A few weeks after winning the 5,000m and 10,000m world titles in Beijing, Mo Farah has retained his Great North Run title after a thrilling battle with Kenyan Stanley Biwott over the half marathon course.

Farah clocked 59 minutes 23 seconds, 37 seconds quicker than his time last year, with Biwott a second back after pushing Farah till the end.

In good weather conditions, Kenya’s Mary Keitany produced a solo run to win in 1:07:32, her 12th consecutive victory over the distance.

Kenyan Mary Keitany retained the women’s title she won in record time last year.

Farah and Keitany became the fifth and sixth runners in the history of the event to achieve back-to-back victories.