GATESHEAD Harriers comfortably won their opening British League Division One match at Hendon on Saturday.
The Harriers scored maximum points in the 400m, with hurdles specialist Niall Flannery winning the A race and recent Inter Counties silver medallist David Riley gaining victory in the B event.
The pair – along with Kieran Flannery and Greg Urwin – combined to win the 4x400m relay.
Richard Kilty won the 200m after finishing a close fourth in the 100m. Ben Richardson also gained victory in the 110m hurdles.
There was more Gateshead joy after they won the Northern Athletics League Division Two match at York.
Gateshead were greatly helped by their female athletes, with the club no longer in the National Women’s League.
Durham took third place, with the in-form Sophie Wood winning the 100m and 400m.
Newcomer Marshall Hungwe won a fast 400m, while Ben Stephenson gained a sprint double for fourth-placed Middlesbrough.
Morpeth, meanwhile, won the Division Three fixture at Clairville Stadium in Middlesbrough.
And host club Houghton were the winners of the Division Four match at Jarrow.
MO Farah’s new European 10,000 metres record has been described as “truly world-class” by UK athletics chief Charles van Commenee.
Farah smashed the record in the Prefontaine Classic at the Eugene Diamond League meeting in Oregon on Saturday.
The Londoner’s time of 26 minutes 46.57 seconds broke Belgian Mohammed Mourhit’s European benchmark of 26:52.30 set in 1999, while also eclipsing Jon Brown’s 13-year-old British record of 27:18.14.
Van Commenee said: “That was a truly world-class performance from Mo, beating a very strong field.
“I am delighted for him. Not only did he destroy both the British and European records, he stood out in a global-quality race and beat some of the world’s top athletes.
“That is a positive indication as we move towards the World Championships and London 2012.”
Farah’s career-best display saw him finish just ahead of Ethiopia’s Imane Merga, who clocked 26:48.35, his own personal best.
Speaking after the race, Farah said: “I just sat at the back and worked my way through the field. If it wasn’t for the crowds I would never have done this. With three laps to go I knew I had the chance for the record.”
Looking ahead to the world championships in Daegu, starting in August, he added: “I want a world medal and it’s shown here if I keep working hard, I’ll be in the mix.”
