Double world and Olympic champion Mo Farah succumbed to the stiff competition offered by Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele at the Great North Run.
Great Britain’s Farah, 30, chased down Bekele in the last 400m but was pipped to the line by one second, ending the thrilling sprint finish in one hour and ten seconds.
The great Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia clinched the third spot after falling behind in the last of the 13.1 miles.
The 40-year-old Gebrselassie could not keep up with the youngsters’ performance but his finish time of 1.01:41 was still a world record over the distance for over-40s.
“I’m disappointed but I was second to a great athlete,” said Farah.
“When Kenenisa went with a mile to go, I thought the pace was ridiculous.
“I thought I could come back. It came to the last 200m, right to the line. It was a great race and a great finish.”
