Posted: March 26, 2005

Athletics: Ochichi Defeats Radcliffe In New Orleans

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

By Bob Ramsak

Isabella Ochichi, the 2004 Olympic silver medallist at 5000 meters, defeated Paula Radcliffe at the Crescent City Classic 10 km today in New Orleans, clocking 30:27, the second fastest-ever performance on the roads.

The 25-year-old Kenyan, who finished third and fifth at last weekend's short and long course races at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, finished 18 seconds ahead of the Briton. Ochichi's clocking was the fastest-ever on U.S. soil, bettering the mark set by Asmae Leghzaoui of Morocco in New York in 2002 by two seconds. Only Radcliffe, who set the world record of 30:21 in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2003, has covered the distance faster.

According to several wire story accounts, Radcliffe fell behind Ochichi early on and never threatened. This was the first competitive race for Radcliffe since winning the ING New York City Marathon last November. Radcliffe, also the world record holder in the marathon, is currently training for next month's Flora London Marathon.

Look for complete results in Monday's RRW.