Athletics: Selfish, Says Kiplagat, But Radcliffe is Still the One to Beat

Paula Radcliffe's confidence may have been badly dented by what happened to her at the Olympics but her reputation among her rivals does not appear to have been damaged.

The Bedford runner's late decision to compete in the New York City Marathon on Sunday has divided opinion among experts in the sport. But Deena Kastor, the American who claimed an unexpected bronze medal in Athens, believes Radcliffe will remain the woman to beat.

"She's still the toughest runner I know," Kastor said last night. "It's a great line-up but I think Paula is the favourite."

As owner of three of the four fastest marathon times in history, including the world record of 2hr 15min 25sec she set in London last year when Kastor finished third, Radcliffe was in a similar position before the marathon in Athens only to drop out after 35 kilometres. She also failed to finish the 10,000 metres five days later and has not raced since then.

"There were a lot of expectations," said Kastor. "She was probably physically prepared for Athens but was overwhelmed by the whole experience.

"There were more British supporters and flags along the [marathon] course in Athens than Greeks. She had a lot of support but that also meant a lot of pressure. You cannot quantify or put into words what that must have been like."

Some have claimed that Radcliffe, who was due to arrive here from her home in Loughborough last night, is taking a big risk by running here. Kastor disagreed.

"I think it is like getting back on a horse," she said. "There was no doubt she was thrown off the horse in Athens but I am excited that she is coming here. I think it is wonderful she is going to be back on the competitive circuit."

There is intense interest in Radcliffe's comeback. BBC1 is showing the race live and every national daily newspaper in Britain has sent reporters here. Her appearance also coincides with the launch on November 15 of her autobiography, The Story So Far.

Radcliffe is receiving $500,000 (£272,000) to run here but Kastor believes the most important thing is that she is competing again as she tries to find closure over what happened in Athens.

"If Paula had been away too long she would have dwelled on it," she said. "I don't think she would have run if she wasn't properly prepared."

Radcliffe had been expected here as a guest of the New York Road Runners Club but two weeks ago she asked if she could run. Officials were only too happy to accommodate her even if it meant upsetting some of the other runners.

"I have nothing against Paula but the idea that you are coming into this race with two weeks to go is a bit selfish," said Lornah Kiplagat, a Kenyan now competing for the Netherlands.

"When you sign up for a race you usually know who is running. You then decide your tactics and then you adapt your training for those tactics.

"To change tactics with only a couple of weeks left to the race is not possible.

"If you say the truth, people can hate you but I don't care. If Paula was preparing to break a world record in England and I turned up, she would be shocked too."

It was Kiplagat who gave us the first hint back in February in Puerto Rico that perhaps 2004 was not going to turn out for Radcliffe as everyone was anticipating. It was there that she beat the Briton in a 10-kilometre race, a defeat Radcliffe put down to suffering from a virus. "I am not afraid of any athlete, because everyone is beatable," said Kiplagat.

The strength of the women's field for this race has been surpassed this year only by the Olympic marathon. Besides Kastor and Kiplagat it includes a strong Kenyan trio of Margaret Okayo, the 2003 winner who also succeeded Radcliffe as London champion this year, Tegla Loroupe, a two-times New York winner and former world record holder, and Susan Chepkemei, the 2001 New York runner-up. Benita Johnson, Australia's world cross-country champion, is making her debut.

"This is one of the strongest fields ever assembled for a marathon," said Kastor.

The American won her medal in Athens by coming from behind, moving into bronze medal position only in the last mile. With the exception of Athens, Radcliffe has run all three of her marathons from the front.

If Radcliffe is fit and in form and uses the same strategy, Kastor acknowledges that she will not be going with her. "I won't be there if she plans to run 2:15 pace," she said.

One good omen for Radcliffe is that race officials have allocated No111, the same number she wore in London when she broke the world record.