Brigid Kosgei sets course record at Great North Run

Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei ran one of the fastest-ever half-marathons at the Great North Run on Sunday. Her time of 1:04:28 was under the 1:04:51 world record set by Joyciline Jepkosgei in 2017, but cannot be ratified, since the Great North Run is contested on a point-to-point course. Kosgei finished nearly three minutes ahead of second-place finisher Magdalyne Masai, who will race the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon next month, and who crossed the line in 1:07:36. Three-time champion Mary Keitany was fourth in 1:07:58.

What an amazing finish from Brigid Kosgei!! #GreatNorthRun pic.twitter.com/b3mmNjqy9J

— Simplyhealth (@SimplyhealthUK) September 8, 2019

Kosgei has had a great year. She won the 2018 Bank of Chicago Marathon in the third fastest women’s marathon time in history, in 2:18:35. Chicago was a huge personal best for Kosgei, improving on her old marathon time by nearly two minutes.

To clarify regarding today's performance at the Great North Run, here's the IAAF rule for world record consideration for road races.

The Great North Run is contested on a point-to-point course with elevation loss of 30.5m and a start/finish separation of more than 75%. pic.twitter.com/cVjJIg8r8o

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) September 8, 2019

RELATED: Brigid Kosgei runs third fastest women’s marathon in Chicago history

She followed that up with a win at the 2019 London Marathon, which was an improvement upon her time in Chicago by 15 seconds.

Canadian Sasha Gollish finished in 1:16:15 at the Great North Run today. Gollish has been named to the upcoming World Championship team for the marathon.

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In the men’s race, Mo Farah won his sixth consecutive Great North title. Farah crossed the line in 59:06. The runner is building to defend his Chicago Marathon title on October 13.

Farah’s transition to the marathon has been very impressive. He ran his debut in 2014 in London in 2:08:21, and has improved on that result in both of his subsequent marathons. Chicago 2019 will be his fourth marathon and his second in Chicago (his first being the 2018 event, which he won).