Kipsang and Dibaba win Great North Run

London: Wilson Kipsang defeated fellow Kenyan Micah Kogo in a sprint finish to win the Great North Run in north-east England.

Kipsang, this year’s London Marathon winner and the 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist over the distance, outsprinted Kogo in the final 20 metres to win in a time of 59 minutes and six seconds in the half marathon. Ethiopia’s Imana Merga finished third.

In the women’s race, his compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba powered to victory on her half marathon debut.

The three-time Olympic champion and four-time world champion, who became the first athlete to retain the Olympic 10,000 metres title in London, defeated 2011 world marathon champion Edna Kiplagat and 2012 Olympic Games marathon champion Tiki Gelana for victory in a time of 67 minutes 35 seconds.