Sonia O’Sullivan pulled out of the short course event at the World Cross Country Championships in Ostend, Belgium this afternoon. The muddy foot conditions did not suit O’Sullivan and she was placed well down the field when she withdrew after only 800 metres. O’Sullivan had also been recovering from a cold which was troubling her a few days before the event.
It is latest disappointment for the 31-year-old reigning European 5,000 and 10,000 metres champion and rounds off a miserable return to Europe from Australia following her blowout in the 1,500 and 3,000m at the world indoors a fortnight ago.
"There was no point on going on," O'Sullivan said after the race. Anne Keenan-Buckley was the first Irish athlete over the line finishing in the top twenty with Maria McCambridge close behind.
Ethiopia's Geta Wami avenged her defeat to Paula Radcliffe in yeserday's long race by outsprinting the Briton to win today. The 28-year-old, a two-time champion over the long race, hung on Radcliffe's shoulder throughout the last lap before taking her on at the 100m mark and streaking away to win in 14min 45 sec.
Wami's victory scuppered Radcliffe's dreams of emulating Sonia O'Sullivan in winning the long and short races in the same weekend. Radcliffe, who had produced a stunning run to win on Saturday, was unable to respond this time and the elegant diminutive Wami eased home. Kenya's Edith Masai was a long way back in third as the rest of the field found the two front-runners' pace too hot to handle.
In the men’s long course Belgium's Mohammed Mourhit retained his crown, romping home to win in 39 minutes 53 seconds. The 30-year-old Moroccan-born runner, who emulated Carlos Lopes and John Treacy in defending their titles at home, beat Ukraine's Sergei Lebed, who took silver while Kenya's Charles Kamathi was third. Ireland's Peter Matthews produced an excellent performance to finish 22nd with Keith Kelly in 24th and Seamus Power finishing in 44th. Overall the Irish team finished in eighth place, taking a notable scalp by finishing ahead of the Ethiopians.
Filed by Seán Folan
