Possible
double for Radcliffe in Dublin
By Dave Martin
12 February 2001 - Paula Radcliffe will today tell the British selectors she is keeping her options open about whether to run both the long and short course races in the World Cross Country Championships.
The British team skipper missed the weekend’s trials as she is preparing at altitude in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the two day championships in Dublin on March 24-25 although there was never any doubt she would be chosen to lead the team.
But with Olympic 1500 metres finalist Hayley Tullett opting out of the meeting to concentrate on racing indoors and reducing the opportunity of a team medal, Radcliffe is not convinced she should tackle the four kilometres race on the final day, 24 hours after the eight kilometres contest.
Radcliffe winner of the 1992 World Junior title and unbeaten this year has set her heart on winning the longer race where she feels she can finally collect the gold medal after picking up two silvers and a bronze in the last four years.
Recovering from a bout of illness since settling in at her high altitude US training base earlier this month Radcliffe said: "I am pleased that the selectors have given me the opportunity to keep my options open at this stage.
"My main focus is on the 8k event, but I will make a decision on the 4k nearer the time. I am pretty much over the bronchitis now and finish my antibiotics in the next couple of days. Basically I am just getting on with training, and glad to be away from the distractions of home."
