Strong winds ruined any hopes Sonia O'Sullivan may have entertained of breaking the world 10-mile road race record in this morning's BUPA Great South Run. In last year's event O'Sullivan set a world best performance of exactly 51 minutes, only to see it bettered by six seconds a fortnight later by Kenya's Lornah Kiplagat.
The Cobh athlete was hoping to regain the mark again today but the opportunity was never on as the wind battered runners on the Portsmouth course, but O'Sullivan still achieved a notable victory in 53 minutes 26 seconds.
Behind O'Sullivan, teenager Charlotte Dale ran a marvellous time of 54:28 while Natalie Harvey from Australia was third in 55:43.
The men's race was won by John Yuda - Tanzania's Commonwealth 10,000 metres bronze-medallist, who crossed the line in 46:35. Behind Yuda, Julius Kibet finished in 41:21, easily holding off the challenge of fellow Kenyan and defending champion Simon Kasamili, who finished in 48:16.
Filed by Shane Murray
