• Great North CityGames

Farah wins with ease on homecoming

ESPN staff
September 17, 2011
Mo Farah left the field trailing in his wake © Getty Images
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Mo Farah ensured there would be no disappointment on his first run since his gold medal at the World Championships in Daegu, as he romped to victory in the two-mile race at the Great North CityGames.

Farah turned down the chance to race the 5000m in Friday's Diamond League meeting in Brussels - and with it any possibility of earning £50,000 for topping the yearly standings - in order to make his first competitive appearance since Daegu on home soil.

And he didn't disappoint the bumper crowd that turned out in Gateshead on Saturday, maintaining pace with the leaders for much of the race before bursting into a sprint finish that no one else could keep up with.

American Brian Olinger came in second behind the victorious Farah (who won in a time of 8:48.72 seconds), having led for much of the race before falling foul of the fast final phase. Olinger's compatriot Jeff See came home in a distant third.

Another of Team GB's success stories from South Korea, Hannah England, also claimed victory - this time in the women's mile. England led home European indoor champion Helen Clitheroe in a British one-two, comfortably clear of American Trenier Moser in third, despite having run in Brussels the previous night.

The only other domestic victory came courtesy of Harry Aikines-Aryeetey in the 100m, as the young sprinter saw off the challenge from compatriot Christian Malcolm to win in a time of 10.27s.

Elsewhere, Jason Richardson claimed victory in the 110m hurdles ahead of David Oliver and William Sharman - who was able to grab third after Daegu bronze medallist Andy Turner eased up over the final hurdle. Walter Dix also claimed the 150m in a time of 14.65s, completing an American double in the event after Carmelita Jeter won the women's equivalent.

Those results helped USA to claim the team competition - winning seven events to the British athletes' three.

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