Farah, who is gearing up for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in Moscow from August 10 to 18, will race against the Ethiopian pair for the first time during the renowned half marathon event, which has been run annually since 1981.

"I competed in the mile and two mile events on Great North Run weekend in past years and am delighted to finally make my debut in the main event," said Farah, who completed the 5,000 metre and 10,000 metres double at London 2012.

"It is always one of the world's top half marathon races and this year promises to be a great race with me against Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele.

"I remember watching Haile win the 2000 Olympic Games in a sprint finish in Sydney when I was just 17-years-old."

The race will be a warm-up for next April's Virgin London Marathon where Farah is scheduled to make his full debut over 26.2 miles.

"I have experience on the roads but this will be only my third half marathon race," said Farah.

"I won in New York in 2011 and New Orleans earlier this year.

"I hope to make it a third win in the North East."

Farah's victory in New Orleans saw him break Nick Rose's 27-year-old British half marathon record with a time of 60m 59sec.


Gebrselassie, 40, won the Great North Run in 2010, and the former marathon world record holder still feels he can compete at this level of racing and is relishing the opportunity to get out on the road.

"I'm just delighted I am returning to the Bupa Great North Run," said the two-time Olympic 10,000m champion.

"I can still compete at the highest level and I look forward to giving both of them a run for their money.

"This is something special for everyone.

"It's going to be a tough contest for all of us which I am sure will result in an exciting race."

Compatriot Bekele, 31, who completed the same Olympic double as Farah, at the Beijing Games four years earlier to add to his Athens 2004 10,000m gold, is running a half marathon for the first time in Newcastle as he looks to make the transition from the track and cross-country running to the road.

"I started my international career when winning the Great North Cross Country in Newcastle over ten years ago and I was grateful for that opportunity," said the current world record holder in the 5,000m and 10,000m, who also won a record 11 World Cross Country Championship titles to his name.

"Now I'm looking forward to my half marathon debut.

"It's not going to be easy for me as the others have more experience over the distance and yes, I am the newcomer just starting to pursue a serious road running career.

"But I'll be coming to the race fully prepared and determined to give it my best shot against two great athletes."


Founder of the event, Montreal 1976 10,000m bronze medallist Brendan Foster is excited by the prospect of three of the world's greatest distance runners battling it out on the roads of his native North East.

"No one could ask for a better 'dream team' to participate in their event and we are delighted they will feature in what has the makings of the greatest head to head in half marathon history," said the 65-year-old.

"We've had many fantastic races down the Newcastle to South Shields course in past years, but this will be a competition everyone in the athletics world will want to watch.

"Haile may now be a veteran but he remains an accomplished performer and we should remember he won the Bupa Great North Run three years ago in a very impressive time of 59:33."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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