February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Mark Jones
DUBLIN – Olympic silver medallist Sonia O’Sullivan made a surprise appearance
in Monday’s Dublin Marathon and duly won the women’s elite race in a time of 2 hours, 35 minutes and 42 seconds.
Before the event, there had been no indications that O’Sullivan would compete in her first marathon, but a recent two-hour training run gave her the incentive and the Dublin organizers were more than pleased to accommodate her at the last moment.
Not even a strong wind and incessant wind could put the Cobh, Co. Cork, athlete off as she won with over two minutes to spare from Theresa Duffy of Belfast.
But O’Sullivan was quick to point out that she had no plans to run another marathon in the near future.
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"This was all new to me and it was just preparation for 2001," she said.
"I wanted to see what it was like and it was enjoyable up to 20 miles, but then I had to work a bit. I have to feel pretty good about my performance, having done so little preparation."
Simon Pride of Scotland won the men’s race in 2:18.49 with last year’s winner, John Mutai of Kenya, in second.