THE Great North Run yesterday confirmed its status as the world's finest road race.

Even before Olympic rower Matthew Pinsent started proceedings, a place in the record books was assured.

Almost 40,000 lined up at the starting line in Newcastle, the largest field assembled anywhere in the world for an event of its kind.

And to cap off a memorable day, Kenyan Paul Kosgei broke the one-hour barrier, the fastest half-marathon time ever recorded in this country.

Race report

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