Hudspith amazed by Paula's strength

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Sept 25, 2003

Byline: By Bill McGuirk

Mark Hudspith's Great North Run performance may not have set the world alight on Sunday but the former Commonwealth marathon bronze medallist enthusiastically joined the growing band of Paula Radcliffe supporters.

Hudspith, who finished 13th, was one of just five British athletes who managed to run faster than Radcliffe but he still sung the praises loud and long of the new world record holder's efforts.

"She's absolutely fantastic and is on fire at the moment," said Hudspith, who still has an eye on a place in the team for next year's Olympic marathon.

"Radcliffe is head and shoulders above everyone else and is ideally suited to the half-marathon distance.

"Her times are amazing and you wonder what she is really capable of when she comes up against stiffer opposition."

Hudspith wasn't alone in his praise for Radcliffe, with Olympic marathon bronze medallist and London Marathon winner Charlie Spedding being equally complimentary. "She is pushing the frontiers back completely to a new era," said the former Gateshead Harrier.

Three-times winner of the GNR, Liz McColgan, part of the BBC TV commentary team along with Spedding, was quick to add her tribute.

"It's really inspirational seeing her running like that," said McColgan, who watched her 12-year-old daughter Eilish finish third in the Junior Great North Run on Saturday.

"It's great that she is doing it on British soil, as well. She just astounds."