Lornah Kiplagat set a world record in the 20-kilometre road race Sunday, winning in one hour three minutes 21 seconds at the inaugural IAAF World Road Running Championships.

Kiplagat, who moved to the Netherlands from Kenya in 2003, broke the previous record of 1:03.26, set by Paula Radcliffe of Britain on Oct. 6, 2001, in Bristol, England.

``I used to have the world record over 20 kilometres, but then Paula took it and I really wanted it back,'' Kiplagat said. ``I knew even before the race that I could break the record.''

Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea won the men's 20K race in 56:01, with Robert Kipkorir Kipchumba of Kenya in second and Wilson Kiprotich third.

Kiplagat was second at the 2005 half marathon world championships _ now replaced by the 20-kilometre road race _ and is the reigning European cross-country champion.

Constantina Tomescu of Romania, who beat Kiplagat at the 2005 world half marathon event, also broke Radcliffe's mark. Tomescu took silver to finish two seconds behind Kiplagat.

Rita Jeptoo Sitienei of Kenya, the Boston Marathon winner, was third, 26 seconds slower than Kiplagat.

Dire Tune Arissi of Ethiopia was fourth in 1:05:16. Edith Masai, a three-time winner of the World Cross Country short course race, was in the leading group at five kilometres but finished fifth.

Tadesse's win was the first-ever world championship victory for his country in any sport. His bronze in the 10,000 metres at the 2004 Athens Olympics was Eritrea's first-ever Olympic medal.

``The race was fast but I intended to run quick, so it really suited my style,'' Tadesse said. ``Over the last couple of kilometres, I was left alone in the field but that is something I enjoy.''

Kipchumba, repeating his second-place finish behind Tadesse at the Rotterdam Half Marathon in September, was 40 seconds behind the winner. Kiprotich was third in 57:15.

Kenya won the gold medal in the women's team event with a combined time of 3:15:55, ahead of Ethiopia and Japan. Kenya was first in the men's field, with 2:51:18, beating Eritrea and Ethiopia.