Sonia considers her options for 800m and 1500m double

SONIA O’SULLIVAN has been travelling a familiar path along the Olympic route and this weekend could see her repeat her Sydney 2000 strategy should she double up over 800m and 1,500m at the Woodies DIY National Championships at Morton Stadium.

Whatever about the 800m she will almost certainly contest the 1,500m and her presence could make this the race of the weekend.

Freda Davoren is oozing confidence right now. She won very impressively at the BUPA Cork City Sports and would have won in Thessalonika on Monday night only for getting boxed in at the critical point and eventually finished second.

Sinead Delahunty, back to her best, has a 4:11.22 this season, Marie McMahon-Davenport, who has qualified at 10,000m for a second Olympic appearance has run 4:12.92 and the defending champion, Roisin McGettigan, has run 4:14.08.

Sonia’s time from the only 1,500m she finished this season is 4:15.59 and will have to improve dramatically if she is win this one.

The Olympic deadline has passed but Freda Davoren will continue the chase as will the others who have failed to make the mark.

Top of that list is Paul Hession who went to within two one hundredths of a second of the 20.59 mark when he won in Thessalonika on Monday night.

The sprints are going to be interesting. Gary Ryan has been the pace setter all season and he will be going for a sensational fifth 100m title despite the fact that the 200m is his forte. He equalled the national record with a 10.35 run at The Mardyke.

Paul Brizzel, has yet to break 21 secs this season.

The men’s 400m promises to be another spectacular contest with four athletes all having run under 47 secs this season. They are led by DSD’s Rob Daly with 46.19 with David McCarthy, 46.41, David Gillic, 46.57, and Gordon Kennedy, 46.89, all chasing.

Gillian O’Sullivan set a world record in the 5k walk two years ago and the world silver medallist will command a lot of attention.

Adrian O’Dwyer in the high jump will be another star attraction while Terry McHugh, who failed in his bid for Olympic qualification during the week, will be going for a sensational 21st national javelin title.

Another who will be anxious to put fans at ease will be Derval O’Rourke who has qualified for the Olympics in the 100m hurdles. She was hospitalised in Greece after Monday night’s Grand Prix while Ciara Sheehy, in the sprints, and Karen Shinkins in the 400m will be bidding to retain their titles.