Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei achieved a convincing victory in the women’s race at the Great North Run after Great Britain’s Eilish McColgan withdrew with injury.
McColgan, 35, was continuing her return to racing after recovering from a broken toe, but she suffered a foot injury early in the half-marathon and limped off.
Kosgei, an Olympic silver medallist and former London marathon winner, eased to the win in one hour, six minutes and 15 seconds.
Despite being slower than her course record of 1:04:28, Kosgei dominated from the start and ran much of the 13.1-mile race solo to cross the line over two minutes quicker than compatriot and last year’s winner Sheila Chepkirui in second place.
Amy-Eloise Neale was the first British athlete to finish, coming fifth overall.
McColgan, who finished third in last year’s Great North Run, suffered the toe injury during the London Marathon in April where she was the first British athlete to finish, taking seventh place.
The Scot had blood seeping through her shoe as she crossed the line and subsequently had to miss the Commonwealth Games in July.
She made her comeback in last week’s Big Half in London and won that race in 1:10:54, but McColgan admitted afterwards that she was still concerned about the injury and her fitness.
Britain’s David Weir won his 10th Great North Run title in the men’s wheelchair race as he finished in 43:06, while Melanie Woods was the women’s winner in 50:19.