Great North Run Highlights Athletics

It is hard to believe that it is just a week since the closing

ceremony of the Paralympic Games, the end of London 2012 and the

summer of sport the like of which we will probably never see again.

It is a tough act to follow but if any event can do it, this one

probably can. Welcome to highlight of the 2012 Great North Run. Some

of the world's top distance runners are here to take on the famous

half-marathon course. London Marathon champion Wilson Kipsang is

looking to run away from a strong field again. Kit Sangin steed --

Wilson Kipsang wins the London Marathon. Jo Pavey is chasing down

a legend of the sport, the reigning Olympic 10,000 metres champion,

Tirunesh Dibaba. Tirunesh Dibaba is the Olympic champion again. And we

will see tens of thousands of runners taking to the roads for

charity and hearing some of their amazing stories. Inspiration,

legacy, certainly the buzzwords for 2012 and they can equally be

applied to the Great North Run. Thousands of people with

inspirational stories to tell and why they run this great race in a

legacy of millions and millions of pounds raised for charity, which

quite literally has changed A year ago, in September, I was in

a Rob Pitt -- rocket propelled grenade attack in Afghanistan. I

lost my arm. Last year, I ran the Great North Run in under two hours

so I am trying to beat my personal best. You look like you have the

eye of a tiger. What sort of time? One hour and 40 minutes would be

great. I am not sure if I am doing it, I am started it. It is star-

struck heaven here, it is Stella. I feel unfit. I will do my best. It

is nice to see you again. How you feeling? So nervous, so excited, so

excited. I can't believe I am doing it on a Sunday morning. Normally I

am hung over. We are running for a good charity. Great Britain has had

such a good Eurosport, having the Olympics, Andy Murray, and having

races like this is amazing to help fund raiser and for people to run

in these races is good. We joined up with leukaemia Randall at -- and

lymphoma research, it is a great day, it is hard to describe it.

is great to support Sara's hope. That is what it is about, raising

money for charity. Sara's Hope Foundation, it is important to

raise money for people with cancer. That is what we're here for today.

If we can get round, we will be pleased and to make money. I will

be lucky to break one hour and 40, but you might get one hour and 20?

Under one hour and 30, and a one- hour and 20 would be great. After

five miles, I will make a decision. We should have a ten minute

handicapped raised, if we are within ten minutes, you will buy me

dinner. What does it -- what are your words of support? These guys

have done the training, they have to go out and enjoy it, running for

loved ones or charity. It is important to enjoy it and not put

pressure on yourself. I am sure they had a good night's sleep last

night, which is important. Give them a high-five and give support.

It has been a difficult year for you but you have got behind the

Trust which you have started in John's name. Has it helped?

Absolutely. It has been a tough year. I have had the support of so

many wonderful people, not least the girls here, who are running

with me. We have six girls who are wives and partners of the team. The

team has been fantastic. I have brilliant family and friends and

people connected to John's life, who have come forward and they have

helped me support the Trust. We have come such a long way in the

last year. OK, let's get to the action. Your commentators are

Brendan Foster, Steve Cram and way at Josh Cassidy -- just cash

the is expected along with Mickey Bushell, side by side, over the

first part of the course -- Josh Cassidy. It is pretty much all the

way down the hill to the Tyne Bridge, then the hard work begins.

They won't have to do too much in the way of any real physical hard

work, not until midway through the course. There is quite a few a pill

sections. Then -- there are quite a few uphill sections, then the long

drag to the finish line. Josh Cassidy -- Josh Cassidy, as

expected, at the front and beginning to work very hard indeed,

followed by Mickey Bushell. Away they go. In Olympic year, the elite

field in the Great North Run setting off for what promises to be

an enthralling race. Tirunesh Dibaba, in her first of a half

marathon, can she bring the brilliant pedigree she has always

shown as on the track onto the road? She is a good road runner,

she has a good history of performances on the road. After all

of hot exploits at the Olympic Games and indeed quite a few of

these athletes here will have had victory at for what for many has

been the end of a long season. The likes of Dibaba and Kiplagat, the

Olympic marathon champion, Gelana, have come looking for a good race.

The prospect of a fast time, as ever. We will be looking forward to

seeing what Dibaba is capable of in the half marathon distance. It is

great to see the world's most successful female athlete ever

moving from the track. Three-times Olympic champion, four times world

champion, four times world cross- country champion. The great

Tirunesh Dibaba, at the back of that group. Jo Pavey is setting the

pace. The world of athletics is waiting to see what Tirunesh Dibaba

is going to do. She says she will move through to the marathon. She

will be the most successful athlete ever to step up from the track to

the marathon and maybe the future of marathon running is in her hands.

She has been such an outstanding distance runner. She is right at

the back. She runs like this on the track. She settles down next to the

2009 winner, Jessica Augusto, who run -- run in the marathon in

London. Tirunesh Dibaba has run -- has won the big races with her fast

finishers. They missed Gelana in the middle and Jo Pavey, who had a

fantastic Olympic Games, she came 7th in the 5,000m and the 10,000m.

She is very happy to be here today and go back to what she wants to do,

half marathons and marathons. Let's see how she does today. Here they

go, the red, white and blue, which them. The countdown begins and the

nerves start to jangle a little. What a day for all of our

competitors to have. The Olympic champions setting them on their way,

Greg Rutherford, Mo Farah, Ellie Simmonds. Fantastic to have them

here in this great sporting year and the Great North Run as ever,

one of our biggest and best events. One of which the elite are joined

by thousands and thousands of others. They all have special

challenges, they will have medals they will collect at the end. So

many stories which we will tell you about. This might just take a

little time because I'm not sure that when all of these people

signed up to take part they could have imagined we would be standing

on the start rostrum, the gold medals, the success of Team GB,

would have had in the Olympic Games, I know how much it has meant to the

nation as a whole. Now they get the chance today. We are back to the

women's, going through five miles. Jelena Prokopcuka has taken over

from Jo Pavey. Jo Pavey is settling there, Gelana just behind Jelena

Prokopcuka and Tirunesh Dibaba is following, just getting the

distance behind her. Gemma Steel of Great Britain in the red best, just

behind Jo Pavey. She is running well. Edna Kiplagat, the world

marathon champion, there is some talent there and both the British

athletes are in that group. Back at the start, Mo Farah is enjoying the

adulation. Over the Tyne Bridge they go. That is Leedham leading

lead athletes being roared on by the crowd. The Tyne Bridge will

slowly fill up. There is a Imana Merga, we are looking down the

field to see whether British athletes are. We are looking for

Chris Thompson, there he is in the green vest on the outside of the

group. There is Nick McCormack, who run in the 5,000 metres in the

Olympic Games, next to him. The crowds are starting to come through,

the masses are starting to come through. Jo Pavey is sticking with

it. We have noticed that Gemma Steel of Great Britain, who was

doing well in there, is drifting. Jo Pavey has to knuckle down. She

is just through the six-mile point. They are looking good here. This is

looking as though Tirunesh Dibaba, just taking a closer order, so the

two Olympic champions from Ethiopia, Gelana in second place, the Olympic

10,000 Mater champion, Tirunesh Dibaba, the athlete who has won so

many events and Championships at titles in her career. Then Edna

Kiplagat, the world marathon champion. Jo Pavey is in extremely

good company. She is coming under pressure nowt them are moving from

side to side. She needs to hang onto the back of this group. She

strong pace and in this group you have Micah Kogo and Emmanuel bet --

and Emmanuel Bett. These three know each other well. Wilson Kipsang and

Imana Merga are great athletes. I watched Emmanuel Bett winner

10,000m last week, just under 27 minutes. He looked very strong.

These three I know we're hoping to set a decent pace. They're going

quickly. It will be interesting to see their split on the first mile

and second mile, they have maintained it, 8.58. Quicker than

last year, when we had a course record. They have started quickly

and they will soon go through the three-mile point. I would first

finisher this morning coming along the seafront, Josh Cassidy from

Canada. He is about to win his third Great North Run. The soldiers

that you see here today are the mixture of all five Guards

battalions from the infantry training battalions at Catterick

Garrison. A guard of honour for Josh Cassidy. He joins David Weir

and others as multiple winners of the Great North Run and that will

make up for a disappointing Paralympic Games for the Canadian.

Jo Pavey has fallen away. You can see she is about 40 metres behind,

at least, these four. With the exception of Jelena Prokopcuka, who

is having a cracking race, and has done the eight miles, the last

three miles have been running 15 minutes. That is why Jo Pavey is

struggling to stay with this. This is very good running. There is

confirmation, Jelena Prokopcuka, her best goes back to 2005, 68.11

and she is running within that time, inside that time here. If she were

to maintain this, not only is she giving the big names here a run for

their money, she could be heading for a personal best. There is a

long way to go but good running so impressive. She looks like she's

keen to get on terms. The great Tirunesh Dibaba, following a few

yards behind. Then Kiplagat, the world champion. Jo Pavey will not

be able to stay with them for those few miles. But if she sticks with

it, she's run a solid opening part of the race and she passed to raise

hard. She is digging deep. Deep in concentration, deep on effort.

Getting good support from the crowd at all points here. They have

watched her at the Olympic Games. She plans to run a marathon later

this year. For the moment, she has just got to work at it hard. She's

running impressively. She could go close to her personal best. The

race up front is a little bit quicker than that. It's good to see

Jo digging in. There is the leader, with three Olympic champions behind

her, world champions. World cross- country champions. A fantastic

performance when she won the marathon in London, Tiki Gelana.

She really wants to get on with this race. She knows how good

Tirunesh Dibaba is in the later stages. Olympic long-jump champion,

going with an Olympic effort with hi-fi is -- high-fives, Greg

Rutherford. In the meantime, concentrating on the elite men.

Maintaining really good pace. With the women, it's a solid pace, but

this is a little bit more impressive from the men. An elite

group of five. A big gap. Going through a little down whole section

here. These next two or three miles are the quick miles. They've

maintained a good pace through clear. We could be in for something

pretty special. You can see the way that the flights are blowing. Yeah

come are the Red Arrows again, over the top. The Tyne Bridge, one of

the sights of the Great North Run. He's blowing quite heavily.

Absolutely delighted to see Mickey Bushell here at South Shields. He

will finish in 6th place. leading group, he looks like he's

working really hard. He's managed to put his team-mates a little but

clear. The world cross country champion, just pulling away now.

Just a few yards ahead. There is Wilson Kipsang, the favourite. Many

people thought he could have won the Olympic Games if he judged his

pace a little better. He doesn't have to do anything special, just

stay in contention with his team- mates. There are the first British

athletes, Chris Thomson. Running strongly. He says he is getting in

better shape. He was obviously disappointed with the Olympic Games.

He is ahead of Birmingham, who ran against Mo Farah. He tested him for

a lot of the way in the two mile race yesterday. There is a

concentrated figure of Chris Thomson. Thankfully, back from his

injury and on his way to running back again. A slight change in the

women's race. The three champions from Africa, now being led by the

World Marathon champion, Edna Kiplagat. Tiki Gelana, the Olympic

marathon champion, alongside the world marathon champion. Where she

has been off the time is a clever racer, Tirunesh Dibaba. That is

obvious, you do not become four- times world champion unless you are

a clever razor. She had the whole of 2011 away from injury. She

wasn't even sure at the beginning of this year. Jo Pavey, fantastic

year so far, just does what she does best. She is running on her

own, working hard, she knows that there is a prize for her today. She

knows she can go close to her personal best. This is strenuous

distance running and the concentration that you need. It has

been a privilege to watch her this opened up quickly. They must beat

running quicker. That last mile of four point lead and was outstanding.

not worried about the wind at the moment. How are we going to see the

baby-faced destroyer, as you named hair, stretching out? She always

goes from about four to 600 metres. She does not wait for the end.

Tirunesh Dibaba, the great one, hits the front. Marathon runners

around the world have to be careful. This looks like the transition from

the track, to the road, is she going to be strong enough? Has she

got the finish we have seen on the track over this distance? We will

find out in seconds. Very early. I'm not sure if she would have got

a sight when she came over the top. I think she went too early. You get

that foreshortening as you look down ahead of you. Kiplagat realise

that Tiki Gelana might have mistimed it. If she has strength,

she has to push on. They will pass 400. D Barber is in familiar

territory. Let's see what you have got. -- Tirunesh Dibaba. She's

looking for the distance, she will be looking for the 400 metre mark.

That was a temporary death judgment. Was it a major misjudgment? Look at

the power, look at the style, the ability of Tirunesh Dibaba. She is

a racer, overall. She keeps looking behind. The Olympic 10,000 champion,

defending the title so brilliantly in London. Trying to win her first

ever Great North Run. Her first ever half-marathon. She has not got

it yet. Kiplagat looks behind. It is between these two. The crowd can

seek that they are just a few hundred metres away. We can see

them for the first time. Tirunesh Dibaba must be thinking, where is

the finish line? Well, 400 metres on the track, she knows how to do

that. Straight, it looks different. The first sign of weakness from

Kiplagat. She looks over her shoulder. The great Tirunesh Dibaba

is in her own territory. She now has the finish in sight. That is

always a wonderful sight. In full flow, there is nobody better than

Tirunesh Dibaba. A diminutive figure, but possesses such speed,

such strength, such endurance. An amazing competitive spirit. When

she is fit, nobody can beat her. Perhaps the greatest distance

runner, certainly on the track. Who knows what awaits her on their road

are the future? -- honour the road in the future? On a half-marathon

distance, she has shown that she has what it takes to get to the top

of this event as well. Tirunesh Dibaba, the Olympic champion. She

takes the title in the Olympic year, in the Great North Run. A superb

victory from the Ethiopian. Edna Kiplagat takes second place, a new

personal best. The Olympic marathon champion, coming through, also a

personal best in third place. Three great athletes giving us a great

her part. She will be delighted with that. Just inside, maybe by a

second or two, a personal best. That goes all the way back to 2005.

This is a great run from Jo Pavey a. Her personal best of 68 minutes and

53 seconds. Can she get close to that? We are looking at the clock.

Just over 69 minutes, just above her personal best. She has had a

marvellous year, on the track, on the roads and, eventually, on

behalf Marathon. Kipsang had his first real breakthrough in the

Delhi million half-marathon. The year after that he ran 58 point 59.

Is the 4th man ever to run under 59 minutes. Although that might have

slipped by them, today, I don't know if they will have that

scintillating last mile. I don't think that will happen. They have

just lost the possibility of getting under 58 minutes. This

hurts your legs, it is so fast. He is letting himself go, Micah Kogo

is holding himself back. Suddenly, the gap has appeared. He has used

the hill very well. I think that is something that is only going to

build. Is that the move that makes the victory for the London Marathon

winner? 12 miles completed. For the first time, he has a lead. We have

seen him surrendered the lead on several occasions during the

Olympic Games. Micah Kogo, he took it a little bit easier down the

hill, he is closing again. The tactics of Wilson Kipsang, they do

not know like they have worked at the first effort. Micah Kogo closes

the gap and get right in behind Wilson Kipsang. So, what looked

like a move that was destined to win the race looks like a move that

has hired his legs. He's come down the hill, fresher than him. Togo

goes better uphill. The other thing about Wilson Kipsang, his running

ability is his strength. There is the Olympic torch. Fantastic. Still,

Mo Farah, still happy to shake hands. Don't worry, you have nearly

finished your season! It has been a joy to watch. Ellie Simmonds gives

them and encouraging word. Now the ordinary people can set off and do

extraordinary things. Micah Kogo glances over his shoulder. We still

have a race here. It's going to be fast in the last part of the race.

It's going to end up a slightly quicker time than it looked like at

the halfway point. Two Kenyans battling it out for victory. They

can sense the finish, the crowds building either side of them. A

good view all of the way down. But this race is not over yet. Togo is

still trying to force the issue. Kipsang is trying to hold on,

trying to see if he can stay close enough and find something for the

last 200 metres. There are only two or three metres between the two of

them. No more than that. Micah Kogo is not renowned for his sprint

finish, I'm not sure if Kipsang is either. They always talk about that

little elastic band keeping you close, keeping you in touch.

elastic band has not snapped yet. Micah Kogo has not got quite enough.

Who is it going today? Who is the fastest sprinter? You want to see

Kipsang would alongside him. That is going to be the move. Has he got

anything left? Can he catch Micah Kogo? Can he spend? -- Sprint.

Wilson Kipsang is racing in. They are now coming down for a really

fast sprint finish. Micah Kogo takes another look behind him.

Kipsang looks like he is broken here, can he raised a little bit

extra? It's going to be Micah Kogo, 100 metres to go. Here comes

Kipsang again! Has he got enough? Kipsang is coming again! It's going

to be Kipsang that takes it, right on the line. What a finish from

those two! One of the best sprint finishers we have ever seen at the

Great North Run. It was Kipsang, he is going to run a big personal best

Talk us through that finish? think the finish was quite

fantastic, because I saw that he had spirit and I decided to spend.

It looked as though you were beaten. Wedded to find the extra energy?

Probably it was the last part. I tried to believe in myself and

sometimes I can spend. For me come a winning this phase was very good

for me. 61, flat, I saw it and I was chasing the clock. I had -- I

broke the fastest athlete over ten kilometres this year. He was

getting worried, I'm coming for you. Unfortunately I could not quite dip

under but I am over the mood. I have run two, ten Ks faster than

the Olympics. But we have done great work this winter. I knew I

was in great shape. It has proved to myself and the group around me

that I was ready to do something good but again, timing, six weeks

on, but I am on a break now. Go back to the or training and

hopefully come back next year and A personal best for Gemma Steel,

she goes on to the all-time UK top Congratulations, how did you enjoy

it out there? TRANSLATION: It was a good race. The course was good for

me. It is my first time in the Great North Run and I enjoyed it

but at the last moment there was the rain. But I can do it -- I

cannot do anything about that. It was a very good race. Jo Pavey, so

close to your personal best. You must be pleased with the re-run

today? I was fairly pleased. I wish I could have stayed with the top

few. At one point they seemed to get away. The Times would have done

damage to me. I would have liked to have been up with them. It was not

a bad time. I am trying to get my It was a couple of minutes outside

David Weir's course record, from Congratulations. You must like this

course? It is a good course for me, I enjoy it. I love coming back to

Newcastle as well. Is it your third victory? Yes, I believe so. It is

becoming like a second home and a tradition here for me. Well done,

you said you wanted to go out and enjoy it. Did you like the

experience? Yes, definitely. It is a bit different from 100 metres! I

definitely enjoyed it. I am sure I would finish seven minutes behind

him in a 100 metres! What a finish to the men's elite race, one of the

most dramatic in the Great North Run history with a Wilson Kipsang

beating Micah Kogo on the line. Speaking of lines, it has taken

this lot are bit long to get here Tell us your story? I finished my

third cycle of chemotherapy on Thursday, so I am running today for

an appeal, at the Leicester Royal Infirmary to raise money for a

young person's unit. I am up to �6,000. I am hoping to raise more

for the unit. It is tough out there. Remind us again, you finished your

chemotherapy on Thursday. Yes, I came out of hospital on Thursday

and I had to going on Saturday for blood tests to check a good run.

are running for a hospital department. Go on, the doctors and

nurses. I bet you feel like you need an anaesthetic! I knew I

forgot to bring something! Everybody has been asking for his -

- asking us for anaesthetics. What can we do? Keep going, keep going,

keep going. Next year, we will bring a supply. I am doing it for

the Teenage Cancer Trust. They tell us halfway through the year, it is

of a charity. It is good fun. I don't mind it. It is good fun and I

I noticed there was a competitive chat with you and Iwan Thomas at

the top. Did you leave him for dust today? My aim with him, it was to

be Tim after 400 metres, because that is always nice, and if I beat

him after ten minutes then dinner and a few drinks were on him

tonight. If he is not through in the next 20 seconds, then nine know

I need to find the most expensive restaurant in Newcastle! When you

run behind people, the messages I am running in memory of someone,

then it will say the name of a child, or my mum, and I miss her so

much. Yes, it really makes you realise that so many people are

doing this for charity and also just, I don't know, to keep

someone's memory alive and that is a powerful thing when you are

running. On 9th June Mike husband died from a stroke. He was a

marathon runner, super-fit, and only two weeks before he had done

the Edinburgh Marathon. It was from know where that has left his

devastated. He is recovering, steadily and slowly add because of

his marathon running and his true grit and determination and the

willpower he has got, he is making a slow, steady recovery. He has

inspired you to be here today? Absolutely. It was my challenge, I

said to him in the first few weeks, he doubted I would run this far. I

said it is my goal, what I will do, and I will pass the book to you

when you have to get better for me. A good run, I am very pleased. I'd

be you. Well done. Only just. We always have a joke on Twitter, I

was only one 1/2 minutes ahead, 1.42. 143 -- 1.4-three. I will take

that. That is why you pushed yourself at the end? Absolutely.

is very pleased you did that time, James Cracknell is finding an

expensive restaurant. Never bet against James Cracknell. I was 20

minutes behind. He is an animal. Jubilee year -- jubilee year, the

Olympics, I thought I would finish it off, the Queen running. We talk

every year. You have great fancy dress. What is your name? I am John

Thomas, from South Wales. That is my 15th Great North Run.

daughter has a condition, we are researching it and we need money.

Anything we get, it helps. You want to get the message out, so many

people are doing that today. How inspirational is it today? Everyone,

everybody. People in wheelchairs, people on the side giving you

drinks and biscuits to boost you, That is that for the 32nd edition