Kipchoge won gold in Paris in 2003

The Kenyan, who was second when Newcastle hosted the race last year, was in front from the outset.

Ethiopian duo Gebre Gebremariam and Dejene Berhanu made last-gasp efforts to overtake him, but Kipchoge responded and a burst of speed clinched victory.

Gavin Thompson was the first Briton in 12th place while Nick McCormick held of his British rivals to win the 4km race.

The Morpeth Harrier led from the end of the first lap and ended Mike Skinner and Andrew Baddeley's hopes with a surge in the lasp lap.

"My training has gone so well I wasn't really worried about the opposition asI knew I was in great shape," said McCormick, who now hopes to earn a 1,500m place in the British team for the World Championships in Helsinki.

In the women's race, Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba won a battle with world cross country champion Benita Johnson to retain her title.

Australian Johnson, who shocked her African rivals in Brussels last March, looked to be on course for another win in the 6.2km race.

But world 5000m champion Dibaba make a telling strike for the finishing line in the final 20 metres.

Britons Kathy Butler and Hayley Yelling were out of contention early on.