Kenya’s Hellen Obiri started her road running career on a high by winning the 2022 Great North Run, the world’s biggest Half Marathon on Sunday, September 11, 2022 in Newcastle, United Kingdom.
The trio of Obiri, Peres Jepchirchir and Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana were toe to toe until the final few metres when the former produced a brilliant kick to outpace her rivals.
The 32-year-old managed to hold on pressure from Jepchirchir to cross the finishing line in a time of 1:07.05 and successfully defended her title.
Obiri’s time was more than a minute slower than the current course record of 1:54.39 set by Kenya’s Mary Keitany in 2014.
Jepchirchir, who is the reigning Olympic Marathon champion, clocked 1:07.10 to finish second in a highly contested race.
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Peris was making a return after suffering an injury a few months ago that forced her to miss the 2022 World Athletics Championships staged in Oregon, United States.
World and Olympic 10,000m champion Ayana clocked 1:07.10 to settle for third ahead of compatriot Hiwot Gebrekidan and Charlotte Purdue of Great Britain who clocked 1:07.22 and 1:10.11 respectively.
Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo was in a class of his own as he ran the bigger part of the men’s race alone to bag the title in an impressive time of 00:59.33.
The Ethiopian duo of Selemon Barega and Kenenisa Bekele clocked 1:00.39 and 1:01.01 to finish second and third respectively.
More than 60,000 individuals took part in the race which was started in 1981 with Reverend Mark Roe, the acting bishop of Newcastle leading prayers before the start of the race.
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