Sonia O'Sullivan Wins Great North Run
Mark Carroll Tunes Up in New York

New York City, 6th October 2002 - Leevale's Mark Carroll tuned up for next month's New York City Marathon by winning the Grete's Great Gallop Half-Marathon held in Central Park, New York on Sunday, 6th October.

Fellow Providence College Alum Keith Kelly paced Carroll for much of the race. Carroll covered the hilly, two-loop course in 1.03.11 (4.49 mile pace).

After he added on another 5 miles, Carroll told David Monti of Race Results Weekly, "I was well within myself." Carroll won US$200 and airline tickets from Scandinavian Airways. Conor O'Driscoll won the Masters (V40) in 1.14.08 and $150.

Mark Carroll
photos by Alison Wade
New York Road Runners

Mark Carroll

Sonia O'Sullivan ran 1.07.19 to win the BUPA Great North Run Half-Marathon held on Sunday, 6th October on the Newcastle to South Shields route. O'Sulivan beat the holder of the world half-marathon best, Susan Chepkemei, and the IAAF World Half-Marathon Champion, Berhane Adere. The Cobh Olympian took the lead just before the 5-mile mark and led al the way to the finish battling substantial winds. Her impressive splits included 5-miles (25.34), 10k (31.43), 15k (47.46), 10-miles (51.08) and 20k at 1.03.52. After the race she told reporters, "It was hard work into the wind. The only thing I was looking forward to in the last mile was the support of the crowd. The crowd push you along and make you want to run faster and faster."

For much of the race O'Sullivan was ahead of Paula Radcliffe's course record pace of 1.07.07. On missing the record and her late-race fatigue, she commented, "The last mile I ran out of energy and that is what I must learn for longer races - taking in drinks along the way. You go into the last mile hoping the wind is for you, but then find it's against you when you get to the sea. I pushed all the way as the important thing was to win the race. My main aim was to win and my second was to run faster I had ever done before. I knew I was close to the record. People put too much emphasise on time. These are a great set of athletes and I've come here and beaten them. I always want to win."

Sonia O'Sullivan

Sonia O'Sullivan

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