LONDON, April 13: Britain’s Paula Radcliffe confirmed her status as one of the greatest marathon runners of all time on Sunday when she broke her own world record to win the London Marathon in a time of two hours 15 minutes 25 seconds.

Radcliffe, known for her courageous front-running tactics, split from the leading group within the first mile and ran well above world record pace with two male Kenyan pacemakers to break her own world record by a massive one minute and 53 seconds.

In ideal conditions, the defending champion went through halfway with a 79 second lead and stretched it out to four minutes and 29 seconds at the finish ahead of Kenya’s former world record holder Catherine Ndereba.

Supported throughout the race by the crowds thronging the London streets, an exhausted Radcliffe was greeted by her husband and manager Gary Lough as she ran smiling over the finish line.

Radcliffe’s time was as remarkable as the margin of victory over such a competitive field which included the 2001 London Marathon winner, Ethiopia’s Derartu Tulu and former Chicago and Boston Marathon winner Ndereba.

Results:

WOMEN’S: 1. Paula Radcliffe (Britain) two hours 15 minutes 25 seconds (world record); 2. Catherine Ndereba (Kenya) 2:19:55; 3. Deena Drossin (US) 2:21:16; 4. Susan Chepkemei (Kenya) 2:23:12; 5. Lyudmila Petrova (Russia) 2:23:14; 6. Ccnstantina Dita (Romania) 2:23:43; 7. Jelena Prokopcuka (Latvia) 2:24:01; 8. Elfenesh Alemu (Ethiopia) 2:24:56; 9. Mihaela Botezan (Romania) 2:25:32; 10. Derartu Tulu (Ethiopia) 2:26:33.