O'Sullivan looking good for London

Sonia O’Sullivan proved she is in good shape for the Flora London Marathon after finishing second behind Amy Rudolph in today’s Great BUPA Ireland Run in Dublin

The pair fought a fierce neck-and-neck battle over the final 600 metres of the 10-kilometre road race in Phoenix Park, before the American edged ahead to win by two seconds.

Rudolph – who is marrying Mark Carroll, Ireland’s 5,000 and 10,000-metre record holder, in October – won the thriller in a fast 32 minutes, 16 seconds.

“I knew I was in good shape after finishing third in the USA 8km Championships a fortnight ago,” said Rudolph after lowering O’Sullivan’s 2003 course record by eight seconds.

She added:”I felt really strong but when Sonia made the break at 600m, I was hanging in and at one point thought she had me.”

O’Sullivan, who since January has been specifically preparing for next Sunday’s London Marathon, felt her legs buckling when Rudolph produced what proved to be a final winning burst of speed.

Despite the defeat, O’Sullivan was delighted she had put up such a strong competitive performance with so many marathon training miles in her legs.

“That was a really hard run, just what I wanted against the best-ever field here and with a kilometre left, any one of three of us could have won it,” said O’Sullivan.

Approaching the lengthy finishing straight, O’Sullivan and Rudolph were being strongly pressed for the title by US-born Jolene Byrne.

But the Irish cross country champion fell away when O’Sullivan accelerated with the finishing gantry in sight, although she took third place in a creditable 32mins 21secs.

O’Sullivan who returned from training in Melbourne last Sunday, insisted her performance surpassed her expectations.

The former Olympic 5000m silver medallist said: “Not many marathon runners at this stage of their preparations will have produced a time as fast as that.

“I probably hit the front a little earlier than I should have done and really, I wanted to wait nearer to the finish.

“But I could feel the pair of them breathing on my neck, so I went. It really was a competitive race and I’m pleased it went so close to the wire.

“I’m happy with the result and there’s no aches or pains, so I’ve finished the race in a healthy condition.”

The medal winners had Charlotte Dale, who faded to fourth in 33:15, to thank for the fast early pace which split the field including European cross country champion Hayley Yelling, who placed sixth at 34:06.

O’Sullivan’s training partner Craig Mottram scored a third successive win well clear of the field in the men’s race – but admitted Chris Davies gave him a fright.

The Telford postman was back in serious action after last July falling off his bike and sustaining what was thought at first to be broken back.

“I was surprised he was with me at 5km and I didn’t know who he was,” said Mottram.

“But I finally dropped him a couple of kilometres later.”

Mottram’s injection of pace saw him win in 28:35 – just nine seconds shy of his course record – with Davies showing he is rehabilitated from his injury, clocking a respectable 29:07.

There was a close battle for third place when Mark Miles surprised John Mayock by out-sprinting last month’s European indoor 3000m silver-medallist.

“I couldn’t believe it when he flew away from me,” admitted Mayock whose time of 29:26 was two seconds slower than his English rival.