Radcliffe’s plans ruined by shock 5,000 defeat

THEY may have reclaimed their position in the top division but British athletics suffered a stunning blow at the European Cup match in Leiria, Portugal, yesterday, when Paula Radcliffe trailed in a remote second to Volha Krautsova from Belarus in the women’s 5,000m - a performance that must throw her plans for the world championships into turmoil.

While she bounced back from the double disappointment in Athens last year with big marathon victories in New York in November and London in April, yesterday’s performance left a lot to worry about with the Helsinki games a mere six weeks away.

With the double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes giving the event a miss, Great Britain, who suffered relegation last year, were looking to Radcliffe for the inspiration to gain promotion back to their rightful division.