Kenyans dominate Great North Run

Paul Tergat (centre) quickly left the field behind

Paul Tergat and Susan Chepkemei ensured a day of Kenyan celebration with victories in the men's and women's races at the Great North Run.

But the event got off to a sombre start as the runners held a minute's silence in the wake of the terrorist attacks in America on Tuesday.

Numerous Stars and Stripes banners were visible among the 40,000 fun runners.

Runners observe a minute's silence

In the race itself, the men's event was completely dominated by Tergat, who missed his target of running under 60 minutes by just 30 seconds.

Fellow Kenyan Julius Kimtai kept pace with Tergat in the opening stages but the world record holder eased away during the middle of the race, improving his times mile by mile.

Kimtai came in second over one minute later with another Kenyan, John Mutai, in third place.

But the measure of Tergat's performance was that Olympic and world marathon champion Gezehegne Abera of Ethiopia came in fourth, more than two minutes back.

The leading Briton was Paul Evans in fifth place with a time of 63mins 15secs.

Susan Chepkemei confirmed her status as the world's leading half marathon runner with a dramatic victory over fellow Kenyan Joyce Chepchumba in the women's race.

The pair broke away soon after the start and spent all but the final few hundred metres running side by side.

Final sprint

With Chepkemei the form runner this year and Chepchumba twice winner of the London Marathon, the quality of the contest meant it came down to the final sprint.

Chepkemei proved to have more in reserve than her more experienced rival and took first place in a time of 68 minutes 40 seconds, with Chepchumba five seconds back.

Olympic 10,000m champion Derartu Tulu came in third with a time of 70mins 13secs.

Thousands of course were there for the fun of it and to raise money for charity.

They donned fancy dress as they battled the windy conditions to the end of the race.

They were also a number of celebrities taking part.

The cast of Emmerdale were there, as well as Frank Bruno, Sally Gunnell, Graham Gooch, Richard Dunwoody and BBC presenters John Motson, Ray Stubbs, John Inverdale and Ian Payne.