Sonia set for major marathon
There has been considerable speculation in recent weeks about a possible marathon for the 32- year-old Cobh runner and it intensified over the last few days here in Munich with the presence members of the organising committee of the New York Marathon.
While a formal announcement is not expected until late next month it now appears virtually certain that she will toe the line the same day as Mark Carroll makes his marathon debut.
The fact that she is going to St. Moritz in the Swiss Alps for altitude training at this late stage would indicate that she is planning a marathon.
She made her marathon debut in Dublin two years ago when she turned up on the day and ran 2:35.40 despite the inclement conditions.
On Saturday she won her second silver medal in the women’s 5,000m final when Marta Dominguez of Spain snatched her title from her just a couple of strides from the finish line.
The other silver medal came in the women’s 10,000m on Tuesday night when she set a new national record at 30:47.59 behind Paula Radcliffe who set a European record at 30:01.09 to claim the title which O’Sullivan won as part of her double in Budapest four years earlier.
She will be back in action on Friday night when she competes in her first Golden League race of the season in Zurich.
The 3,000m will bring herself and Marta Dominguez together for a quick rematch and Gabriela Szabo who broke Sonia O’Sullivan’s European record last month, will also renew rivalry with the Irish athlete.
“I am looking forward to the race really,” Sonia O’Sullivan said. “I am quite good at fighting back and this gives me that opportunity.”
She intends to run at least one other Grand Prix race before the season ends and Crystal Palace on August 23 could be a priority but she has also been linked with an attempt on the world record in the Flora 5k Challenge in London on September 1.
Despite her marathon plans she still sees the 5,000m as her prime event.
