Newsarchiv

Sunday 20 June 2004

Bydgoszcz, Poland - The Russian women ran away with the womens team crown at

the 25th edition of the SPAR European Cup competition which concluded today. Ed

Gordon reports -

Russia romps home

There was no way to stop the Russian womens juggernaut as they amassed 142

points in taking their eighth team crown. Far behind them was a relatively

close battle for second, won by Ukraine (97) over France (92.5) and Germany

(92).

Paula Radcliffe powers to 14:29.11 5000m - European

Cup

Moving out of the elite division for the first time ever will be the

women’s team from Great Britain as a result of their eighth-place finish.

Additionally, the seventh-place Spanish women will compete in the First League

in 2005.

With the Russian women romping to an easy team win, it was important that

luminaries such as Britain’s Paula Radcliffe and Yelena Slesarenko of

Russia were present to add spice to the women’s proceedings.

Radcliffe - 14:29.11 - third fastest 5000m ever

In the run-up to the start of the cup competition, Radcliffe had declared

her goal to be an improvement of her own personal best in the women’s

5000 metres, which at 14:31.42 was already superior to yesterday’s

winning time in the men’s version of the event.