They may be two of the best marathon runners in history.
One has the fastetest women's marathon time, and the other has so many wins that it is hard to keep track of them all.
Tomorrow they will battle again on the streets of New York.
USA Today is reporting that:
"Paula Radcliffe is the fastest ever. She has the three
best times over 26.2 miles, including a world record of 2 hours, 15
minutes, 25 seconds, set at the 2003 London Marathon. In nine starts,
she has seven wins, including London three times and New York twice.
Catherine Ndereba, the No. 2 performer with a best of
2:18:47, has the hardware, including four wins in Boston and two in
Chicago. She has won silver medals in the last two Olympics and has
finished in the top three in 17 of her 19 marathons.
They'll be going head to head Sunday in the New York City Marathon. The field is the best in race history for women, race director Mary Wittenberg says. Other contenders include Ethiopians Dire Tune and Gete Wami, who was second to Radcliffe last year, and Kenyan Rita Jeptoo. American Kara Goucher and Kim Smith of New Zealand are making marathon debuts.
Radcliffe, 34, and Ndereba, 36, will meet for the seventh time in a marathon, with Radcliffe holding a 4-2 edge."