time of 69 minutes 20 seconds, just 27 seconds outside of her half-marathon personal best.