Sonia struggles with the early pace as she melts in Madrid

SONIA O’SULLIVAN disappointed in the IAAF grand prix meeting in Madrid on Saturday night, coming home fifteenth of sixteen finishers in a bruising 1500m.

The Irish record holder (3:58.85, 1995) struggled with the early pace set by front running 35-year-old American Suzy Favor Hamilton, the eventual race winner.

O'Sullivan recently ran 4:09.86 but seems to be off the pace at the moment, fading over the final 200m of the third lap in humid conditions. The 33-year-old Cobh athlete finished in 4:19.44, just 0.13 seconds ahead of last placed Rocio Rodriguez from Spain.

Britain's Jo Pavey did well to finish second, following on from her recent personal best in Rome, 4:02.03.

Seamus Power, (Kilmurray Ibrickane) coasted to a comfortable victory in yesterday's Adidas Irish Runner Challenge, a five mile road race in Dublin's Phoenix Park.

Power, in training for the Adidas Dublin Marathon in October, raced into an early lead and finished strongly in 24.06, over half a minute clear of defending champion, Noel Berkeley, (DSD), 24.41. Garry Crossan, (Donegal) placed third in 24.57 ahead of Peter Matthews, (DSD), 25.04.

Catherina McKiernan was the winner of the women's race in 27.00 minutes eleven seconds clear of defending champion, Pauline Curley, (Tullamore Harriers), 27.11, and Maria McCambridge, (DSD), third in 28.40.

Gareth Turnbull scored a highly impressive international win yesterday in Germany, as he destroyed his two-year-old 1500m personal best by nearly two seconds with a run of 3:36.60.

Turnbull had the added bonus of securing the World Championships B standard in the process and moved to number 1 on the Irish 1500m list for the year.