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O'SULLIVAN DISAPPOINTED AT SHOWING IN GREAT BUPA IRELAND RUN

Sonia O'Sullivan admitted she was a little disappointed at not producing a classier display when contesting her last road race on Irish soil in Dublin yesterday.

Ireland's greatest-ever sportswoman, was a little upset when finishing 11th at the Great BUPA Ireland Run which partly owes its massive popularity to her personal involvement.

The 37-year-old former Olympic 5000metres silver medallist has competed in every meeting since winning the inaugural competition four years ago.
O'Sullivan conceded before the event that age was now definitely catching up and her body was straining to cope with pressures of training required to remain an elite international athlete.

But she was thrilled when this year's race saw almost 9,000 contestants take to the pathways of Phoenix Park - treble the number who appeared in the initial fledgling event.

O'Sullivan said: "I thought I would have ran a lot better, but on the day you only get the result that you deserve.

"It was still a great one for me, with a fantastic atmosphere and plenty of support from fans all around the course.

"Really, I couldn't have asked for more in a way of farewell."

O'Sullivan vowed: "Hopefully I can now assist in expanding the event and really, I would at some stage in the future, love to see the race take place around the city centre streets."

There was some sense of satisfaction when Victoria Mitchell a member of her training group claimed a superb victory in the 10 kilometres race.

The 25-year-old Australian clocked a time of 33minutes 06seconds to score an 11 seconds win from British international Helen Clitheroe and Spain's Alessandra Auguilar who finished in 34min 00sec.

"She's a great talent for the future and I'm delighted that she came out the winner," insisted O'Sullivan, a compliment reciprocated even more, by the surprise winner.

Mitchell fourth in last summer's World Athletics Final 3000metres steeplechase, lavished praise upon one of the world's greatest-ever women's distance runners.

The USA college student said: "Sonia has always been an inspiration to me when I've had the chance to join up with the group back home.

"She's a total professional, who in her preparations is a perfectionist and I include eating, drinking and sleeping habits.

"Honestly she does everything completely right and is a great example to the rest of us privileged to train with her."

While Mitchell celebrated what she considered a major first international road running success, fellow Aussie Craig Mottram lost his unbeaten event record.

The World 5,000m bronze medallist chasing a fifth successive success, had no answer to the strength and determination of former World Cross Country short course runner-up, Abraham Chebii.

Chebii forced the pace along after hitting the front four kilometres into the race, winning by 23sec from Mottram with Spain's former European 10,000m champion Chema Martinez, third in 29min 29sec.

The Kenyan victor, said: "The conditions were great for me, so I decided to put some pressure on the field by winding up the pace fairly early.

"Only Mottram managed to go with me and then at 7K, I realised I was really hurting him and managed to pull away.

"But he made it hard for me and even when I was clear, there was no time to relax."

Results of the Great BUPA Ireland Run held on Sunday 15th April 2007 in the Phoenix Park, Dublin:

WOMEN (10km)
1. Victoria Mitchell (Australia) 33:06
2. Helen Clitheroe (Great Britain) 33:17
3. Alessandra Auguilar (Spain) 34:00
4. Hattie Dean (Great Britain) 34:14
5. Michell Ross-Cope (Great Britain) 34:22
6. Fatiha Baouf (Belgium) 34:24

MEN (10km)
1. Abraham Chebii (Kenya) 28:47
2. Craig Mottram (Australia) 29:00
3. Cheba Martinez (Spain) 29:29
4. Sergey Lebid (Ukraine) 29:42
5. Ivan Babarika (Ukraine) 29:55
6. Killian Lonergan (Ireland) 29:58

JUNIOR GIRLS (U16 - 2.7km)
1. Aisling Moorehouse (Celtic AC) 10:33
2. Niamh Denny (DSD) 10:42
3. Shauna Moore (Dunshaughlin AC) 10:52

JUNIOR BOYS (U16 - 2.7km)
1. Brian Connolly (Tallaght AC) 9:27
2. Adrian Smith (Leamington AC) 10:01
3. Stephen Gibney (Bros Pearse AC) 10:08

If you took part in the Great BUPA Ireland Run you can check your results here

Further details:
Roy Dooney, The Media Group, 087 2414165