Athletics: Radcliffe buries agony of Athens

Paula Radcliffe secured her third London Marathon title yesterday in a world record for women's-only racing, despite having to make an unscheduled toilet break 8km from the end which - for a few panicky seconds - recalled the traumatic circumstances of her Olympic failure.

Having seen off all opposition more than an hour earlier, Radcliffe's performance appeared to have reduced itself to statistical considerations.

It was as if Athens had never happened. But her sudden diversion from the course, at a sparsely populated area, provoked a sharp intake of breath from all those who had watched her stagger at a similar stage of last year's Olympic event.

The reaction from spectators was the same, as Radcliffe, who finished in 2h 17m 42s, herself attested. "When I stopped, I could hear people all around me going 'Oh'.

"I apologise to the nation, but I had to stop. It wasn't anything like the problem I had in Athens, but I had been suffering from stomach cramps and just needed to go. Once I went, I was fine.

"Obviously it's something I'm going to have to sort out. I must have eaten too much. I probably should have gone earlier, but I didn't want to have to in front of thousands of people."

Asked if she had considered waiting until she could see a passing portaloo, she responded with a grin: "I didn't see one. In any case, it might have taken me ages to get through the crowds, and I would probably have had to sign autographs on the way back."

Radcliffe would probably have had time to do just that and still secure victory, considering that her nearest challenger, Constantina Dita, of Romania, finished more than five minutes adrift in 2h 22m 50s, with Kenya's Susan Chepkemei, whom Radcliffe outsprinted to take the New York title in November, a further 1m 10s behind that.

Kenya's former world half-marathon champion Martin Lel upstaged his more illustrious compatriots Paul Tergat and Evans Rutto to win the men's event in 2h 07m 26s ahead of world champion Jaouad Gharib, of Morocco.

Pre-race favourite and world recordholder Tergat, still to win the London race, faded to eighth place, two ahead of defending champion Rutto, who was rated as the world No 1 last year, despite failing to win selection for Athens.

Aucklander Scott Winton finished 18th in 2h 17m 1s, qualifying him for the world championships in Helsinki in August.

- INDEPENDENT, AGENCIES