Paula Radcliffe may have been nearly eight minutes slower than her world record, but her victory in yesterday's ING New York City Marathon was among the most important of her career.

Fresh on the heels of her withdrawal from last weekend's Great North race in Newcastle, Ireland's Catherina McKiernan has pulled out of next Saturday's Belfast International event at Stormont.

THE streets of Cork city were thronged yesterday as 5,000 athletes took part in the 2003 Evening Echo Ladies Mini Marathon.

GILLIAN O’SULLIVAN, Ireland’s silver medallist from the world championships in Paris, will walk alongside the runners in the BUPA Great Ireland run in the Phoenix Park on Sunday week.

SONIA O’SULLIVAN may have to join the exclusive club of women who have run under two hours and 20 minutes if she is to win the New York City Marathon tomorrow.

SONIA O'SULLIVAN intended yesterday's BUPA Great North Run to be a dress rehearsal for the New York Marathon. And if yesterday's results are anything to go by, her visit to Central Park on November 3 could hold promise beyond belief.

Tyneside

Speculation that double European silver medallist Sonia O’Sullivan will run an autumn marathon increased today when the Irish star announced her racing programme for the next six weeks.

Gareth Turnbull has won his fourth BUPA International 4K title. It was his third title in succession.