Five Men Finish Within 15 Seconds of the Winning Time
Photo above: The men's race ended in a virtual tie between 31-year-old Hendrick Ramaala (bib #1) and 19-year-old Linus Maiyo (bib #17) with 28:16 on the clock. After careful consideration, Ramaala was declared the winner, a repeat victory for him.

Desire
Photo above: Paula Radcliffe set a new World Record in San Juan, Puerto Rico on February 23 with a time of 30:21 at the World's Best 10K road race.

Photo below: A winter visit to Puerto Rico reveals Paula Radcliffe's fine form. Radcliffe has been training hard at high altitude in New Mexico, free from the intense excitement she has ignited in Great Britain with a phenomenal racing season in 2002.

A Savvy Frontrunner Chases Down the 10K World Record for Women
Some highlights of U.K. Athletics biographical sketch of Paula Radcliffe:

Paula has compiled a most distinguished record as Britain's top distance runner, setting five British records at both 5000m and 10,000m, three at 3000m and two at half marathon from 1998 to 2002. All her previous achievements were capped by her sensational year in 2002. She had a superb London marathon win in April 2002, where her 2:18:56 was the second fastest ever run, over three minutes faster than the previous best in a women's only race and over four minutes better than the previous fastest debut marathon. Running on her own, she ran the second half marathon in 67:52, a time bettered by only 12 women at that distance alone.
In the summer she took her first major championship track titles with extraordinary runs and she capped it all by taking 1:29 off the world record for the marathon in Chicago.
Many of her successes have come in cross country, from her magnificent win over Wang Junxia to take the World Junior title in 1992 to her World gold and silver medals in 2001 and repeat win in 2002.
Paula ran an extraordinary 30:43 to win the 2002 'World's Best' road 10km in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She broke the UK 10km road record of 30:38 on a hilly course in Richmond Park in September, 2002, followed by the LaSalle Bank Chicago marathon. Despite windy conditions, she smashed the world record to win in 2:17:18.

Men's Results
Place Name City, State (Country)       Age   Pace Time 
1 RAMAALA , HENDRICK  N/A, N/A (RSA)    31   4:33 28:16  
2 MAIYO , LINUS  ROYERSFORD, PA (KEN)   19   4:33 28:16  
3 CHERUIYOT , ROBERT  ITALY      (KEN)  24   4:34 28:23  
4 KARANJA , DAVID  BARROWSTAR,   (KEN)  26   4:35 28:23  
5 TERGAT , PUAL  NAIROBI,       (KEN)   33   4:36 28:31  
6 KOECH , GILBERT  ROYERSFORD, PA (KEN) 22   4:36 28:34  
7 YUDA , JOHN  ARUSITA,         (TAZ)   25   4:40 28:59  
8 MUCHIRI , GABRIEL WEST CHESTER,PA(KEN)25   4:42 29:11  
9 KIRUI , PUAL  ITALY, N/A (KEN) 22          4:42 29:13  
10 KWAMBAI , JAMES  ITALIA, N/A (KEN) 20     4:43 29:15 


Women's Results
1 RADCLIFFE , PAULA  LOUGHBOUGH, UK (ENG) 29  4:53 30:21  
2 LEGHZOUI , ASMAE  WEST CHESTER,PA (MOR) 26  5:05 31:36  
3 KIPLAGAT , ESTHER  ELDORET, N/A (KEN) 25    5:18 32:53  
4 KREMLEVA , LYUBOV  GAINESVILLE, FL 41       5:21 33:13  
5 KIPTOO , JANE  ELDORET, N/A (KEN) 20        5:22 33:19  
6 MEYER , ELANA  MATIELAND, SA (RSA) 36       5:23 33:26  
7 PETROVA , LYUDMILA  TAMPA, FL (RUS) 20      5:25 33:34  
8 MOROIANU , RODICAN  N/A, N/A (FRA) 32       5:31 34:11  
9 WANGUI , NAOMI  WEST CHESTER, PA (KEN) 24   5:32 34:19  
10 KHMELEVA , TATIANA  GAINESVILLEL,FL(RUS 23 5:35 34:37  

A Community Event
The race director writes: The World Best 10K Race originated as a celebration form of the 3rd Anniversary of the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge, which began operations at the 23rd of February 1994. From its origin, it was meant to be a total commitment affair and not just a foot race. As such, it required total involvement of all sectors; business, goverment, community, news media and the sport world. It seemed the perfect way to reciprocate to our community the strong endorsement always given to our Toll Bridge operation. Our first two races, in 1998 and 1999, were focused toward our local athletes.

Photo above: Race director Rafael Acosta is a happy man and host to Paula Radcliffe.