Johnson backs Sonia to stay in top flight
Johnson was in Dublin yesterday with fellow Australian and two-time winner, Craig Mottram, to launch the Great BUPA Ireland Run 2005.
The race, which has already attracted 1,000 entries from Great Britain, takes place in the Phoenix Park on April 9 and is certain to top last year’s entry of 2,500.
O’Sullivan, who indicated at the end of last season that she had the London Marathon in mind, will be back from Australia, having completed a stint at altitude in Falls Creek along with Johnson and Mottram, who are coached by her partner, Nic Bideau.
O’Sullivan has already won the Great BUPA Ireland run and finished second last year.
Yesterday, Johnson, who won last year’s world cross-country title in sensational style, described how O’Sullivan has influenced her career.
A former hockey star who represented Australia at 18, Johnson opted for an athletics scholarship and ended up on the track and field team for the Sydney Olympics.
In recent years she has trained with Sonia and she said both O’Sullivan and Bideau had a major influence on her athletics career.
“Sonia is a fantastic competitor, as well as a lovely person and great mother to her kids. She is a real inspiration in all aspects of her life,” she said.
While Johnson had her own injury problems in the lead-up to last year’s Olympic Games, she insisted that O’Sullivan has moved on from her disappointment in Athens.
“Reports back home in Australia indicate she is in pretty good shape and I am really looking forward to training with her in Falls Creek next month,” she said.
“Craig (Mottram) will be with us and all three of us have a lot of big things to do this year. I don’t know many people that would train harder than her and her support for us has been absolutely fabulous.”
Johnson said this support had been important in her preparations for the world cross-country championships last year. Both O’Sullivan and Paula Radcliffe showed her it was possible to compete with the Africans.
“I knew if I was in the right shape at the right time then it would all work out for me and it was a big victory not just for me but for Australia. We had never won a medal at the world cross-country championships and then we won gold.”
The Great BUPA Ireland run is now attracting huge overseas interest.
BUPA Ireland marketing director Sean Murray said they were delighted with the response to the event.
“We have a long involvement with athletics as a healthy pastime for everyone, through our sponsorship of Sonia O’Sullivan, Cork City Sports, which will play a big part in the European City of Culture celebrations this year, and the Great Run series,” he said.
“We intend now to build on last year’s success.
“We are confident this year’s event will attract even more runners, joggers and walkers from every county.”
Participants will have the chance to compete for their counties if they wish.
All they have to do is state their county on the entry form and they will get a number with their county colours on it. Athletics Director of Nova International Matthew Turnbull said it was appropriate, therefore, that yesterday’s launch should take place in Croke Park.
Those wishing to enter can get an entry form by calling 01 8680088 or online at www.greatrun.org.
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