Alyson Dixon had to be satisfied with sixth place in the first Vitality London Big Half Marathon yesterday.
In a quality field, the Sunderland Stroller clocked 1hr 13min 34sec behind winner Charlotte Purdue, who knocked a minute off her previous best to record 70.29 for the 10h fastest time by a British athlete.
Purdue finished ahead of Lily Partridge, who recorded 71.06 for second, while Coventry Godiva runner Charlotte Arter knocked spots off her previous fastest for third (71.35).
Purdue and Partridge led from the start, with a group including Dixon, Sonia Samuels and Tracey Barlow giving chase.
But, as the race developed after a couple of miles, they were left on their own to develop their own private battle.
Dixon, who joins Samuels in the Australian Gold Coast next month for the Commonwealth Games marathon will not be too disappointed with her performance as she is in a heavy phase of her training and was taking this race in her stride.
Result: 1 Charlotte Purdue 70:29, 2 Lily Partridge 71:06 3, Charlotte Arter 71:35 4, Sonia Samuels 72:57, 5 Caryl Jones 73:28, 6 Alyson Dixon 1.13.34.....