O’Sullivan returns to the big stage in the heat of New Delhi

SONIA O’SULLIVAN returns to the big stage tomorrow when she lines up for the 13th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in New Delhi.

Last Sunday she finished sixth in the Great North Run to indicate that she has no fear of the distance, although she lost some ground after the 10 mile mark. Her decision to return to the distance so quickly is surprising, as is her decision to run at all in New Delhi where, despite the early morning start, it is expected much of the race will be contested in temperatures of up to 50 degrees.

But she is training with Benita Johnson, who won the Great North Run and finished third behind Paula Radcliffe and Berhane Adere in this race last year, and that fact alone obviously gives her an indication of her form at the moment.