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The elite women set off from Newcastle
IF ROAD RUNNING is where Vivian Cheruiyot’s future lies, then the adaptation was virtually instantaneous as the Kenyan 5000m Olympic champion put in a remarkably sensible tactical performance to win on her halfmarathon debut.
Celebrating her 33rd birthday on a sunny but blustery day on the north-east coast of England, Cheruiyot went toe to toe with the 2013 champion and 2012 Olympic marathon silver medallist, Priscah Jeptoo, into the final metres where the eventual winner’s short-distance speed came to the fore as she burst away to win in 67:54 – one second ahead of Jeptoo.