6th March 2011 07:52
What is it they say about fine wines they get better with time? If so, Helen Clitheroe is like the finest wine of European distance running for this afternoon the 37-year-old defied her age to produce a vintage performance at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy.
Clitheroe handed Britain its first women's 3000m title since Yvonne Murray in 1987, a second 3000m gold in Paris to go with Mo Farah's in the men's event yesterday.
Some nine years since her first and only international medal, the British team captain ran with the new-found confidence that's made her the European leader this season to beat a field of heavily-medalled and experienced internationals from across the continent.
She has led from gun to tape in every race she's won this season, but today she bided her time, taking the lead only in the last 300m then holding off the challenge of Russian champion Olesya Syreva and Poland's two-time champion Lidia Chojecka on the final lap to win by 0.03s in 8:56.66.
Syreva did her best to pass the veteran Briton on the final straight but Clitheroe was just too strong while Chojecka chased them home for the bronze in 8:58.30.
'I can't believe it,' said Clitheroe whose only other championships medal in an international career going back more than a decade was 1500m bronze at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
'During the race I was thinking 'It's slow, will I be able to kick?' I just kept pushing.'
'The pace was too slow and the finish was crucial,' agreed Syreva 'I know I have to work on my speed for the future. But I am very pleased and happy because this is my first big international medal. It is a huge motivation for me.'
Clitheroe was the oldest in the field by more than three years, but 34-year-old Chojecka also gave a good account of herself as she attempted to regain the title she won in 2005 and 2007.
'The race was not perfect,' she said. 'The pace was slow and we were very close to each other. It was hard to find a proper spot in the bunch of people. In the end it was very difficult for me because I was already tired and could not speed up so much.
'I am not the youngest but that could be the reason I am still able to run at the top level.'
Syreva was delighted with her silver, but her more-fancied compatriot Yelena Zadorozhnaya, who led through the early stages, could only finish eighth after losing her shoe just after the first kilometre. She stopped running to pull it back on but depsite her best efforts, could not get back in touch as Clithoroe pulled the field through the quickening late stages.
In a field containing four athletes in their 30s, it was thought the 19-year-old Azerbaijani Layes Abdullayeva might prove the biggest threat to the European leader. But the former Ethiopian was outsprinted in the last lap and had to be satisfied with fourth.
It was the 33-year-old Zadorozhnaya who took the early pace, but it was a gentle start. Clitheroe moved on to her shoulder and with the field bunched behind them they cantered through 1000m in 3:07.51.
It was slow and steady too slow for Zadorozhnaya, as it turned out, for someone stepped on her heel shortly after 1100m and she hopped off the track briefly.
By the time she was running again, Spain's Delores Checa was pushing the pace, closely followed by the ever-watchful Clitheroe, with Abdullayeva and Syreva in clsoe attendance.
They clipped through the second kilometre sllightly faster (6:06.10) with Zadorozhnaya some 20m back straining to make up ground.
Clitheroe hit the front with three to go, pulling Abdullayeva behind her, followed by Chojecka and Syreva. It wasn't a decisive break, but the Briton was in perfect control. She raised the pace again 400m out with three still on her tail.
Chojecka made her bid 250m from home but Clitheroe was alive to the danger and sped past with 100m left. Syreva chased hard leaving the Pole for bronze, but the Russian fell just short as Clitheroe dipped for her long overdue taste of glory.
She threw her arms wide, forefingers pointing at the Palais roof.
'I had no idea of the result after crossing the finish line,' she said. 'I had to wait to see the results on the screen.
'After so many years of training it's great to win the gold. Being the team captain for this competition and having the support of the team is incredible. I thank everyone, my family, my coach.'
If Helen Clitheroe is like an ageing wine, then one things for sure this wine's got legs.