Tadesse sets new record with North win

Zersenay Tadesse, with an awesome performance, won the men's BUPA Great North Run title in the fastest half-marathon time ever witnessed.

The Eritrean, who won the Olympic 10,000 metres bronze medal last summer, scorched to a time of 59 minutes 05 seconds after destroying the hopes of Dejene Berhanu after eight and a half miles.

Tadesse's winning time was a second quicker than the previous world half-marathon performance achieved by Paul Tergat of Kenya five years ago in Lisbon, who missed this morning's event through injury.

Berhanu, of Ethiopia, who himself felt he could smash the world record, finished runner-up in a time of 60 minutes 44 seconds, with Hendrick Ramaala, a former two-times champion from South Africa, finishing third in 62 minutes 25 seconds.

The first Briton home was John Brown who clocked a time of 63 minutes 44 seconds when claiming eighth position.

Meanwhile, Derartu Tulu became the first Ethiopian to win the women's event with an emphatic victory.

The two-time Olympic 10,000metres champion left her rivals behind after nine and a half miles to win the world's biggest half-marathon in one hour, seven minutes and 33 seconds.

Behind her there was a close battle for second place which eventually was claimed by Tulu's compatriot Worknesh Kidane in one hour, eight mins and nine secs.

Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia finished two seconds down on the runner-up at the finish in South Shields.

Tulu said: "It has always been my ambition to win this event. I have tried two or three times before but on this occasion I knew I was coming into the race injury-free.

"Beating so many world-class athletes was a satisfying experience and, in fairness, beforehand I thought it would be a much harder race."

David Weir took the men's wheelchair title in 42mins 35secs, ahead of fellow Briton Tushar Patel who clocked 44:13. Germany's Ralph Brunner finished third in 45:12.

Britain's Shelly Woods claimed victory in the women's wheelchair race in
50:07, with Italian Francesca Porcellato 39 seconds off her pace.

Last year's winner, Sweden's Gunilla Wallengren, failed in her bid for a fifth successive Great North title and finished third in 53:52.