Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui stormed to victory in the women’s race at this year’s Great North Run, edging out her compatriot Vivian Cheruiyot in a thrilling finish. Britain’s Eilish McColgan, despite a determined late push, had to settle for third place.
Chepkirui crossed the line in 1:09:32, just five seconds ahead of Cheruiyot, while McColgan finished a further five seconds behind. Speaking after the race, the 34-year-old champion admitted the conditions were challenging. “It was really nice, but there was a lot of wind,” she said.
For McColgan, also 34, the race carried added meaning. Running her third Great North Run, she had been chasing the chance to emulate her mother, Liz McColgan, a former winner of the event. “It was tough conditions today. We had a headwind pretty much the whole race until that final mile, so times were sort of out of the window early on,” she reflected. “But the crowds were amazing, and it still felt really special.”
In the men’s race, Kenya once again dominated. Alex Mutiso pulled away in the final stretch to secure victory in 1:00:52. Belgium’s Bashir Abdi followed six seconds later, while last year’s champion, Kenya’s Abel Kipchumba, placed third, nine seconds adrift. Britain’s Ben Connor was the highest-placed home runner, finishing fourth with a time of 1:02:57.
The wheelchair races also delivered standout performances. Scotland’s Sean Frame, who had finished runner-up last year, took control early in the men’s race and powered home in 49:24, adding to his 2021 triumph. Simon Lawson came second in 52:38, with Anton Shepherd taking third in 54:21. “A bit of a headwind all the way, but it was an amazing race,” Frame said after sealing the win.
In the women’s wheelchair category, Great Britain’s Mel Nicholls claimed victory in 1:05:24, finishing well ahead of Italy’s Rita Curuccu, who crossed the line in 1:22:22.
The 2025 edition of the Great North Run once again highlighted the dominance of East African runners while also serving up memorable moments for the British crowd, who lined the streets in their thousands to cheer on the athletes.
