MO FARAH set a new British half-marathon record as he retained his Great North Run title in a thrilling finish on the South Shields sea front.
View more pictures from this year's Great North Run
Farah outsprinted Kenyan Stanley Biwott to become only the third British runner to claim two Great North Run titles, emulating Mike McLeod and Paula Radcliffe who also boast a pair of titles.
His time of 59.23 was quicker than he managed over the 13.1-mile distance last year, and represents a new British best over the half-marathon distance.
Farah found himself in a select group of lead runners at an early stage of the race, but while Biwott tried to break him as the pair pulled clear in the final third of the race, the African was unable to establish a telling advantage.
Farah was sat on his shoulder heading into the final kilometre, and his sprint speed was the telling factor as he successfully pulled clear in the final 200m.
Biwott finished second, with another Kenyan, Mike Kigen, coming in third.
Kenya's Mary Keitany was untroubled as she successfully defended her women's title, claiming the lead before the Tyne Bridge and eventually pulling more than three minutes clear to win at a canter.
Keitany crossed the line in 1:07.32, with Britain's Gemma Steele claiming the runner-up spot for the second year in succession.
Sunderland's Alyson Dixon claimed an excellent fourth position in a time of 1:12.07.
Paralympic champion David Weir claimed his sixth Great North Run title in the mens' wheelchair race, with Shelly Woods going one better as he completed her seventh triumph in the women's wheelchair event.
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