New York City, 8th June 2002 - Sonia O'Sullivan placed third in the New York Mini Marathon 10k road race held in the New York City's Central Park. Asmae Leghzaoui of Morocco crossed the finish line in 30:29 breaking Paula Radcliffe's course record of 30.47 from last year's race and Liz McColgan's 13-year-old world road 10k best of 30.39.

At the gun in ideal conditions of bright sun with a temperature of 18°C, O'Sullivan took the lead followed by Kenya's Lornah Kiplagat, American Deena Drossin and the then relative unknown Leghzaoui.

The Sydney Silver Medallist led the group through an opening mile split of 4.51, a full eight seconds better than Radcliffe's course record pace last June. The Cobh starlet continued to lead until Kiplagat passed her just before the 2-mile mark.

The pair passed 5k in 15.06, a mere 12 seconds off Drossin's recent record for the distance. Leghzaoui broke the Kenyan at the 4-mile mark (19.39). Now only the record and the accompanying US$5,000 bonus were competition for the five-foot Moroccan. She eclipsed the record and earned US$15,000 for the victory - an almost 500 dollars per minute wage!