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It's love at first sight for Sir Mo Farah and Larne as Olympic star plans return to Antrim Coast Half Marathon

No record, but golden Olympian leaves a lasting impression on coast

First past the post: Sir Mo Farah crosses the line to win the Antrim Coast Half Marathon and he also won the hearts of locals

Mia Duddy (8) gets her trainers signed by Sir Mo

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th September 2020

P&O Antrim Coast Half Marathon.

Athletics fans where in for a treat on Saturday when Sir Mo Farah ran and won the P&O Antrim Coast Half Marathon.

Photo by Matt Mackey / Press Eye.

PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST 12/09/20
Sir Mo Farah competes in the P&O Antrim Coast Half Marathon in Larne on Saturday.
The Four time Olympic Gold medalist Mo Farah, Wins the race in Larne with dominant display at Antrim Coast Half Marathon.
Farah stretched clear in the closing stages of the race to claim victory in a time of 60 minutes 27 seconds.

He finished 12 seconds ahead of Marc Scott, with Ben Connor a further 16 seconds back in third.

Belfast runner Stephen Scullion thrilled the home fans with a superb race in fourth, posting a new Northern Ireland record of 61:08.
Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST 12/09/20
Sir Mo Farah with Stephen Scullion in the P&O Antrim Coast Half Marathon in Larne on Saturday.
The Four time Olympic Gold medalist Mo Farah, Wins the race in Larne with dominant display at Antrim Coast Half Marathon.
Farah stretched clear in the closing stages of the race to claim victory in a time of 60 minutes 27 seconds.

He finished 12 seconds ahead of Marc Scott, with Ben Connor a further 16 seconds back in third.

Belfast runner Stephen Scullion thrilled the home fans with a superb race in fourth, posting a new Northern Ireland record of 61:08.
Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST 12/09/20
Children Cheering on Sir Mo Farah competes in the P&O Antrim Coast Half Marathon in Larne on Saturday.
The Four time Olympic Gold medalist Mo Farah, Wins the race in Larne with dominant display at Antrim Coast Half Marathon.
Farah stretched clear in the closing stages of the race to claim victory in a time of 60 minutes 27 seconds.

He finished 12 seconds ahead of Marc Scott, with Ben Connor a further 16 seconds back in third.

Belfast runner Stephen Scullion thrilled the home fans with a superb race in fourth, posting a new Northern Ireland record of 61:08.
Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

First past the post: Sir Mo Farah crosses the line to win the Antrim Coast Half Marathon and he also won the hearts of locals

Colm Lenghan/Pacemaker Press

Mia Duddy (8) gets her trainers signed by Sir Mo

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th September 2020 P&O Antrim Coast Half Marathon. Athletics fans where in for a treat on Saturday when Sir Mo Farah ran and won the P&O Antrim Coast Half Marathon. Photo by Matt Mackey / Press Eye.

PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST 12/09/20 Sir Mo Farah competes in the P&O Antrim Coast Half Marathon in Larne on Saturday. The Four time Olympic Gold medalist Mo Farah, Wins the race in Larne with dominant display at Antrim Coast Half Marathon. Farah stretched clear in the closing stages of the race to claim victory in a time of 60 minutes 27 seconds. He finished 12 seconds ahead of Marc Scott, with Ben Connor a further 16 seconds back in third. Belfast runner Stephen Scullion thrilled the home fans with a superb race in fourth, posting a new Northern Ireland record of 61:08. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Colm Lenghan/Pacemaker Press

PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST 12/09/20 Sir Mo Farah with Stephen Scullion in the P&O Antrim Coast Half Marathon in Larne on Saturday. The Four time Olympic Gold medalist Mo Farah, Wins the race in Larne with dominant display at Antrim Coast Half Marathon. Farah stretched clear in the closing stages of the race to claim victory in a time of 60 minutes 27 seconds. He finished 12 seconds ahead of Marc Scott, with Ben Connor a further 16 seconds back in third. Belfast runner Stephen Scullion thrilled the home fans with a superb race in fourth, posting a new Northern Ireland record of 61:08. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Colm Lenghan/Pacemaker Press

PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST 12/09/20 Children Cheering on Sir Mo Farah competes in the P&O Antrim Coast Half Marathon in Larne on Saturday. The Four time Olympic Gold medalist Mo Farah, Wins the race in Larne with dominant display at Antrim Coast Half Marathon. Farah stretched clear in the closing stages of the race to claim victory in a time of 60 minutes 27 seconds. He finished 12 seconds ahead of Marc Scott, with Ben Connor a further 16 seconds back in third. Belfast runner Stephen Scullion thrilled the home fans with a superb race in fourth, posting a new Northern Ireland record of 61:08. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Colm Lenghan/Pacemaker Press

First past the post: Sir Mo Farah crosses the line to win the Antrim Coast Half Marathon and he also won the hearts of locals

Frank Brownlow

September 14 2020 06:48 AM

Mobots and selfies, signing of shirts and even trainers - nothing was too much trouble for Sir Mo Farah on a day the Northern Ireland public took the four-time Olympic gold medallist to their hearts.

Sir Mo, after winning Saturday's big Antrim Coast Half Marathon, was surrounded by well-meaning locals - all doing their best to observe social distancing guidelines - and did everything that was asked of him and more before elite race organiser James McIlroy eventually had to step in and guide the long distance legend to a waiting minibus which was heading back to race HQ at the nearby Curran Court Hotel.

Old timers in Dublin still talk of the time Muhammad Ali came to town nearly half a century ago to fight Al 'Blue' Lewis at Croke Park. Years from now Larne's old timers will be telling their grandkids about the day the great Sir Mo Farah graced the streets of the town to win the Antrim Coast Half Marathon.

And Sir Mo is convinced the world's best distance runners will be beating a path to next year's event given the unique opportunities for fast times.

The four-time Olympic gold medallist put a quality field to the sword to win Saturday's glamour race in one hour and 27 seconds, just eight days after his new one-hour world record of 21,330m set in Brussels.

Sir Mo, who is coached by Larne man Gary Lough, had hoped to break his own British half marathon record of 59.32, but blustery conditions on the scenic coastal route hampered the man who did the 5,000m and 10,000m double at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics.

The race is a souped-up version of the long-running Larne Half Marathon with changes to the course made to increase the chances of even faster times.

Sir Mo said: "It's a brilliant course, designed for speed. It was just a bit windy on the coast, but in good conditions there is every chance to set very fast, possibly record, times.

"It's a beautiful course as well, and although crowds weren't allowed to gather because of the restrictions, people were coming out into their gardens and cheering us on.

"I would love to come back next year for another shot at it. Next year will be all about the Olympics, but if I can fit it into my schedule I definitely will. I have been made to feel very welcome. It's a beautiful country."

Sir Mo was invited to compete by his long-time friend and former Team GB room-mate McIlroy, who organised the elite section of his home-town race which was postponed last March due to the pandemic. The mass participation element of the race was cancelled due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

"James has done a great job and when he asked me to compete I said yes and I'm so glad I did. We go back a long way," added Sir Mo.

McIlroy, who reached the 800m semi-finals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was delighted with how the new event went.

"Having Mo here just took everything to a whole new level. We've been pals for about 20 years and I've told him we want him back next year," said the 43-year-old.

English visitors Marc Scott and Ben Connor were second and third behind Sir Mo by 12 and 28 seconds respectively.

Stephen Scullion was fourth in a Northern Ireland record of 61.08, while Barcelona Olympics veteran Tommy Hughes broke the over-60s world record by four seconds in 71.26. The Maghera man was helped to the new record by his pace-making son Eoin.

British raider Lily Partridge won the women's race in 71.36, with Sam Harrison second in 71.59 and Clara Evans third in 72.22, all three breaking the Northern Ireland all-comers' record.

A relaxed Sir Mo - who was born in Somalia and lived there until he was eight, arriving in the UK with very little English - was happy to tackle a variety of topics during his few days in Larne, including the current Black Lives Matter campaign.

"It's great to have people showing their support and not being afraid to speak out," he said.

"You have to stand up for what's right. It's a lack of education - we need to educate people. We are all equal, all human beings. It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like. We can make a real difference by making more noise."

Sir Mo admitted the global pandemic had changed his outlook on life.

"It's been difficult for so many people, so many have suffered. It's been a strange year. Businesses are struggling and races are being cancelled," he said.

"In terms of running, I'm staying positive and looking at it as a chance to try different things ahead of next year's Olympics. It's about getting ready for next year - it's the big one."

Sir Mo says he is philosophical about any criticism that comes his way.

"You can have a bad race, a good race - you experience different emotions. You are always in the public eye but you must try not to let that affect you.

"Just enjoy what you do, don't let criticism change you. As long as you put in the work and continue to achieve - that's what drives me every day. Have a laugh, just be Mo!"

Sir Mo called for drug cheats to be banned for life to maintain the integrity of athletics.

"We have to continue to do what we are doing. The only way to achieve success (in athletics) is through hard work," he said.

"I would be happy for my kids to get into athletics but I wouldn't push them. Their health and fitness is the most important thing in whatever sport they choose."

The 37-year-old admits it would be magical to strike gold at three successive Games, with Tokyo now less than a year away.

"Gold at a third Olympics would be something else, something truly special, but I want to go on beyond Tokyo - I still have the hunger to fight for more success," he said.

"I'm in no rush to retire. I already have my coaching licence so that's something for the future - I'd like to give something back.

"When the Olympics were postponed I was relieved as so many races had been cancelled so preparations had been badly hit, but now I'm raring to go."

And if next year's Olympics do go ahead, Sir Mo Farah can count on plenty of support in a certain corner of east Antrim.

It's love at first sight for Sir Mo Farah and Larne as Olympic star plans return to Antrim Coast Half Marathon

No record, but golden Olympian leaves a lasting impression on coast

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