Sir Mo Aiming To Make It Four In A Row
SIR Mo Farah has announced his intention to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive Simplyhealth Great North Run when he takes to the start line in just under two weeks’ time.
Great Britain’s greatest ever athlete will defend his Simplyhealth Great North Run title over the world-famous half marathon between Newcastle and South Shields on Sunday, 10 September.
Farah, 34, retired from the track this month, winning gold and silver at the World Athletics Championships in London to add to his four Olympic golds and five World Championship golds, in a track career spanning more than a decade.
He will now concentrate his efforts on the road, with the world’s biggest half marathon firmly in his sights.
Farah has competed in every Simplyhealth Great North Run since 2013, finishing second in his first outing and winning in 2014, 2015 and 2016, where he held off the challenge of American Dathan Ritzenhein to become the first male runner to win three consecutive Great North Runs.
A fourth win for Farah would equal Benson Masya’s record, with the Kenyan winning over the 13.1mile distance in 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1996.
Farah said: “I’m excited to be competing in the Simplyhealth Great North Run again. It’s one of my favourite races in the calendar. The support from the crowds is always amazing and I can’t wait to come back to the North-East.
“Winning just one Great North Run was a lifelong ambition but to win four in a row would be unbelievable.”
Brendan Foster, founder of the Simplyhealth Great North Run and chairman of The Great Run Company, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Mo will be coming back to compete at the Simplyhealth Great North Run.
“He’s Great Britain’s greatest athlete of all time, and to have him back here on the start line in Newcastle is fantastic.”
Farah will be competing against last year’s runner-up Ritzenhein and five-time Olympian Bernard Lagat, with more names still to be confirmed.
The Simplyhealth Great North Run is broadcast live on BBC One on Sunday, 10 September at 9.30am-1.30pm, with highlights on BBC Two at 6pm. For more information, visit greatrun.org/north
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