Athletics: Turnbull takes BUPA International 4K title

Gareth Turnbull has won his fourth BUPA International 4K title. It was his third title in succession.

The Irishman unleashed a powerful finish 400 metres from the line to beat Commonwealth 1500 metres silver medallist John Mayock by three seconds. Third place went to Andy Graffin.

Meanwhile, Kenyan stars Susan Chepkemei and Esther Kiplagat took the honours at the Great North Cross Country race in Newcastle.

Britain's Liz Yelling was third, having led for three-quarters of the 6.2 kilometres race.

A vocal Geordie crowd of more than 3,000 saw a professional and almost effortless 9.2K victory from World junior champion Kenenisa Bekele.

Bekele was a late entry - indeed he only got his place after the personal intervention of his coach Haile Gebrselassie.

It might be too early to predict that the teenager is talented enough to match the two Olympic and four World 10,000 metres successes gained by Gebrselassie.

Bekele was a nine-second winner ahead of former World 5,000 metres silver medallist Ben Limo of Kenya and the Ukraine’s Sergey Lebed who took the European Cross crown earlier this month.