Athletics: Radcliffe's glorious run to first track gold

Englishwoman ends the years of frustration with record 5,000m victory as Edwards completes collection of major titles

It finally happened for Paula Radcliffe on the track last night, just as she had dreamed and wished and longed and worked for in a decade at the top level of her sport. Shortly after the English runner earned her first major championship gold medal in the 5,000 metres, it finally happened for Jonathan Edwards, in that he annexed the only triple jump title he did not have, adding Commonwealth gold to his collection of Olympic, world and European titles with the world's best effort of the year, 17.86m. England's heady evening was rounded off with gold and bronze in the hammer from Mick Jones and Paul Head, respectively.

After detaching the lingering challenge of her closest rival, Edith Masai of Kenya, with 1,800 metres remaining of last night's final, the woman who earned the reputation as the most gallant of British losers on the track completed her transformation into a winner as she turned the race into an emotional experience that was only just short of religious. As she pushed onwards, what she was engaged in simplified into three things: herself, time, and 38,000 deliriously appreciative spectators.

She had the best part of four laps to reflect upon the imminence of a first major track title to add to the two world cross- country wins and her audacious victory in this year's Flora London Marathon.

Characteristically, she did no such thing, instead punishing herself in pursuit of a world-class time, her pony-tail swishing with the palpable effort as she began to bob her head in time-honoured fashion. Once one goal is achieved in this 28-year-old's life, another has to take its place. That has been the way she has progressed in a career that got properly under way with the junior world cross-country title in the snows of Boston back in 1992.

Coming to the bell, she needed a 64-second lap for the world record. That was not quite within range ­ but she was rewarded with a stupendous Commonwealth record of 14min 31.42sec, just over three seconds away from the world record of 14min 28.09sec set by Jiang Bo, of China, in Shanghai five years ago. She is now the fifth-fastest woman in history.

As she crossed the line a winner, she raised her left fist briefly into the air, and then, after composing herself for a moment, accepted the rapture filling the stadium with both hands waving.

Then it was a case of waiting for Masai, second in 14:53:76 and her Kenyan compatriot Iness Chenonges, who took bronze in 15:06:06. An English runner, in a major championship endurance race, stood at the finish line and waited for her African rivals.

"Now I can say I 've won a title on track, cross-country and road. I've always known I could do it, but it feels really brilliant. This will send me to the European Cham,pionships with even more confidence next week," Radcliffe said.

Last year at the World Championships in Edmonton her husband, the former British 1500m runner Gary Lough, was involved in a very public post-race spat with her as he questioned the tactics that had seen her miss out on a medal by one place, just as she had done the year before at the Olympics.

Last night there was a different picture for the photographers as, with the flag of St George draped around her thin shoulder, she skipped forward towards her spouse and kissed him full on the lips.

"I am really hungry for this track victory," Radcliffe had said upon arriving in Manchester. "It is important to get it finally and, with the European Championships coming up in Munich after this I have two chances. I feel a lot stronger than I have done in the past and that is helping me because I have more energy left in the final stages."

Reflecting upon her recent British 3,000m record in Monte Carlo, where she was narrowly beaten by Romania's world champion, Gabriela Szabo, she added: "I thought I had reached my limit at 3,000m, but that run against Szabo exceeded my expectations. I now feel there is more to come over the longer distances, too. All I have to do now is make sure I relax so I can use the stamina properly."

Radcliffe's stamina, increased with her marathon training, was a supreme gift last night. Wearing sunglasses and a shorter hair-style caught up into a high pony-tail, she had taken the lead within the first lap as a slow pace led to such bunching that Australia's Benita Johnson tripped on to the infield before scrambling back into the race. Behind her was her team-mate Jo Pavey, and then the woman deemed most likely to prove a challenge ­ Masai.

With seven laps remaining, Radcliffe stretched the field out dramatically, dropping Pavey, and leaving only Masai on her shoulder. The cameras flashed, the crowd roared and roared, as if roaring would do the job of detaching her. Finally it happened ­ and finally Paula arrived as a winner on the track.