Pavey continues Olympic form as British runners return to the road

Jo Pavey was satisfied with her fifth-place finish in the Great North run in Newcastle yesterday and believes it has been the perfect transition back into road racing.

The British long-distance runner, who finished in seventh place in both the 5,000 and 10,000m at this summer's Olympic Games, crossed the line in a time of 69min 20sec, just 27sec outside her half marathon personal best.

Ethiopia's Olympic 10,000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba won the women's race on her half marathon debut ahead of world marathon champion Edna Kiplagat and 2012 Olympic marathon champion Tiki Gelana.

"I was fairly pleased," Pavey said. "I really enjoyed this year being back on the track. Having the opportunity in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres in the Olympic stadium was awesome. Having this Great North Run to get back on the roads, it's been a really big target to keep training and keep the motivation there."

The elite men's race was won by Kenya's Wilson Kipsang in a dramatic sprint finish. Kipsang, who won the London marathon earlier this year and claimed bronze over the same distance at the Olympic Games, pipped countryman Micah Kogo to the line in 59min 6sec. Britain's Chris Thompson finished in sixth place.

Kipsang said: "For me winning this race is really good. There were a lot of people cheering, it was fantastic."

Canadian Josh Cassidy won his third Great North Run in the men's wheelchair event by some distance.

Cassidy finished in a time of 43 minutes 18 seconds, a clear six minutes ahead of Britain's Phil Hogg in second place, with Ross Low claiming third.

Mo Farah won Saturday's two-mile event, to the delight of the home crowd.