Paula Radcliffe: Megan Keith should have no Olympics 2024 fear

Radcliffe pointed out that Keith “still has room for improvement” at her new distance.

The Inverness athlete had won European and world youth titles in orienteering before going on to strike European Under-23 gold in cross country and at 5,000m.

And Radcliffe suggests backing “it up with those 10,000m performances has been phenomenal”.

“Without a doubt, that cross-country base is what has laid the groundwork, but as she learns the event, she will certainly move through more,” she added.

“I don’t think she has yet used altitude training really. She is certainly not at max in her training, which is very encouraging, because that shows she has room to grow.”

Radcliffe suggests Keith should treat the Olympics as part of a “learning curve” that will help achieve higher position on winning rostrums.

“Her first Olympics, she has got everything to learn and nothing to fear,” Radcliffe said.

“I am not by any means heaping pressure on her that she should be thinking of medals there, but a top performance and a fast time, why not?”