After Sonia O'Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh AC) showed her form winning the 5,000 in 14.58.43 the Cardinal Invitational the Irish Olympian was on hand in Oxford, England to run the mile commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Sir Roger's Bannister's first sub 4-minute mile in Oxford on 6th May. O'Sullivan, the reigning Olympic 5000m silver medallist, clocked 4.27.70 in the women's race, well ahead of Australian Georgie Clarke, who timed a personal best 4.31.76. There were more than 2,000 spectators on hand for the event, sponsored by the British Milers Club. Craig Mottram, the Australian national record holder at 3000m and 5000m won the men's event in 3.56.64. Roger Bannister along with Australian John Landy, who broke the record just 46 days later were on hand for the festivities.

Two days later on 8th May, O'Sullivan competed in Balmoral, Scotland in a 5,000m road race. O'Sullivan placed second to the reigning 10,000m World Champion Berhane Adere (Ethiopia) running 15.11 only 7 seconds adrift of Adere.

Other Irish athletes competing at the Balmoral Road Races included Freda Davoren (UCC) who ran 4.37 to place 4th in mile event with club mate Maura Prendiville running 4.51 for 8th place. Maria McCambridge (Dundrum South Dublin) placed 8th in the 5,000m race running 16.04. This was McCambridge's first international race since her incredible performance at the World Indoors where she reached the final of the 3000m.

As if traveling from California to England and running three races extremely competitive races in a week's wasn't enough, O'Sullivan toed the line at the Bupa Great Manchester 10k Run on Sunday, 23 May. A fortnight of rest proved enough for O'Sullivan who reversed the finish of the Balmoral 5k beating Berhane Adere. O'Sullivan ran 32.12; three seconds clear of the Ethiopian. After the race O'Sullivan announced that she would only be competing in the 5,000-metre event at the upcoming Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Fresh off setting the Irish record Leevale's Cathal Lombard ran 28.07 to place third in the men's race, which was won by Craig Mottram (Australia). Lombard edged living legend Paul Tergat by one spot. Tergat, the World Record holder in the marathon event (2.04.55) ran 28.22.