Radcliffe Registers for 10,000m

Paula Radcliffe has been officially listed to compete in tomorrow night's Olympic 10,000m final - but has still made no decision about competing.

"She's been entered this morning but all you are doing is confirming your original selections," said athletics team leader Max Jones.

"It's now up to her whether she runs, but she does have the opportunity to pull out at any time before the race.

"I don't know what her intentions are: the decision will be hers and no one else's. Paula trained twice yesterday and she'll know better than me what kind of state she is in."

Radcliffe, who will be joined by the Scot Kathy Butler in the 25-lap event, withdrew from last Sunday's marathon final suffering from exhaustion, and then broke down in tears during TV and press conference interviews the following day.

There have been mixed reactions over whether Radcliffe, who is the fastest woman in the world this year over 10,000m, should risk another harrowing experience.

Sebastian Coe and Brendan Foster, two former all-time greats of British athletics, believe she should not subject herself to what could be another demoralising experience.

But Deena Kastor, the USA winner of the marathon bronze-medal, believes Radcliffe is mentally the strongest women's runner in the world and would not let herself down.

Although a brilliant 10,000m runner, Radcliffe is well aware that the African nations, and in particular Ethiopia, excel at the distance.

Indeed the Ethiopians, led by defending champion Derartu Tulu, are expected, just as they did four years ago and in the following year's World Championships, to run as a team.

Although Radcliffe insists she herself is a fast finisher, there is no way she is likely to match the speed of her rivals over the final 400 metres lap.

That would mean the European record-holder for the distance having to try and burn them off, a really tough task in the Athens heat.

And with 22 miles of the marathon still in her legs, she is at a distinct disadvantage against her fresh opponents who have prepared well for the 10,000m.