Paula Radcliffe's return to action was overshadowed by a spectacular performance from American Kara Goucher at the BUPA Great North Run.

The 29-year-old 10,000-metres World Championship bronze medallist, making her half-marathon debut, clocked the fastest time in the world this year, 66 minutes 57 seconds, to finish 56 seconds ahead of Radcliffe.

Hungary's Aniko Kalovics was third in one hour 10mins 17secs, while Kenya's Jane Muia was fourth.

Kenya's Martin Lel won the men's race in a sprint finish ahead of world-record holder Sammy Wanjiru.

Lel kicked away from his compatriot in the final mile to clock 60:10, the ninth fastest time in the world this year, while South Africa's Hendrick Ramaala, the champion in 1997, 2003 and 2006, was third.

Radcliffe, racing for the first time since December 2005 after a foot injury, the birth of her daughter Isla in January and a related back injury, clocked the third fastest time of 2007, behind the previous best of 67:05 from Kenya's Rita Jeptoo.

Radcliffe was not too downhearted with her performance.

''Obviously I'm disappointed not to win the race because that was what I wanted to do,'' she said.

''I didn't really have a time in mind but I guess I was hoping for somewhere around what I ran in 2000,'' added the 33-year-old.

''I knew I wasn't in 65:40 shape but I had four or five weeks of solid training behind me so I just wanted to come out and run it and see what I could do.

''Kara was just a little bit too fast for me today. It's okay, it gives me a platform to build off - it's not a disaster.''

Goucher's time was the eighth fastest half-marathon in history and ten seconds faster than Radcliffe's time of 2000.

Goucher forged ahead after six miles and continued to apply the pressure on Radcliffe with two sub-five minute miles.

Goucher, whose husband Adam was sixth in the men's race, was surprised by her performance after having no expectations coming into her maiden race over 13.1 miles.

''It was a surprise to me,'' said Goucher. ''The longest I've ever raced is ten kilometres.''

* Morpeth Harrier Ian Hudspith ran his best-ever Great North Run, finishing an excellent tenth in 63 mins 57 secs.

The 37-year-old Newcastle teacher claimed several top British scalps, including Dan Robinson, Andi Jones and Huw Lobb as he won the prize for the first North-East finisher.

Hudspith finished 15th in the 2005 Great North Run in a time of 64 mins 56 secs.

Durham City Harrier Ian Crampton, who was the top over-45 in London in April, again topped his category finishing 34th in 71 mins 52 secs.

Other leading North-East finishers were: 32 M Morris (Morp) 70.24; 33 S Potts (Sunderland) 71.46; 38 D Purvis (Chester-le-Street) 72.49; 39 S O'Grady (New Marske)73.00; 41 D Miles (Gateshead) 73.36; 42 M McLeod (Elswick) 73.48.

Claremont's Angela Hibbs, runner-up in this year's Edinburgh Marathon and first North-East finisher in London, was the region's leading runner, finishing 21st in 82 mins 41 secs two places ahead of Sunderland's Louise Noble (83.19). North Shields Poly's Helen Lambert won the over-50 section in 88 mins 20 secs.

Other leading North-East finishers included: 24 S Rutherford (Darlington) 84.21; 35 M Holt (Sund) 85.37); 32 G Rutherford (Darl) 91.15.