Glasgow, UK - Lornah Kiplagat sounded a warning to Paula Radcliffe after yesterday (Sunday 16 May) winning Great Britain's biggest women-only 10,000 metres in Glasgow, Scotland for the fifth successive year.

No fears of Radcliffe in Athens 

The woman who memorably ended the World marathon record-holder's unbeaten individual sequence in Puerto Rico, says she has no fears about meeting her in Athens.

"I don't mind what event she does," said Kiplagat. "I never even ask who is going to race against me. That's not my problem, but I like Paula and I like racing her. She runs like me, does her own thing and doesn't worry about others. She gets on with the race and doesn't step on your feet."

No danger on Glasgow's streets

Though almost two minutes slower than when she beat Radcliffe, there was little danger of anyone getting in Kiplagat's way as she won the twelfth edition of the Britannic Asset Management 10k from a record field of 12,778 women in what is Britain's biggest women-only 10k. It started 12 years ago with just 800 runners.

After less than two kilometres (6:25) she was already clear, but with skirling bagpipers playing at every kilometre post, and the streets thronged with thousands of supporters, she was never alone.

Kiplagat, who holds the course record at 31:14, finished in 32:29, collecting a £2000 prize.

"I gave up any thought of the record at half distance," she said after having finished 32 seconds clear of Restituta Joseph of Tanzania, with Miryam Wangari, of Kenya, third in 33:21.

Two other Kenyans, former world junior 3000m runner-up Jane Kiptoo and Kiplagat's cousin, Hilda Kibet, whom she has helped through a physiotherapy degree at a Dutch university, were fourth and fifth.

Joseph, who won last year¹s Dam-to-Dam 10-miler in Amsterdam, considered herself fortunate to be second. She lost all her luggage on the flight to London. Wangari loaned the shoes and kit which the Tanzanian wore to beat her. "I was lucky we both have the same size of feet," said Joseph.

Africans filled the first five places, with Ireland's Rosemary Ryan the leading European in sixth place (34:01). She hopes that a race against Sonia O'Sullivan in Cork may help her to the Olympic 5000m qualifying.

Best of the locals... 

Just six seconds covered the four leading Britons, all Scots. Susan Partridge, who is based in Barcelona, finished three seconds clear of Toni McIntosh with 34:43, admitting that after just two weeks training since the London marathon, she had felt it hard work. She is now focusing on the individual qualifying time for the IAAF World Half Marathon (72:30) in New Delhi.

Allison Higgins, former Scottish 5000m champion and winner of the 4k cross-country title, had placed seventh in the Commonwealth Games 10,000 in 2002, but at 31 believes she should retire to look after her one-year-old daughter, Emma.

Lyn Wilson, who helped Scotland win the world mountain-running team title in Alaska last year, clocked her quickest ever road 10k, 34:49.

After her last road race before the Olympics, and her only one on the UK this year, Kiplagat dismissed those Britons who were shocked by her Puerto Rico victory over the world marathon record-holder.

Kiplagat - Defeat of Radcliffe should have come as no surprise

"People seemed surprised when I beat Paula, but I'd raced her just once in two and a half years before that,"she said. "I had been under 31 minutes for 10k many times, so it was no surprise to me. I have a chance to win in Athens. If I know I am not going to win, I won't go. I always hope to win. You aim for the sun, and maybe settle for the moon."

The Kenyan-born Kiplagat finished fourth in the IAAF world Championship 10,000m in Paris, having switched allegiance to Holland after marriage to her manager, Peter Langerhorst. She has imposed a media blackout on Dutch journalists ahead of the Olympics, and because of the intense hype is to spend much of her time preparing out of the eye of the Dutch public, at altitude in Davos, Switzerland.

Scots at altitude

Before Sunday's race, Glasgow City Council approved £2500 to send city athletes to the altitude retreat which Kiplagat operates in the Rift Valley, and the race sponsors announced they would contribute a further £1000 to her camp. Several Scots have already gone there, but Glasgow University now propose research into the Kenyan endurance phenomenon, and plan to run a series of tests on those who go. The city has been sending athletes to the Kenyan camp for the past three years, and Kiplagat has built a huge following in the Scottish city.

Kiplagat's kilometre splits: 1, 3min 16sec; 2, 3-09; 3, 3-09; 4, 3-05; 5, 3-15 (15-54); 6, 3-20; 7, 3-13; 8, 3-16; 9, 3-15; 10, 3-34 (32-29).

Glasgow Womens 10K 16-05-2004

1 LORNAH KIPLAGAT (Ned) 32:29
2 RESTITUTA JOSEPH (Tan) 33:03
3 MIRYAM WANGARI (Ken) 33:21
4 JANE KIPTOO (Ken) 33:25
5 HILDA KIBET (Ken) 33:49
6 ROSEMARY RYAN (Ire)34:01
7 SUSAN PARTRIDGE (Sco) 34:43
8 TONI MCINTOSH (Sco) 34:46
9 ALLISON HIGGINS (Sco) 34:48
10 LYN WILSON (Sco) 34:49
11 SVETLANA BAYGLOVA (Rus) 34:55
12 LINDSAY MACNEILL (Sco) 35:22