O'Sullivan 2nd in 3,000m Shinkins 6th in 400m
2002 Prefontaine Classic

Sonia O'Sullivan ran a brilliant race in the 3,000m but was pipped by American Marla Runyan at the IAAF Grand Prix I Steve Prefontaine Classic held in Eugene, Oregon on 26th May. Anna Bzrezinska (Poland), the pacer did an admirable job running four second 69 second laps around the sacred oval at Hayward Field. O'Sullivan passed the mile (4.37) and led two young Ethiopian runners (Werknesh Kidane and Turinesh Dibaba) through 2k (5.49) with Runyan in fourth. With two laps to go (6.25), Dibaba made a feeble attempt to pass but gave up before it materialised. At the bell (7.37) the Irish Olympian held a slight a lead with Runyan passing the Ethiopian duo on the turn before settling behind O'Sullivan on the backstretch.

Sonia O'Sullivan - photos by
Randy Miyazaki Ditphoto.com

Sonia O'Sullivan #111

The Cobh mother of two was in full stride and held off Runyan until only 75 metres remained. Runyan, who resides in Eugene, went on for the win (8.39.36) with O'Sullivan crossing the line in 8.39.88. O'Sullivan, who has been training at altitude in California ran her last kilometre in 2.50, her last 800m in 2.14 and her final lap in 62!

While her time is well off her Irish record of 8.21.64 set in London in 1994, it is faster than last season's 8.43.51 run in Melbourne in March 1991. Una English (Dublin City Harriers) placed 9th in 9.08.58 - a great sign that she's recovered from a foot injury that kept from vying for a spot for the Irish World Cross team.

After the race, her first on the track in 18 months, O'Sullivan told reporters, "I ran as fast as I could, I just wanted to run fast. I did not want it to be nine minutes for 3,000 meters. I didn't win but I got what I wanted. This was not my most important race. I pushed it a bit early but I couldn't tell how close she (Runyan) was near the end. It was so loud, I couldn't tell what was going on behind me."

Runyan, who is legally blind and is the first Paralympian to compete in the Olympic Games gave O'Sullivan the credit for the great race, "Sonia did all the work and I just kept in contact. It took a lot of work for Sonia to push it like she did. She made the race what it was."

Karen Shinkins (DCH) was a late addition in the 400-metre event. Almost immediately after the gun, US Olympians Suzianne Reid (Lane 7) and Jearl Miles-Clark (Lane 6) made up the stagger on Shinkins (Lane 8).

Karen Shinkins

Karen Shinkins

Shinkins composed herself and ran a strong bend catching Monique Hannagan (Lane 1) and then Reid with 120 metres remaining. The Irish record holder (51.07) placed ninth in the race running 51.90. Shinkins has the ninth fastest time in the world in the 400m this season with the 51.48 she ran in Doha, Qatar on 15th May.

Click here for complete results of the 2002 Prefontaine Classic Meeting.


 

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