Mo Farah, often hailed as Britain’s greatest track athlete, finished fourth in the Great North Run of 2023, a race won by Tamorat Tola of Ethiopia. Despite Tola’s first-place finish, all eyes and conversations gravitated towards Farah.
Mo Farah, the four-time Olympic gold medalist faced the challenging 13.1-mile stretch from Newcastle to South Shields and ended with a time of 1:03:28. Farah, with ten global championship gold medals to his name, remains the most successful male track distance runner and the most decorated British track athlete in modern Olympic history.
Tamorat Tola Takes the Crown: Unbeatable at Great North Run 2023
Tamorat Tola seized the day by crossing the finish line at 59:58, exhibiting dominant form. Close behind him was Bashir Abdi of Belgium, clocking in at 1:01:20. Muktar Edris, another Ethiopian talent, secured the third position with a time of 1:01:54.
Despite the remarkable performances by these runners, the spotlight remained fixated on Mo Farah. His time of 1:03:28 might not have earned him a podium finish, but it didn’t diminish his stature in the world of athletics. Efrem Gidey rounded out the top five men, finishing at 1:04:03.
In the women’s category, Peres Jepchirchir from Kenya led the pack, crossing the finish line at 1:06:45. Sharon Lokedi, also from Kenya, followed her with a time of 1:07:43. Great Britain’s Charlotte Purdue emerged as the third-fastest woman, completing the course in 1:09:36. Sonia Samuels, another British runner, finished at 1:13:43, and Jessa Hanson from the United States clocked in at 1:14:12.
AJ BELL GREAT NORTH RUN 2023 MEN’S RESULTS – 1. Tamirat Tola, 0:59:58; 2. Bashir Abdi, 1:01:20; 3. Muktar Edris, 1:01:54; 4. Mo Farah, 1:03:28; 5. Efrem Gidey, 1:04:03; 6. Andrew Butchart, 1:04:30; 7. Yoshiki Oshiro, 1:05:16; 8. Kiseki Shiozawa, 1:05:25; 9. Adam Lipschitz, 1:05:44; 10. Andrew Heyes, 1:05:46; 11. Ryoma Inoue, 1:05:53; 12. Koki Kamata, 1:06:02; 13. Roy Hoornweg, 1:06:57; 14. Carl Avery, 1:07:17; 15. Linton Taylor, 1:07:29; 16. David Bishop, 1:07:45; 17. Alastair Watson, 1:07:50; 18. Ollie Garrod, 1:08:03; 19. Hamid Ben Daoud, 1:08:11; 20. Ian Butler, 1:08:16.
AJ BELL GREAT NORTH RUN 2023 WOMEN’S RESULTS – 1. Peres Jepchirchir, 1:06:45; 2. Sharon Lokedi, 1:07:43; 3. Charlotte Purdue, 1:09:36; 4. Sonia Samuels, 1:13:43; 5. Jessa Hanson, 1:14:12; 6. Wakana Itsuki, 1:14:29; 7. Amy-Eloise Markovc, 1:15:19; 8. Ayaka Kato, 1:15:53; 9. Becky Briggs, 1:17:24; 10. Katie Olding, 1:18:45; 11. Charlie Arnell, 1:19:08; 12. Eliza Hawthorn, 1:21:12; 13. Nicole Frith, 1:21:43; 14. Julia Bektic, 1:22:10; 15. Nynke Mulholland-Stümmer, 1:22:13; 16. Vicky Wright, 1:22:40; 17. Rachel Gifford, 1:23:35; 18. Rosa Donaldson, 1:24:07; 19. Rachel Hillman, 1:24:48; 20. Sarah Holt, 1:27:16.
The Great North Run 2023 had its share of breathtaking performances and memorable moments, but the lingering narrative revolved around Mo Farah. Whether standing atop a podium or not, his impact on the sport and on this particular race was undeniable.
