O'Sullivan third in Zurich

Three-time Olympian Sonia O'Sullivan rounded off her track preparations for the 2004 Games with an encouraging third-place run at the Weltklasse meet tonight in Zurich, Switzerland.

The 34-year-old ran a season's best of 8:41.42 to finish behind race winner Edith Masai of Kenya (8:36.46) and second-placed Tola Kotu Zenebech of Ethiopia.

Masai made the crucial break with three laps remaining, sprinting clear of O'Sullivan, whilst the Cobh athlete was pipped in the last 100 metres by Zenebech in a sprint finish.

O'Sullivan's previous 2004 best was 9:12.87, set last month when finishing a disappointing twelfth at the Meeting de Madrid. She lines up in the 5000m heats on Friday, August 20.