Radcliffe out of Great North Run

Britain's Paula Radcliffe the reigning World Cross Country Champion has pulled out of Saturday's View From Great North Cross Country in Newcastle after picking up a bacterial infection.

Radcliffe's manager and husband Gary Lough informed Peter Elliott, the elite athlete co-ordinator for the meeting, of her decision on Thursday morning.

It is the third major blow in a week for the meeting after Ethiopians Deratu Tulu and Gete Wami vacated their starting slots because of lack of form and injury.

"She is disappointed at having to pull out because she was looking forward to racing in front of the crowds in Newcastle," Lough said of Radcliffe.

BBC and Agencies