Britain’s Mo Farah has defended his title in the Big Half race, finishing in one hour one minute 14 seconds in London on Sunday.
The four-time Olympic champion won the half marathon in a sprint finish to beat his time of 1:01:40 in the inaugural event last year.
The 13.1-mile race is the 35-year-old’s final one before he goes for a first London Marathon win on 28 April.
Mo Farah
In the women’s race, Britain’s in-form Charlotte Purdue retained her title.
The 27-year-old finished in a time of 1:10:38, with fellow Englishwoman Steph Twell claiming second place ahead of Wales’ Charlotte Arter.
“Conditions were a bit tougher than last year here – very windy, rainy – but it was nice. I got the job done, came first and now I’m preparing for the London Marathon and it’s a nice stepping stone,” Farah told the BBC.
“When I’m in London, the crowds always deliver. It’s a great atmosphere and I enjoy racing at home.
“Training has gone well [for the London Marathon]. Obviously I’ll have to have a chat with my coach and see how I feel.
“I’m excited. I feel like I have more experience than last year. I’ve got to go out and do the best I can – but I know I can mix in with the guys.”
Farah again hinted at a surprise return to the track to run the 10,000m at October’s World Championships in Doha.
“It’s possible. After the marathon, I’ll make a decision about what I want to do,” he added.
“Deep down, I miss the track. I look at my fellow athletes and I think ‘woah’ and I just get excited.”
Farah, who finished third at last year’s London Marathon, failed to reclaim the title of Europe’s fastest half marathon runner – a record he achieved by finishing the 2015 Great North Run in a personal best time of 59:22.
Switzerland’s Julien Wanders beat that record by finishing in 59:13 at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in February.
Elsewhere, David Weir won by a margin of over three minutes in the elite men’s wheelchair race, with a time of 51:11. Fellow Briton Mel Nicholls came second in the elite women’s wheelchair event, narrowly finishing behind Margriet van den Broek of the Netherlands. (BBC Sport)
