Radcliffe returns to form in NYC

Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain, left, leads Gete Wami of Ethiopia in the 38th annual New York City Marathon on Sunday. PHOTO: EPA

British world record-holder Paula Radcliffe made a triumphant marathon return on Sunday, winning the New York City Marathon 10 months after the birth of her daughter.

Radcliffe, 33, won in 2 hours, 23 minutes and 9 seconds, beating Ethiopian Gete Wami (2:23:32) to complete a wire-to-wire victory. Radcliffe added another New York title to the one she captured in 2004.

Latvian Jelena Prokopcuka, the winner in New York the past two years, finished third in 2:26:13.

Radcliffe owns four of the five fastest marathons in history, including the current world record of 2:15:25. But she hadn't run a marathon since claiming the world championship gold at Helsinki in 2005.

"I love this and I really enjoyed being back and racing marathons and winning marathons," Radcliffe said. "It felt like old times, especially with Gete, like it was back in 1992 or something."

Reigning world champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya, finished fifth (2:29:08) behind Russian Lidiya Grigoryeva (2:28:37).

Radcliffe and Wami separated themselves from the field early, but it was the 33-year-old Briton who prevailed by 23 seconds.