SCOTT Overall comfortably defended his Bupa Great North 10K title in Gateshead yesterday in his final race before competing in the Olympic Games marathon.

Overall, who will fly out to Britain's Olympic training camp in Portugal tomorrow, assured himself of another victory after breaking clear seven kilometres into the race.

A decisive change of pace saw the former track international make light of the windy conditions to win in a time of 29 minutes 34 seconds.

Yarod Hagos a local runner from Wallsend, finished 25 seconds adrift in second place, with Jussi Utrianen, who will represent Finland in the Olympic marathon in three weeks time, placing third in 33min 09sec.

"The race came at exactly the right time for me and I now I will get on with my final preparations for London," said Overall.

"I don't feel any real pressure about the Olympics, in fact if there is any it probably comes from myself when thinking about the race. I want to produce a good performance that will reflect I have given it my best effort and I would love to get a top-ten finish.

"This race was definitely one that I wanted to do and win. It's always nice to return and defend any title."

Gemma Steel, the reigning English Cross Country champion who has emerged from obscurity to beat the likes of Paula Radcliffe, Jo Pavey and Mara Yamauchi in the last 18 months , won the women's event in 32min 56sec.

Steel ran easily in the early part of the race, but kicked hard at the seven-kilometre point to break clear of Japan's Akiko Matsuyama and win by 11 seconds.

Laura Howarth, winner of the recent Blaydon Race, was third in 33min 09sec.

"I just let myself go for it in the last three kilometres," said Steel. "I am surprised how well I have done, particularly as I didn't start racing seriously until I was 20.

"Now I'm looking forward to coming back up here and taking part in the Great North Run and also the Great Yorkshire Run, which I won last year. I cannot believe how my career has just taken off."