Britain's Paula Radcliffe won the world women's cross-country titlein Ostend, Belgium, today in a time of 27 minutes 49 seconds.
The 27-year-old, so often the bridesmaid with three minor medals at the championships, battled back after going behind to two-time champion Geta Wami of Ethiopia with 300 metres of the 7.7 kilometres race to go.
Radcliffe then stormed away, leaving her great rival to settle for silver.
Longtime leader Lydia Cheromei was way back in third. AFP