ATHLETICS: PAULA RADCLIFFE and the women's 4x400metres relay squad added a further two medals to bring the British haul to three at the World Championships in Helsinki.
Radcliffe won gold following a comprehensive victory in the marathon while the relay squad survived a protest by Poland to be awarded the bronze medal to add to the bronze clinched by the men's 4x100m squad last night.
David Weir clinched the double after he added the wheelchair 200m title to the 100m crown he claimed on the opening night.
Radcliffe set a new championship record of two hours 20 minutes 57 seconds as a stunning turn of pace after 17 miles destroyed Romanian Constantina Tomescu-Dita, who was the only athlete to have offered any hint of a challenge during the race.
She ended up being over-taken by defending champion Catherine Ndereba, who finished more than a minute behind the Briton.
The 31-year-old set the world record of 2hrs 15mins 25secs in London in April 2003 and was relieved to have secured the global title to go with her mark.
Radcliffe said: "It is very special - right up there with the world record.
"I think it's important as world record holder that I show I can win world titles as well."
It was a welcome contrast to Radcliffe's fortunes in Athens last year when she dropped out of both the marathon and the 10,000m and also vindicated her decision to use the track race last Sunday as a final training run.
"Everything was falling apart before Athens and I knew that," said Radcliffe. "It is totally different to last year because I came in in good shape and with no health worries.
"I am just very happy and relieved. Everything went well on the day and with the race - it pretty much went according to plan. If somebody had been with me at the end I think I could have pushed it up."
Confirming she would compete in Beijing, Radcliffe added her plans were to "go away, rest and have a break".
The women's relay squad had their bronze medal confirmed after Poland's appeal was dismissed.
They had protested that anchor-leg runner Christine Ohuruogu had blocked Anna Jesien coming into the final straight.
