It is a surprise to many that Berhane Adere had not previously won a BUPA Great North Run. But on Sunday she took the title at her fifth attempt as Hendrick Ramaala added a third title to his successful relationship with the North East’s premier event.
The Ethiopian Adere pulled away from rivals Benita Johnson of Australia and Susan Chepkemei of Kenya in the closing stages to cross the line in 1hr 10min 01sec. It was a classic battle as past champions Johnson and Chepkemei sought to deny Adere her first win. Johnson came home second in 1hr 10min 17sec with the Kenyan just 5sec down on her.
Britain’s Jo Pavey took fourth place on her debut in the race. Pavey felt ill in the last half mile and collapsed at the end of the race. She was taken to hospital but after returning home and resting up said she felt recovered and it is thought that low sodium levels in her body could have been the problem. Pavey had continued to run her own race as Johnson and Adere started to make attacks from the 8M stage.
The men’s race saw Ramaala attacking the 61min barrier as he came home in 1hr 1min 4sec. Dejene Berhanu won the race two years ago but was not able to match Ramaala on the day as he clocked 1hr 1min 23sec.
The Ethiopian was just ahead of Dathan Ritzenhein of the US who came in with 1hr 1min 26sec. The 23-year-old American had thought he was in for to run 62min and was delighted with his performance. He had tried to maintain his own rhythm as the attacks and surges started to come.
The top Britain’s came home in 9th, 10th and 11th as Pete Riley came in ahead of Jon Brown and Dan Robinson.
Results
Men
- H Ramaala (South Africa) 61:03
- D Berhanu (Ethiopia) 61:22
- D Ritzenhein (USA) 61:25
- J Gharib (Morocco) 62:41
- S Baldini (Italy) 62:42
- R Rop (Kenya) 63:16
- A Chaica (Portugal) 63:24
- A Letherby (Australia) 63:50
- P Riley (GB) 64:09
- J Brown (GB) 64:15
- D Robinson (GB) 64:45
Women- B Adere (Ethiopia) 70:03
- B Johnson (Australia) 70:17
- S Chepkemei (Kenya)70:22
- J Pavey (GB) 70:42
- H Haining (GB) 71:41
- M Takanaka (Japan) 71:41
- S Barsosio (Kenya) 72:08
- H Yelling (GB) 72:11
- Y Gromova (Russia) 72:14
- O Kimaiyo (Kenya) 72:52
