Sir Mo Farah on course for first race in Northern Ireland thanks to Larne links

Great Britain's Mo Farah celebrates winning the Men's 5000m at the Rio Olympic Games, Brazil. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.

Sir Mo Farah will take part in his first race in Northern Ireland when he joins an elite field of runners for the Antrim Coast Half Marathon.

The British athlete’s friendships with two Larne men were key to persuading him to take part in the rescheduled race on September 12.

James McIlroy, a former middle distance runner and one of the event’s organisers, explained his long friendship with the Olympic Gold medallist: “When Mo first broke into the British team we roomed together, but it goes back further than that. We started on the same day in the UK Athletics High Performance Centre back in 2001.

“We’ve known each other 20 years. When he heard the Antrim Coast Half Marathon was on he was endeavouring to try and get over to do it.

“This is his first time in Northern Ireland and he’s doing us a massive favour. It was hard for him to rejig things to fit it in. We’re very grateful.”

Sir Mo’s coach Gary Lough is also from Larne.

James said: “Gary was very much instrumental in making it happen, along with my old manager Ricky Simms from Donegal, who is also Mo’s old manager.”

James competed for Britain and Northern Ireland at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games up to his retirement in 2010.

A photo shared by Sir Mo Farah showing himself and James McIroy in their younger days