German
English
Just three weeks before she attempts to recapture the World Cross Country title
in Brussels, Belgium (20/21 March), Britains Paula Radcliffe has suffered an
unexpected defeat by the Netherlands Lorna Kiplagat over 10km on the road in
Puerto Rico.
It was both Radcliffes and Kiplagats first race of 2004, and marked a return
to the scene of the event in which the Briton set her World record performance
12 months ago (30:21), but Kiplagat, who finished fifth at last summers World
10,000m final in Paris in a national record (30:12.53), was victorious this
time.
In very windy conditions, Kenyan-born Kiplagat - who took out Dutch
citizenship last year when marrying coach Pieter Langerhorst - won in a time of
30:41.
That was four seconds quicker than World Marathon record holder Radcliffe,
who was chasing a third-successive victory at the event.
