Senbere Teferi (L), Mary Ngugi-Cooper(C) and Alemu Megerti (R) after the Elite Women's race during the Great North Run through Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead and South Shields, September 8, 2024
THERE was a Kenyan double at a soggy Great North Run today with contrasting victories for Mary Ngugi-Cooper and Abel Kipchumba.
Ngugi-Cooper was part of a six-strong lead group that stayed together virtually to the wire, with the 35-year-old pipping Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi in a sprint finish.
Ngugi-Cooper is the 11th successive Kenyan winner of the women’s event but has strong links to Britain. She is based in Leeds with her British husband and is coached by Steve Cram.
She told the BBC: “It was amazing. It’s always been a dream for me to come and race here at the Great North Run. To win it, it’s a dream come true. It was a bit mentally tough because no-one was dropping and you’re coming to the last mile and everyone is there.”
The men’s race was a one-man show, Kipchumba breaking away early on and defying the wet conditions to cross the line in 59 mins 52 secs.
There were home winners of both the wheelchair events in Jade Hall and Johnboy Smith.
