Lack of race fitness and stifling conditions could not prevent Sonia O'Sullivan from capturing the Australian national title after winning the 10,000 metres at the Zatopek Classic meet in Melbourne today. O'Sullivan eased into the lead at the end of the eight lap and held a 20-metre buffer over local pursuers Liz Miller and Susan Michelsson before they began to narrow the gap. Miller sat on O'Sullivan's heels for several laps before the inevitable kick came two laps out and the favourite went on to record an easy win a time of 33:17.58, over nine seconds clear of Miller.
“I wanted to run fairly decent and get a good hard run out of it but when it was so hot I didn't want to kill myself either. I'll start training now and get myself fit. This was always going to be the kick-off to my training,” O’Sullivan said. Victory gave O'Sullivan, normally a 3,000m and 5,000m specialist, the national title as she had been registered with Melbourne club Glenhuntly for two years.
A minute's silence was held at the meeting to honour Czech legend Zatopek, who died aged 78 last month.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
