Fabled event celebrates 45th anniversary as US athlete lands a first, while Kenyan lays down an impressive marker and blister issues return to haunt Eilish McColgan.

Zouhair Talbi created a piece of history, while Brigid Kosgei underlined her return to form and Eilish McColgan suffered a painful morning as the AJ Bell Great North celebrated its 45th anniversary edition with some typically eventful elite races.

Making his debut at the event, Talbi became the first US winner in its history as he clocked a time of 59:47 in the warm and sunny conditions that saw off the challenge of Kenya’s Alex Mutiso (60:01) and Japan’s Yohei Ikeda (60:40). 

The 31-year-old, who competed for Morocco at the Paris Olympics became an American citizen in 2024, had been shoulder to shoulder with defending champion Mutiso for much of the race but timed his late charge perfectly, clocking 4:38 between miles 11 and 12, then dropping a 4:18 closing mile to hit the line first. 

This win continues a brilliant year for Talbi, who became the fastest US athlete in the history of the Boston Marathon back in April when finishing fifth in 2:03:15. He will now turn his attention to the New York Marathon in early November. 

Casey Clinger is also targeting New York and was the next US runner home over the route that runs from the centre of Newcastle to South Shields on England's east coast, finishing fourth in 61:36, while his compatriot Clayton Young was seventh in 62:04. Behind him came Marc Scott, finishing as first Briton in 62:10.  

In the women’s race, Kosgei showed that she is a force to be reckoned with once again, the former marathon world record-holder winning by just over two minutes. Although she was shy of her own course record of 64:28 that she set seven years ago, the winner of this year’s Tokyo marathon clocked 66:15 as she tunes up for a return to the Chicago Marathon. Defending champion Sheila Chepkirui was the woman that got closest to her, with 68:19, while Ethiopian Melknat Wudu was third in 69:37.

The first Briton home was Amy-Eloise Neale, fifth in 70:27, as Eilish McColgan endured a frustrating afternoon. The Scot, third last year, had won the Big Half a week previously as she returned from a broken toe that had come along with the blister issues she had struggled with at the London Marathon in April. 

She had been planning to be in contention again on Tyneside this time around but was forced to step off the course before the field had reached halfway. 

“Tough day for me, not through injury…but another bloody blister,” McColgan wrote in a post on Instagram. “Bottom of my foot is ripped off. Honestly don’t know why I’m having so many problems this year, as it’s never been an issue before, but we need to get it sorted ASAP! I’m feeling pretty frustrated. My body is actually in a really good place.”   

In the wheelchair races, David Weir completed the 10th Great North Run win of his illustrious career thanks to a dominant victory in a time of 43:06. Irishman Patrick Monahan was second in 45:31 while Johnboy Smith won the battle for third with fellow Brit and last year’s winner Sean Frame, 46:14 to 46:18. 

Mel Woods, building up to her marathon debut in Berlin later this month, successfully defended her title as the T54 400m and 1500m Commonwealth champion clocked 50:19.