Sonia boosts stars of future

SONIA O’SULLIVAN jetted home yesterday to launch the Munster leg of the McDonalds Little Athletics programme at The Mardyke Arena in Cork.

Olympic race walkers Olive Loughnane and Robert Heffernan — seventh and eight, respectively, in Beijing — were amongst the celebrities assembled for the launch.

But the Olympic silver medallist, a multiple world and European champion, had special words for Phyllis Kidney who, as Chairperson of Ballymore/Cobh AC, was a major influence on her early career.