Sixty thousand runners celebrate Queen Elizabeth at the Great North Run

It was an emotional day in Newcastle, U.K., on Sunday at the 41st annual Great North Run, as 60,000 runners at the world’s biggest half marathon paid tribute to the 96-year-old monarch who died last Thursday with a moment of silence, black ribbons and God Save the King.

A dominant Great North Run win for Jacob Kiplimo #greatnorthrun2022 pic.twitter.com/SHytdOMwGs

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) September 11, 2022

The half marathon world record holder, Jacob Kiplimo, became the first Ugandan man to win the Great North Run in 59 minutes and 33 seconds. Kiplimo showcased his fitness, winning the half by one minute, leaving a world-class field featuring Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele and Selemon Barega in the dust. This was Kiplimo’s first appearance at the Great North Run. The Olympic 10,000m champion, Barega, finished second in 60:39, with Ethiopia’s Bekele crossing the line for third in 61:01.

“I enjoyed the race, but I came here to win it,” Kiplimo said to the press in a post-race interview. “I was not worried about things that were going on around me. My focus was to win the race.”

Last year’s winner Marc Scott, from the U.K., finished sixth in a time of 62:28.

In the women’s race, the defending champion, Hellen Obiri, held off Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir and former 10,000m world record holder Almaz Ayana to retain her title, in 67:05.

Your elite women's results at Great North Run:

Hellen Obiri ?? (1:07:05)
Peres Jepchirchir ?? (1:07:07)
Almaz Ayana ?? (1:07:10)
Hiwot Gebrekidan ?? (1:07:22)
Charlotte Purdue ?? (1:10:11)

? @matty5573#gnr2022 pic.twitter.com/JRtJnwcmY9

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) September 11, 2022

The race came down to the wire as the trio of women broke away from the field early in the race. Kenya’s Obiri made the decisive kick in sight of the finish line to win her second Great North Run. Her compatriot, Jepchirchir, finished two seconds back of Obiri in 67:07, while Ayana finished three seconds back, in 67:10.