McColgan clocks a winning 10km PB of 31:50, while Steel and Thompson claim half-marathon podium places but Mo Farah withdraws

Britain's Gemma Steel, Chris Thompson and Eilish McColgan were among athletes to secure a strong start to 2018 in Doha on Friday.

Racing in the Ooredoo Doha Marathon programme of events, McColgan clocked a winning 10km PB of 31:50, while Steel and Thompson claimed half-marathon podium places.

Mo Farah did not enjoy such a successful trip, however, as the 10-time global track gold medallist withdrew before the start of the half-marathon, with his management company PACE explaining this was due to a tight Achilles.

McColgan proved her fine form following a training block in Doha by taking six seconds off her previous 10km best recorded at the same event last year.

That time moves her from joint to sole 10th on the UK all-time list and saw her win the women's race, placing third overall.

Eilish runs new Pb 31:50 ,3 rd overall 1st lady ,Gemma Steel 2 nd overall 72:37, Chris Thompson 63:03 for 3 rd place pic.twitter.com/Na5dxC1Sjy

— liz mccolgan (@Lizmccolgan) January 12, 2018

Steel has also been training in Doha, guided by world and Olympic medallist-turned coach Liz McColgan-Nuttall, and clocked 72:37 for the runner-up spot in a women's half-marathon won by USA's Allie Kieffer in 70:40. Kenya's Faith Chepkoech was third in 72:44.

Thompson was third in the men's half-marathon, clocking 63:03 behind Kenya's Alex Kibet (61:53) and Bernard Korir (62:07).

"Chuffed with third today," Thompson wrote on Twitter. "Nice way to start year. Onwards..."