Radcliffe was disappointed by her time

The 30-year-old gold medal hopeful started out at world record pace in her first track race for 22 months.

Radcliffe slowed in the second half of the race but still clocked 14:29.11 to become the third fastest woman ever.

"I am pleased I won the race but I am actually a bit disappointed because I slowed down at the end," she said.

Radcliffe beat her own previous best of 14:31.42 - set when she won the Commonwealth title in 2002 - by two-and-a-half seconds.

Academy: Want to be as fit as Paula Radcliffe

But she missed out on the world record of 14:24.68 set by Elvan Abeylegasse of Turkey in Bergen, Norway, recently.

The main thing is my training is going well for Athens Paul Radcliffe

"I knew I was in good shape because training went well but I got a bit carried away early on," Radcliffe said.

"I was hoping to come out and run a world record but there were a few too many 68-second laps when they should have been 69s.

"I also only came down from altitude on Thursday night so I should feel a bit fresher next week."

Radcliffe will run on home soil in a 10,000m at the Gateshead Grand Prix next weekend, where she will chasing the Olympic qualifying standard in her last planned race before Athens.

"I have missed racing and I am really pleased to be back on the track," she said. "It always seems to bring the best out of me."

Mix-up costs GB men's team

Radcliffe finished second on her last appearance in a 10km road race in Puerto Rico on 29 February, before her Olympics preparations were hit by a hernia operation in March.

But her front-running performance in Poland dispelled any doubts about her fitness for Athens, where she could attempt a marathon and 10,000m double.

"The big thing is I didn't doubt myself," she added. "It is only a personal best by two seconds but the big picture is Athens.

"These are just stepping stones. I will take great confidence from this, but the main thing is my training is going well for the Olympics."