Photo via Athletics Weekly

Zouhair Talbi and Brigid Kosgei out in front at Great North Run

The 45th running of the Great North Run saw Zouhair Talbi secure a landmark breakthrough, turning in a winning time of 59:47 under bright, warm skies to become the opening American victor in the competition's history. The 31-year-old, who gained his US citizenship in 2024 following an Olympic appearance representing Morocco, shook off prior champion Alex Mutiso (60:01) with blistering splits of 4:38 across the penultimate mile and 4:18 on the final stretch.

Yohei Ikeda took third in 60:40, followed by American Casey Clinger in fourth at 61:36, fellow countryman Clayton Young in seventh at 62:04, and top British finisher Marc Scott taking eighth in 62:10 along the trek connecting Newcastle to South Shields. Coming off an April display where his 2:03:15 finish in Boston made him the speediest US marathoner on that course, Talbi now looks ahead to November's New York Marathon alongside Clinger.

On the women's side, Tokyo champion Brigid Kosgei dominated with a 66:15 triumph ahead of her upcoming appearance in Chicago, finishing comfortably ahead of runner-up Sheila Chepkirui (68:19) and Melknat Wudu (69:37), while Amy-Eloise Neale led the home contingent in fifth at 70:27. Misfortune struck Eilish McColgan, who dropped out prior to the midpoint because of severe blister damage on the bottom of her foot, just a week removed from winning the Big Half.