O’Sullivan and Radcliffe head to head in Manchester

IRELAND’S Olympic 5,000m silver medallist, Sonia O’Sullivan, goes head to head with Paula Radcliffe for today’s inaugural Great Manchester Run.

Mon, 26 May, 2003 - 01:00

The organisers of the event have pulled off a coup in attracting some of the top names in women’s long distance events with African stars Derartu Tulu and Berhane Adere among the 10,000 entries that will take part in the 10 kilometre road race.

Radcliffe holds the current record for the distance with the 30:21 she ran in San Juan at the end of February. Others in the field include the Russian pair of Yelena Burykina and Galina Aleksandrova.

The men’s race is expected to develop into a straight head-to-head between world half-marathon record holder Paul Tergat and fellow Kenyan Wilberforce Talel, winner of the Commonwealth 10,000m gold medal in Manchester last July.

Meantime Seamus Power (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) and Catherina McKiernan (Annalee AC), both won their respective events at yesterday’s Dublin Five Mile Classic road race in Walkinstown.

Power stormed to victory in the men’s race, finishing strongly in 23.47, four seconds clear of Cathal Lombard (Leevale AC), with defending champion Noel Berkley (DSD) third in 24.28.

Catherina McKiernan had to work hard to achieve victory.

She posted a time of 27.05 ahead of Pauline Curley (Tullamore Harriers), 27.07 and Valerie Vaughan (Blarney), 27.30.

These were encouraging victories for both Power and McKiernan.

“I missed some races early in the year due to illness but I feel that I am now getting back to my best form,” Seamus Power said. “My main aim for this year will be a good performance in the Adidas Dublin Marathon in October.”

Catherina McKiernan was delighted with her victory - her second in a week - and is now set to challenge Sonia O’Sullivan in next Monday’s Women’s mini marathon in Dublin.

“I won my club’s 10k road race in Cavan last Sunday and victory here today is really very satisfying,” McKiernan said.

“I had grown tired of people asking me about how I had been coping with my injuries and it is good to be able to deliver a positive performance again. Now I am looking forward to the mini-marathon and I seem to be improving with each race.”