BBC SPORT Arabic Spanish Russian Chinese
BBCi NEWS   SPORT   WEATHER   WORLD SERVICE   A-Z INDEX    SEARCH 

BBC Sport
 You are in: Athletics  
Sport Front Page
-------------------
Football
Cricket
Rugby Union
Rugby League
Tennis
Golf
Motorsport
Boxing
Athletics
Statistics
Other Sports
-------------------
Special Events
-------------------
Sports Talk
-------------------
BBC Pundits
TV & Radio
Question of Sport
-------------------
Photo Galleries
Funny Old Game
-------------------
Around The UK: 
N Ireland
Scotland
Wales

BBC Sport Academy
BBC News
BBC Weather
SERVICES
-------------
LANGUAGES
EDITIONS

Saturday, 5 October, 2002, 12:22 GMT 13:22 UK
Holmes triumphs in Newcastle
Kelly Holmes
Holmes easily beat rival Jolanda Ceplak
Kelly Holmes beat a strong field to win Saturday's BUPA Great North Mile.

Defending champion Holmes, who took Commonwealth Games 1,500m gold earlier this summer, brushed off her injury worries to finish in a time of four minutes 32.10 seconds.

Turkey's Sureyya Ayhan, who won the European title in August and has been unbeaten throughout the track season, finished second in 4:34.40.

Russia's Tatyana Tomashova clocked a time of 4:35.70 to take third spot.


It has been fantastic not only to win here but to beat Ayhan who has been running so brilliantly this year
Kelly Holmes

The race was billed as a grudge meeting between Holmes and Slovakian Jolanda Ceplak, but Ceplak's challenge never materialised and she finished well down the field.

The pair have been at loggerheads since falling out in August after Ceplak won the 800m at the European Championships in Munich.

Holmes, who took bronze, publicly hinted her rival may not have won fairly, and refused to apologise for her comments.

The pair appeared to have buried the hatchet on Friday as they hugged each other warmly ahead of the race.

After the race a delighted Holmes said: "It has been fantastic not only to win here but to beat Ayhan who has been running so brilliantly this year.

"I am delighted to have retained my title because I have been ill for the last few weeks.

"I came here with the intention of winning again and also proving I am fit enough to go into the winter season without any problems."

In the men's race, European 1,500m bronze medallists Rui Silva held off the challenge of defending champion Vyacheslav Shabunin to clinch victory.

In a closely contested race, Russian Shabunin finished in second spot, while Commonwealth champion Michael East was third.


Results:
Women's:
1 K Holmes (Ealing) 4:32.10
2 S Ayhan (Tur) 4:34.40
3 T Tomashova (Rus) 4:35.70
4 G Hendricken (Irl) 4:37.20
5 H Pattinson (Preston) 4:39.70
6 C Sacramento (Por) 4:43.20
7 O Komiagina (Rus) 4:43.60, 8 J Fenn (Woodford Green) 4:44.20
9 J Ceplak (Slo) 4:48.90
10 M Dominguez (Spa) 4:49.90

Men's:
1 R Silva (Por) 4mins 12.40secs
2 V Shabunin (Rus) 4:12.60
3 M East (Newham&Essex Beagles) 4:12.80
4 J Thie (Cardiff) 4:13.00
5 A Graffin (Belgrave) 4:13.10
6 J Mayock (Barnsley) 4:14.00
7 A Whiteman (Shaftesbury Barnet) 4:15.00
8 T Mayo (Cannock & Staffs) 4:16.00
9 R Estevez (Spa) 4:16.30
10 J Espana (Spa) 4:16.90

Back to top

 WATCH/LISTEN
 ON THIS STORY
Kelly Holmes
"I felt really good"

The Junior Great North Run was very popular this yearJunior jog
Thousands of kids ran a mini Great North Run
See also:

23 Aug 02 | Athletics
09 Aug 02 | European Athletics
08 Aug 02 | European Athletics
31 Jul 02 | Athletics
Internet links:


The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Links to more Athletics stories are at the foot of the page.


E-mail this story to a friend

Links to more Athletics stories

© BBC ^^ Back to top

Sport Front Page | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League |
Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Other Sports |
Special Events | Sports Talk | BBC Pundits | TV & Radio | Question of Sport |
Photo Galleries | Funny Old Game | N Ireland | Scotland | Wales