O'Sullivan makes 'Lite' work of opposition

Sonia O’Sullivan bounced back to top form to win the Flora Lite Challenge for Women in Hyde Park today.

The Cobh star, who finished last in the Olympic 5,000metres final while suffering from an upset stomach, showed superb form to take the 5k road race in 15minutes 06seconds.

A powerful sprint finish 500m from the line brought her victory ahead of Ethiopia’s Derartu Tulu by two seconds, with Mihaela Botezan of Romania third in 15mins 24secs.

O”Sullivan did not panic when Tulu opened a 20-yard gap in the first kilometre.

By three kilometres O’Sullivan she and Botezan had hauled in the tough African and the three then became involved in a determined battle.

Botezan fell away in the final kilometre, but O’Sullivan, piling on the pace with the finish line in sight, roared to welcome.