Radcliffe proves she's top of the tree

Paula Radcliffe can name her price to compete in a major autumn race this year after her magnificent Flora London Marathon victory yesterday.

Officials of the other Big City marathon events in Berlin, Chicago and New York all admitted she is the superstar they want to top the bill at their meetings after Radcliffe produced another world-beating display to trounce her opponents.

Radcliffe won the race in a women’s-only world record time of two hours 17 minutes 42 seconds – despite making an impromptu stop to go to the toilet.

Her tactic of running from the front from the beginning saw her beat off the challenge of Romania’s Constantina Tomescu-Dita by over five minutes.

Kenya’s Susan Chepkemei, who was only beaten by Radcliffe by four seconds in New York last November, finished even further behind.

Radcliffe was at her rampant best as she took control of the race after seven miles and powered on the pace to win her third London and fifth major international marathon title.

The only hiccup occurred when the call of nature saw the Bedford star have a pit stop after her stomach reacted to eating too much before the race.

Radcliffe said: “Basically I needed to go. I want to apologise to the nation. I had to stop.”