Radcliffe on target , says Kristiansen
Ingrid Kristiansen predicted Paula Radcliffe will return to world record-breaking form in today's London Marathon.
In her 1985 victory, Kristiansen, who won the race four times, set a world record of two hours 21minutes six seconds that lasted for 13 years. The Norwegian is now backing Radcliffe to not only win a third title but break her own world record of 2hr 18min 56sec she achieved on her marathon debut.
Radcliffe missed last year's race after winning on the previous two occasions, preferring to fine-tune for what turned out to be a disastrous Olympic Games.
Kristiansen admitted she had wept watching Radcliffe abandon her gold medal bid in Athens with four miles of the race remaining. 'I felt so sorry for Paula,' she said. 'I was crying with her. She didn't run like she usually runs. I think she started to think negative early in the race and that saw her use so much energy up. She was constantly watching the girls around her, who normally wouldn't be good enough to be near her.'
Kristiansen believes Radcliffe, who won the New York marathon 11 weeks after her Athens disaster, will continue to dominate the event, saying: 'At the time I didn't think it was smart to run there but after the race she knew she could again be a great marathon runner.'
The pair had a lengthy conversation at the marathon's official dinner on Thursday night and that convinced Kristiansen she was talking with today's winner.
'For Paula to run under 2:20 isn't difficult and I'm sure she can break the record again. I think she is well prepared for pushing herself.'
Radcliffe's main challengers should be the Kenyan pair of Susan Chepkemei and Margaret Okayo and China's Sun Yingjie, one of only four women to run under 2hr 20min.
Kristiansen added: 'The field is very, very strong but Paula is well focused on winning. I think Paula will run a really great race. I'm sure she will win and I'm sure she can make the world record.'
'I feel there is so much more to come from her, but like other good runners Paula has to be careful in the year leading up to the Olympics [in 2008].
'I think she should take a rest the year before what will be another tough competition.'
Eamonn Martin firmly believes Paula Radcliffe's competitive spirit will win her a third London Marathon title.
Martin, who won the men's race in 1993 and is the last male British winner, disagrees with Kristiansen saying he does not think Radcliffe will break the world record, but is adamant she will control the race.
Martin believes the 31-year-old is resilient enough to triumph in London. 'I honestly believe Athens may have done her just a little psychological damage,' he said Martin.
'I think she's good enough to win here - definitely - there's no doubt about that, but I don't reckon she'll run 2:15. She'll run fast and do more than enough to win - but not in that sort of area.'
Recalling his own triumph 12 years ago, Martin added: 'I wasn't going to run around at a steady pace - I was going to have a go and yes, the wheels might have come off.
'Now I'm sure Paula's got her self-belief back tenfold. Great runners will have a bad day for whatever reason and unfortunately hers came at the Olympic Games. Also great runners will bounce back - that's a true measure of a great athlete. Paula has done so, as she showed in New York.
'That recovery after the Olympics was about spirit. She also showed it throughout her career, even after finishing out of the medals at major championships. Then she started winning races including the Chicago and London marathons - she's got that spirit which is a requisite of any champion.
'I don't think Paula will run like she did when she ran her world record time.'
However, Martin sees no reason why Radcliffe cannot better her race world of 2.18:56 that she achieved on her marathon debut in London three years ago.
That is the target race organisers have set Radcliffe and if successful she would earn just over £66,000 plus the winner's purse of more than £29,000.
'That's probably well within her capabilities and she could well do that,' said Martin. I would be surprised if she didn't. But the race will ask a lot of questions of her.
'She has tried to answer questions already in New York, but I think Athens might take the edge off her performances from now on. It's hard to run a marathon and suffer like that.'
Evans Rutto defends his men's title, with fellow Kenyan Paul Tergat aiming to achieve victory in his fourth London appearance.
The Olympic marathon champion, Italy's Stefano Baldini, is also in the field where the British challenge will be led by Jon Brown, who finished fourth in Athens.
Obsever
