Plucky Paula off pace as Ethiopians dominate

Another wonderfully gallant effort by Paula Radcliffe again went unrewarded as she failed to win a medal in the 10,000 metres at the world championships in the Olympic Stadium last night.

The Bedford runner had claimed this was just a warm-up session for the marathon she is the favourite to win here next Sunday, but by the way she tackled it appeared she had her heart set on winning the global track title that has eluded her throughout her career.

At least Radcliffe appeared to recover quickly and was soon smiling after crossing the line in ninth place as the Ethiopians, led by teenager Tirunesh Dibaba, completed a clean sweep.

Radcliffe had led the race for more than six kilometres but when the pace really picked up with 600m remaining she was left trailing, eventually finishing more than 18 seconds behind Dibaba.

'I thought I could run better than that, but I'm not gutted and not psychologically in bits as I was at the Olympics last year,' said Radcliffe. 'The weather was against front running. It was just too windy - it's just my luck to get into as great shape as everyone else.

'I wouldn't have gone out there if I didn't think I was in with a chance.'

Radcliffe must now hope that she suffers no reaction and is ready in time for the marathon, where on paper she is more than five minutes faster than her nearest rival.

She lined up wearing a Japanese-produced titanium necklace, supposed to improve circulation and reduce muscle stress that is popular with major league baseball players.

Combined with a noseband - to help her breathing - and a pair of compression socks - to help protect her calves - she was leaving nothing to chance. Her decision to run both this race and the marathon, which is due to take place next Sunday, had been criticised by many experts.

Even Gerard Hartmann, her Irish physical therapist and arguably her biggest fan, had admitted publicly she was taking 'a huge risk' due to the dan ger of suffering an injury that would affect her performance in the later race.

He chose to watch the 10,000m at a sports bar near his clinic in Limerick with Kelly Holmes, Britain's double Olympic champion who is missing these championships with an Achilles injury and who he is also treating.

Among the treatments he recommends is taking an ice bath after a major race, which is where Radcliffe headed for straight after this effort.

The crowd were kept enthralled for most of the first day by a fascinating heptathlon in which Britain's Kelly Sotherton played a significant role and goes into today lying in the bronze medal position.

But most attention was featured on Sweden's Carolina Kluft and France's Eunice Barber in what is already shaping up to be the best competition of the championships.

Kluft, the Olympic, world and European champion, was clearly not at her best due to injuries to her left knee and ankle and after the first two events, appeared to be heading for the first defeat of her senior career after Barber had excelled in the 100m hurdles and the high jump.

She was trailing Barber by the huge margin of 153 points only to launch such a spectacular comeback in the shot put and 200m she ended the day just two points behind. The fight-back began for Kluft when she threw a personal best in the shot of 15.02 metres.

The final outcome could hinge on the long jump, the first event this morning. Barber, a war refugee from Sierra Leone whose sister lives in London, is the world cham pion at the event but Kluft is also one of the best in the event.

It is also one of Sotherton's strongest disciplines and she will be looking to keep her grip on a medal with a good performance.

She put in a solid performance throughout the day, running 13.33 for the 100m hurdles, clearing 1.82 metres in the high jump, throwing the shot 13.38m and then clocking 23.94 in the 200m. '

Overall, it was OK,' she said. 'I'm very pleased with the 200m into the wind and I hope it's a medal-winning performance.'

Two of Britain's 100m representatives made it through to day two. Jason Gardener, who looked impressive when he ran 10.19 in the morning, finished third in his second round heat in 10.31 in overcast and cool conditions. Marlon Devonish scraped through as a fastest loser in 10.20 despite finishing only fifth.

Ecuador's Jefferson Perez, who retained his title in the 20 kilometres walk, won the first official gold medal of the championships but Wallington's David Weir earlier won the exhibition 100m-wheelchair race.

Sadly for Britain, who are predicted to have their worst championships in its 22-year history, it does not count in the official medal table.

Today: Justin Gatlin tries to add world 100m title to Olympic gold.

Tomorrow: The women's 100m has been hit by drugs scandals. France's Christine Arron would be a popular winner.

Tuesday: The absence of Kelly Holmes will help Mozambique's Maria Mutola in the 800m, but the Russians are strong.

Wednesday: An open men's 1500m lacking Hicham El Guerrouj and Bernard Lagat could allow Portsmouth's Michael East to challenge.

Thursday: Oxford's Nathan Douglas hopes to mark tenth anniversary of Jonathan Edwards' world triple jump record with a medal.

Friday: Allen Johnson, of the US, chases record fifth world 110m hurdles title.

Saturday: Britain's men's 4x100m team will be aiming to repeat their Athens success, but the US are desperate for revenge.