Britain’s Paula Radcliffe set a European record as she won the Great North Run in 67 min 7 sec today.
Radcliffe put behind her the disappointment of missing out of the Olympic 10,000 metres bronze medal a fortnight ago.
“With three miles remaining I knew there was a very good chance of breaking the course record so I began to put my foot down,” she said.
Radcliffe’s old rival and world marathon record holder Tegla Leroupe, of Kenya, was second.
In the men’s race Faustin Baha, of Tanzania, claimed the title in 61 min 51 sec ahead of Britain’s Andy Coleman
More than 50,000 runners entered this year’s half-marathon road race between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields - the biggest in the world.