O’Sullivan holds on to medal miracle

Sonia O’Sullivan wakes this morning in the Olympic village, safe in the knowledge that mission one has been accomplished.

The 34-year-old, who holds every Irish record from 800 through 10000 metres, is now doubly determined to show the world that she is a changed athlete from the one who finished last at the Paris World Championships almost one year ago..

“Heats are no longer are formality for me,” said the Cobh athlete of her qualification for Monday’s final as one of three fastest losers. “It wasn’t pretty but I hung in over the final stages and knew from quite a long way out I would make the time.”

14:59.61 was just over a second away from O’Sullivan’s season’s best, set on the final day of April in Stanford, California.

“The time was okay, but hopefully I can improve over the next few days,” she added, “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could get a medal. The conditions are obviously warm but I feel I have a big race in me.

“My Mum and Dad, plus the kids (Ciara and Sophie) are flying out and have tickets for Monday night, so I was really determined to qualify for them.”

Maria McCambridge, who became involved in a late qualification wrangle with the Irish Olympic Council, struggled in heat one of the 5000, clocking 15:57.42, to trail home fifteenth. “I struggled from early on – I’m very disappointed,” said the Dundrum-South Dublin athlete, whose personal best is 15:05.86. “I’m aching. My legs are very tired."

On the hassle surrounding her selection as the last athlete travelling with Team Ireland, the 29-year-old added philosophically: “Certainly it has been a tough time. I went to Cyprus to get away from it all and train this week, which was good. At the end of the day, even if you are in the best shape of your life, things don’t always work out for you.”