Mo Farah celebrates a hat-trick of Great North Run victories

Four-time Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah has made history by becoming the first man to win three consecutive Great North Run titles.

The 33-year-old took the honours in the Newcastle to South Shields race with a time of 1:00:04, beating American Dathan Ritzenhein into second place after pulling clear in the final mile.

Farah, who was the favourite to complete his hat-trick of titles in the half-marathon after retaining his 10,000m and 5,000m Olympic titles in Rio last month, reflected on a successful season after his victory.

"I knew it was going to a hard race today," he said. "To be honest I'm knackered. I can hardly talk.

"It's good to finish on a high here. What a year I've had. I just have to go home now and chill out and see the kids."

Farah, whose time was outside the British record he set last season at 0:59:23, finished the race by raising one arm above his head over the closing stages in an apparent homage to Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer.

It was praised by Shearer, who posted a picture of the athlete's celebration on Twitter alongside the statue of himself that is set to be unveiled at St James' Park.

"Love it Mo Farah! Apparently they've already built a statue of you to commemorate your hat-trick! #GreatNorthRun", Shearer tweeted.

Kenya's Vivian Cheruiyot won the women's race on her half-marathon debut just ahead of compatriot Priscah Jeptoo.

Cheruiyot, who took the 5,000m title in Rio, prevailed by just a second after holding off the 2013 winner Jeptoo.

Scotland's Mark Telford was victorious in the men's wheelchair race following a sprint finish from Bret Crossley.