KENYA'S marathon world record holder Tegla Loroupe and Great Britain's World 10,000m silver medallist Paul Radcliffe renew their intense rivalry in Sunday's BUPA Great North Run.

The two stars last clashed in the Olympic Games 10,000m final, and both returned empty-handed.

But Loroupe and Radcliffe are both determined to bounce straight back, and the the world's biggest and most popular road race will provide a perfect stage.

Loroupe, only 4ft 10in, has proved herself a giant in distance running and is delighted to be returning to Tyneside, where she won in 1993 and finished runner-up last year to fellow Kenyan Joyce Chepchumba.

Loroupe has fully recovered from the debilitating attack of food poisoning which ruined her medal hopes at the Olympics, where she finished fifth in the 10,000m and 13th in the marathon.

Loroupe, who is based in Germany, confirmed: "I have finally shaken off the effects of the illness which ruined my chances of winning the Olympic marathon, but I'm still disappointed about what happened in Sydney."

Ordered by the Kenyan team manager to stay in the Olympic village the night before the marathon, Loroupe believes it was the evening meal which caused her violent stomach upset.

She explained: "A few hours before the race I was ill and it went on almost until the start of the race. I was never in any sort of condition to mount a serious challenge.

"At the time I was very angry about being forced to stay the night away from my coach, who strictly controls my diet."

Loroupe knows that it will be difficult racing against Radcliffe, who finished ahead of her in fourth position in the Olympic 10,000m final.

But she said: "The Olympic Games are in the past and we should both be at our best for Sunday's race.

"I beat Paula last year and I see no reason why I shouldn't do the same this time - the Great North Run is a race I want to win again."

Radcliffe got back to winning ways by beating Olympic 5000m silver-medallist Sonia O'Sullivan in last weekend's Loughrea five-mile road race in a time of 25 min s 4 secs and believes she can improve on last year's half marathon debut on Tyneside.

She said: "Last year's race was my half marathon debut and came at the end of a long, hard season and my performance in Loughrea suggests I can do even better."

Radcliffe set an English record of 69 mins 37 secs last year and feels she can run faster this time.

The men's race sees a fascinating head-to-head between two of the world's greatest distance runners, Mexican Dionicio Ceron and Portugese Antonio Pinto, who have each won the London Marathon three times.

Joining them in a 50,000-strong field will be former world marathon record holder, Brazilian Ronaldo da Costa, the 1997 and 1999 World Championships marathon silver medallists, Martin Fiz (Spain) and Vicenzo Modica (Italy), and last year's Great North Run winner, John Mutai, of Kenya.