Olympic and world champion adds another title

Newham & Essex Beagles Mo Farah added the European 10,000m title to his growing collection in Zurich tonight.

Farah, a double champion at the London 2012 Olympics and 2013 World Championships, produced his customary kick on the final lap in Zurich to win ahead of GB teammate Andy Vernon.

And it more than made up for his recent absence from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on health grounds.

In a slow-paced race, Farah hit the front 600m from home and went on to claim his fifth European gold and ninth in major championships.

And victory came after Farah had been rushed to hospital last month after collapsing on a training run.

He said: “It meant a lot to me. I was really ill a few weeks ago but training has gone well.

“Winning the European Championships again really does mean a lot. I didn’t want to let people down after missing the Commonwealth Games, it hasn’t been easy.

“I won the 5,000m and 10,000m double in Barcelona in 2010 and one title in Helsinki two years ago. Now I’m excited for the 5,000m and hope to run well again.”

Beagles sprinter Asha Philip missed out on a place in the final of the women’s 100m after clocking 11.24secs in her semi-final.

Philip, who finished fourth in the Commonwealth Games final, was edged out of a fastest losers’ spot by Frenchwoman Celine Distel-Bonnet and said: “I’m disappointed. It wasn’t a good race. I got out but it was a bit sticky.

“It’s all about qualifying for the final and to have three of us in there would have been great.”

Philip’s teammates Desiree Henry and Ashleigh Nelson made it through, with the latter picking up bronze to become the first British woman in 40 years to claim a sprint medal at a European Championship.