Great North Run: Eilish McColgan withdraws with injury as Brigid Kosgei wins women's race
Brigid Kosgei won the women's race at the Great North Run after Eilish McColgan withdrew due to a foot injury. In the men's race, Zouhair Talbi secured victory with a late surge, narrowly missing his personal best time.
Why it matters
The Great North Run is a major international sporting event, and the performance of elite athletes like Kosgei and McColgan is significant for the professional long-distance running circuit.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Brigid Kosgei set the women's course record at the Great North Run in 2019
Kenya's Brigid Kosgei achieved a convincing victory in the women's race at the Great North Run after Great Britain's Eilish McColgan withdrew with injury.
McColgan, 35, was continuing her return to racing after recovering from a broken toe, but she suffered a foot injury early in the half-marathon and limped off.
Kosgei, an Olympic silver medallist and former London marathon winner, eased to the win in one hour, six minutes and 15 seconds.
Despite that being slower than the course record of 1:04:28 she set seven years ago, Kosgei, 32, dominated from the start and ran much of the 13.1-mile race solo.
She crossed the line over two minutes quicker than compatriot and last year's winner Sheila Chepkirui in second place.
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