SONIA O'SULLIVAN got off to an impressive start in her quest for gold when she won her heat of the 5,000 metres in Atlanta last night.
Seeking to pick up where Michelle Smith has left off the Cobh athlete stamped her authority on the race as though in warning to her opponents and set herself up as the athlete to beat in tomorrow's final.
Content to stay in the pack for most of the race, it looked as if she would have to settle for a lesser placing when the Swede Sara Wedlund went into a 20 metre lead before the start of the last lap.
But, in a show of strength which must have worried her opponents, O'Sullivan set sail and reeled in the Swede on the back straight before going on to win easily in a time of 15 minutes 15.80 seconds.
Elena Fidatov of Romania and Lynn Jennings of the US were second and third.
O'Sullivan now looks on course for a repeat in tomorrow's final of her Stuttgart clash of three years ago with China's Wang Junxia.
The Chinese was equally impressive in her heat and, like O'Sullivan, appeared to have a lot in hand.
"It wasn't like a big effort to win tonight," O'Sullivan said afterwards.
"Maybe the first heat is harder because people are running slow and running for place 16 people and only four guaranteed a place. It's hard to judge but I am pleased.
She spoke of the decision to go for a win rather than merely qualifying.
"With about five hundred to go I started counting the seconds as to how far ahead she was, and then I was thinking 28 seconds left with 200 to go, she runs 32 for that at the most.
"I knew there was a fair chance of catching her so I went for it."
O'Sullivan will not be the only Irish competitor going for gold on Sunday, however, following a brilliant finish from Ireland's men's coxless fours in their rowing semifinal on Lake Lanier yesterday.
The four stroked by Tony O'Connor with Neville Maxwell, Sam Lynch and Derek Holland behind came from behind to clinch the third qualifying place from their semi-final.
The manner of their finish suggested that they could be likely contenders for a medal in tomorrow's final.