Radcliffe to run in Birmingham

Paula Radcliffe will race in the World Half-Marathon Championships in Birmingham next month.

The 35-year-old, who opted not to run the marathon at last month's World Championships in Berlin, has been named in the Great Britain team for the event on October 11.

The marathon world record-holder chose not to run in Berlin as she did not feel she was fit enough to compete for the gold medal.

The decision came four days after she had blazed to victory in the New York City Half-Marathon on August 16 following a long absence recovering from a foot operation.

Radcliffe (Bedford & County), a former world half-marathon champion, is one of five women in the team named by UK Athletics.

Trials winner Claire Hallissey (Bristol & West), who set a new lifetime best of one hour 12.03 minutes with victory at the Bristol Half-Marathon on Sunday, is also included.

Katrina Grimmett (Hants Police Tri Club), who qualified for automatic selection, could not be picked because of committing to her preparations for the World Duathlon Championships in North Carolina, USA, two weeks prior to the World Half-Marathon.

Britain's men's team also contains five runners, but not trials winner Tomas Abyu (Salford Harriers), who declined automatic selection to focus on other racing commitments - including the Berlin Marathon.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for World Half Marathon Championships:

Men: Andi Jones (Salford Harriers); Andrew Lemoncello (Fife AC); Mark Miles (Belgrave); Gareth Raven (Sale Harriers Manchester); Phil Wicks (Belgrave). Women: Alyson Dixon (Chester-le-Street); Claire Hallissey (Bristol & West); Gemma Miles (Kendal); Paula Radcliffe (Bedford & County); Rebecca Robinson (Kendal).