Illness gives Farah determination to come back stronger than before

Farah shattered Steve Ovett’s 36-year-old British record over two miles at the Sainsbury’s Birmingham Grand Prix, powering home in eight minutes 07.85 seconds to blow the middle distance great’s mark of 8mins 13.51secs out of the water.

The double Olympic, world and European champion’s time was also a European record.

The 31-year-old’s desire to add yet another record to his growing collection was clear as he pulled away from the field to come home just shy of 15 seconds clear of his closest rival.

Farah completed the 5,000 and 10,000 metres double at the European Championships in Zurich earlier this month, bouncing back from a torrid campaign which included a chastening marathon debut in London, where he finished eighth, and a frightening health scare which ruled him out of the Commonwealth Games.

“Early on I felt a bit tired and then as I got into it I just felt better and better,” said Farah. “I kept looking at the clock and thinking, ‘I can do it, I can do it’.

He now holds the British record over 1500m, 5,000m, 10,000m and two miles outdoors and 3,000m, 5,000m and two miles indoors.

“When you’re at the top it’s harder,” he added. “When you go through a struggle you are more determined, you want it more.

“Getting beaten or getting ill makes you want it more.”

Lynsey Sharp was equally impressive in winning over 800m at the Diamond League meeting at Alexander Stadium.

The Scot, silver medallist at the Commonwealths and Europeans, gained revenge on the Kenyan who pipped her to gold in Glasgow, the world champion Eunice Sum, finishing strongly to claimwin in 1:59.14.

Elsewhere, world champion Christine Ohuruogu won the 400m in 51.40. Greg Rutherford, who has added Commonwealth and European gold to his Olympic long jump crown this summer, finished fourth with a best leap of 8.04m.