FORMER Frodsham Harrier Paula Radcliffe has become only the second woman to win the New York Marathon three times.

The 34-year-old stormed to victory in the Big Apple on Sunday, ahead of Ludmila Petrova and Kara Goucher.

She finished in two hours, 23 minutes and 56 seconds, nearly two minutes ahead of the 40-year-old Petrova of Russia.

Radcliffe, who was born in Davenham and lived at Barnton and then Kingsley until the age of 12, won the New York Marathon in 2004 and 2007. But she still has some way to go if she is to relieve Grete Waitz of her title of ‘queen of New York’. The Norwegian won the race a record nine times, with her last victory coming in 1988.

Radcliffe has only ever run 10 marathons, winning eight of them. Her only failures have come in the last two Olympics.

Three members of Tattenhall Runners also ran in New York. Sara Atkinson set a new personal of 3:22.34, while Kit Ebben clocked 4:02.20 and Ian Dutton 4:09.09.