VILAMOURA (Portugal), Oct 4: Britain’s Paula Radcliffe won the women’s world half-marathon title for the third time on Saturday, clocking 67 minutes 35 seconds.

Kenya’s Martin Lel outsprinted Tanzanians Fabiano Joseph and Martin Hhaway Sulle for victory in the men’s race in a personal best of 60:49.

Joseph was second in 60:52 and Sulle third in 60:56 leading Tanzania to the team title for the first time ahead of Kenya.

Radcliffe, who also won the title in 2000 and 2001, led from the start of the 21.1-km race on a warm, sunny day in the Portuguese beach resort and was 36 seconds ahead at the halfway mark.

The 29-year-old Briton finished almost a minute-and-a-half ahead of defending champion and world 10,000 metres gold medallist Berhane Adere of Ethiopia (69:02).

Australia’s Benita Johnson overtook Russian Lydia Grigoryeva close to the finish for third place in 69:26.

Russia won the team title ahead of Japan.

Radcliffe had been expected to break the world best of 66:44 for the distance after recording the fastest ever time by a woman in last month’s Great North Run in England.—Reuters