Sonia O'Sullivan's took revenge on Romania's Gabriela Szabo, who beat her to gold in the 5000 metres in Sydney, in the Balmoral Road races this afternoon. The Tesco Italiano five-mile race on Royal Deeside was merely a low key stepping-stone for all competitors in their build-up to the summer's track season and the European Championships and Commonwealth Games.
O'Sullivan, winner by 27 seconds in 25 minutes 16 seconds, is resuming her career after giving birth to her second daughter, Sophie, on December 23. For Szabo it was her first race since the World Championships.
Szabo was no match for O'Sullivan, who took the lead after the first mile and hammered not only the multi indoor world record holder but the rest of the field including third-placed Australian 5000m record holder Benita Johnson, who clocked 25mins 55secs.
Filed by Johnny Proby
