Sonia O'Sullivan achieved an Olympic qualifying time of 15 minutes 10.24 seconds, with a consummate 5,000 metres win at Sydney yesterday.
O'Sullivan had to overcome a strong crosswind in achieving her second success in four days in a stadium which will be used as a warm-up arena for the Olympic Games in the autumn. Ostensibly only in the race as a pacemaker for the Australian, Kerryn McCann, the Irish woman grew in authority to win decisively from Clare Fernley (1514.26) and McCann (15-17.83).
"I was surprised how well I felt on the day," she said. "It went a lot better than I thought and in calmer conditions, I believe I would have been well inside 15 mins".
"I set out to pace Kerryn McCann through the first 3000 metres which I hoped to reach in nine minutes. In fact, I was six seconds slower but I was going so easily at that point that I decided to go for it over the last six laps.
"Now, I've set down a bench mark for the races coming up. I now know that I'm capable of running fast."
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