Great North Run can test Mo Farah - Brendan Foster

Great North Run founder Brendan Foster believes Mo Farah has an opportunity to prove his long-distance credentials when he makes his race debut this year.

Farah, 30, won Olympic gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m at London 2012 - his two specialist events.

He then broke the European 1,500m record in June with a time of 3:28.81, ending Steve Cram's 28-year hold.

"No-one's ever had a range like that and we'll see how it extends to a half-marathon," Foster told BBC Look North.

"He's the only athlete to have run under three and a half minutes in 1,500m and under 27 minutes for 10,000."

Meanwhile, Foster, who set up event organisers Nova International, is excited by the three-way tussle between Farah, Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele.

Farah, 28, and Bekele, 31, are double gold medal Olympians at 5,000m and 10,000m, while veteran Gebrselassie, 40, has 10,000m Olympic gold and was a 2010 winner of the event.

"If it was a 5,000 or 10,000-metre race, Mo would be clear favourite," Foster added.

"If it was a marathon you wouldn't be sure, while a half marathon is an in-between distance and that's why we're having it to see who is the best."