Radcliffe ducks cross-country date
LONDON, England -- Marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe has pulled out of this weekend's world cross-country championships in Brussels because of a hamstring strain.
The problem responded well to treatment but has not recovered sufficiently to allow Radcliffe to cope with racing on a demanding cross country course.
"I am really disappointed to have to withdraw as training has gone really well and I was looking forward to racing well in Brussels," Britain's Radcliffe said.
"I went for my usual long run on Sunday morning and everything was okay. Then in the evening I went for a light run and felt a stiffening in my hamstring and knew I needed treatment."
Radcliffe underwent treatment at the local UK Athletics high performance center in a bid to make Saturday's eight-kilometere race.
The injury was responding well to treatment but a major problem remained. Radcliffe added: "I found it impossible to run uphill and in a cross country race there will always be plenty of them.
"Now it's case of getting back into training. That should be shortly as it isn't a serious injury."
Radcliffe, the world 8km champion in 2001 and 2002, had been selected for both the 8km and 4km races in one of the few events on her calendar as she prepares for the Athens Olympic marathon.
The 30-year-old flew back to London three weeks ago from her New Mexico training base after complaining of a virus after losing to Kenyan-born Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands in a 10km road race in Puerto Rico.
Radcliffe had been competing for the first time since winning the European cross country title in Edinburgh last December.
