Kosgei's time of 59 minutes and 58 seconds was the first sub-hour half-marathon seen in Britain.

Sonia O'Sullivan won the women's event in a time of one hour, seven minutes and 19 seconds.

Her time was a personal best, Irish record and fastest time in the world this year but was just outside Paula Radcliffe's course record.

A record 47,000 runners are taking part in the half-marathon from Newcastle to South Shields, which has been an annual event since 1981.

The event is the world's largest half-marathon and more than half a million runners have completed the course since it began, with many running to raise money for charity.

Among the celebrities taking part in this year's race were Olympic champion rower Matthew Pinsent and chef Gordon Ramsay.

Among the BBC presenters taking part were John Motson, Ray Stubbs, Rob Bonnet and CBBC star Angelica Bell.

But they were all well behind world half-marathon champion Kosgei and John Yuda of Tanzania, who broke away from the field at the four-mile mark.

The pair were neck-and-neck until Kosgei sprinted clear in the final 400m.

O'Sullivan's victory was a lot more decisive.

The Irish mother-of-two went into a solo lead in the first few miles and never looked in danger of being overhauled.

O'Sullivan's training partner Susie Power of Australia was second in 1:07.56 with former champion Joyce Chepchumba third.

O'Sullivan said she was "delighted" with her performance, which is part of her preparation for next month's New York Marathon.

The 32-year-old also paid tribute to the crowds lining the route.

"The crowd push you along and make you want to run faster and faster," she said.

"I was determined to run hard and give it my best shot all the way."

Britain's Tushar Patel, third for the last two years, won the wheelchair event in 48mins 46 secs.

The 23-year-old reversed the finishing order of the London Marathon event by coming home ahead of fellow Briton David Weir.

Gunilla Wallengren of Sweden won the women's wheelchair race un 57mins 47secs with Swiss athlete Sandra Graf second.

Britain's Tanni Grey-Thompson was fourth.