Zhou eyes Radcliffe showdown

Published on Monday 23 April 2007 00:55

CHUNXIU Zhou laid down the gauntlet to Paula Radcliffe after winning the Flora London Marathon yesterday.

The 28-year-old Chinese star destroyed the hopes of many of her probable rivals at this year's World Championships in Osaka and the 2008 Beijing Games when she clinched victory by over a minute in the world's quickest time this year of two hours 20 minutes 38 seconds.

Zhou powered away in the final three miles to finish well clear of reigning Berlin title holder Gete Wami and Constantina Tomescu-Dita, runner-up two years ago.

They finished in 2hrs 21mins 45secs and 2:33.55.

Now Zhou admits she is looking forward to clashing with Radcliffe - if not in Osaka in August then 12 months later in her homeland.

"She [Radcliffe] is an amazing runner who I look up to and I would like to run against her in Osaka or Beijing," said Zhou. "It would be nice to break her world record in my home country."

Radcliffe has yet to confirm whether she will race over the marathon distance or on the track in Osaka, but plans to contest the longer distance at Olympic level.

Her plans for this summer's outdoor campaign remain unconfirmed, having recently had a minor setback at a training camp in Colorado.

Haile Gebrselassie, on his third London appearance, again failed to win a title he has craved since finishing third on his debut five years ago. The 34-year-old Ethiopian sensationally dropped out of the race before 20 miles, adding to his woeful display of 12 months ago when finishing ninth.

"I don't know - maybe it was something I drank - I had some milk this morning which seemed to cause a bad reaction, but I'm alright now," said Gebrselassie.

Martin Lel kept the coveted men's title in Kenyan hands for a fourth successive year, producing a storming finish in the final 300 metres to regain the crown he surrendered in a sprint finish to Felix Limo last April. The 28-year-old won from Abderrahim Goumri by three seconds in 2:07.41, with last year's champion finishing third in 2:07.47.