Posted: September 30, 2007

Athletics (RRW): Goucher Upsets Radcliffe At Great North Run

From David Monti © 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com By Bob Ramsak Producing a notable upset in her debut over the distance, American Kara Goucher defeated Paula Radcliffe at the Great North Run Half-Marathon today. Goucher, the bronze medallist in the 10,000m at last month's world championships, pulled away from the Briton over the second half of the race, clocking 1:06:57 unofficially. It was the fastest performance ever by an American over the half-marathon distance, well ahead of Deena Kastor's 1:07:34 U.S. record, but the downhill course from Newcastle to South Shields precludes performances for record purposes. In her eagerly anticipated return to competition after maternity leave, Radcliffe, the world record holder in the marathon, was second in 1:07:53. It was Radcliffe's first serious race since New Year's Eve 2005. Pulling away over the last 250 meters, Martin Lel won the men's race by eight seconds over fellow Kenyan Sammy Wanjiru in 1:00:10. Lel, this year's Flora London Marathon winner and Wanjiru, the world record holder in the half-marathon, are on the slate for November's ING New York City Marathon. Wanjiru will also defend his title at the IAAF World Road Running Championships in Udine, Italy, on Oct. 14.