SaqNORTHALLERTON’s Marc Scott capped off a successful weekend with an impressive second place at the Great North Run.
And there was joy for Teessider Jade Hall, who won the women’s wheelchair event.
Scott won the British 5k title on the Quayside on Friday night and less than 48 hours later he returned to the streets and produced another fine performance over 13.1 miles.
Scott was unable to repeat his 2021 victory, with Abel Kipchumba storming away to win in a quick 59 minutes and 52 seconds in dirty conditions, but the Richmond and Zetland Harrier was next over the line, catching Norway’s Sondre Moen to finish in 61 minutes and 11 seconds.
It is an impressive return to form for Scott, whose preparation for his marathon debut earlier this year was disrupted by injuries. He will now focus on his second marathon and look to continue his winning form at the Great North Run.
Mary Ngugi-Cooper completed a Kenyan double by winning a thrilling women’s race at the age of 35.
Ngugi-Cooper was part of a lead group of six riders who stayed together almost until the end, eventually beating Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi in a sprint.
Ngugi-Cooper is the 11th Kenyan to win the women’s event in a row, but she has strong ties to the UK. She lives in Leeds with her British husband and is coached by Steve Cram.
She told the BBC: “It was incredible. I’ve always dreamed of running here at the Great North Run. To win was a dream come true. It was a bit tough mentally because no one was giving up and when you get to the last mile, everyone is there.”
Britain’s Eilish McColgan was part of the lead group and crossed the line in fifth, five seconds behind Ngugi-Cooper, whose winning time was one hour, seven minutes and 40 seconds.
“I’m really happy about it,” said Scot McColgan.
“It was a really tough group that came together this year, so to be among those women and still be there 200 metres from the finish, if you had said that to me last week I would have broken your hand.”
(Image: Richard Sellers)
There were local winners in both wheelchair events, with Johnboy Smith celebrating his success alongside Hall.
Hall, from Middlesbrough, was making her return after giving birth to her daughter in March and said: “I wasn’t really sure how it was going to go. The weather was unpredictable today but I really enjoyed it.”
“It’s really hard. I feel like I have a different body now and I’m learning how it works for me.”
Smith said: “It was a good race, very, very tough. Wet, cold, miserable, but fun at the same time.”
Saq
