This was probably Britton's finest performance, better even than when she won the silver medal in the Under-23 event at the European Championships a couple of weeks ago. The race was won by the world champion, Gelete Burka of Ethiopia, with an impressive performance in 23 minutes 21 seconds with Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya coming through to edge out Benita Johnson of Australia for second in 23:33. In fourth place came the other Ethiopian, Meselech Melkamu, the double world cross-country bronze medallist with the other Australian, Anna Thompson, fifth in 23:50.

Then came the 22 year old Britton, running on strongly for sixth in 23:57, followed by the Portuguese champion, Analia Rosa, the European senior winner of a couple of weeks ago, Tatyana Holovchenko from the Ukraine, Cristina Casandra of Romania and a number of other notables, including the best of the British, Liz Yelling.

There was also a good run from Gary Murray of Donegal in the men's short 4km event where he finished fourth in a time of 12:44 with victory going to Sergiy Lebid of Ukraine in 12:17 from Britain's Mo Farah.